When God says in His Word “I make all things new” (Rev 21:5) and “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor 5:17), He wants to transform our lives wholly, and not just “fixing” our outter look (Matt 23:25-28).
Jesus deliberately said to the Phareses that their lives are like cleaning the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. And like whitewashed tombs which appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
The greatest hindrance for the Phareses to live out their lives as “a new creation” in Christ is their hypocracy. They are smart when it comes to teaching about the scripture, but they cannot do what they teach. They are called hypocrites, or in our daily lives today, we call them actors.
Only through a genuine repentance, Christ’s transformation can work in each of our lives, so we can show the real image of Christ in and through us. It is also true for the church as a corporate. God wants to show His true image through His church so His image will be manifested through us.
Living as actors will hinder us to live our “new man” life!
The New Creation are the Doers of the Word of God, not just Actors!!!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Don't Ride It, Drive It!
When we see someone on a elephant, we might think that person is riding the elephant. But, it's not necessarily true. Who is riding who? It depends on who decides where the two of them want to go; the elephant or the man? If the elephant decides the direction, the man is the passenger. He is RIDING it. Likewise if the man decides the course, he is the driver, the one who has the control over the elephant. He is RIDING it.
So is life.
I have learnt that our life is built by our decisions in the past. We decided whether we are going to make our own decision for our life, or let someone else do it for us.
Are we DRIVING our life, or just RIDING it?
As leaders we are called to drive, not just our own life, but also others'. We are not suppose to adjust ourselves to our condition, instead we are called to bring changes.
Romans 12:2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
For example, the world mindset says being honest in the business will bring you failure. Our drive should be keeping the honesty, and not only surviving the business, but be successful in it. Another common world mindset (esp. in Asia) is offering a "special entertainment" for customers for shortcuts. Our drive should be building a strong relationship with customers with integrity.
How can we drive well?1. It all starts with a vision"If a man knows not what harbor he seeks, any wind is the right wind." Lucius AnnaeusA sailing ship can travel windward or off-wind, and the sail is only opened when the wind is blowing in the same direction with the ship's destination. How does the sailor know when to open or close the sail if he doesn't know where he is heading? All wind direction can be a ‘good' wind. The wind speaks of ‘opportunities'. There are so many opportunities in our lives that seem ‘good', but we have to understand that not every opportunity is ours to take. A man without a vision will find it difficult to determine which opportunity is his and which is isn't. Choosing the wrong opportunity means wasting of time, money and energy."By seeing today, you can see God's hand in the past. By seeing the future, you can see God's hand today."
2. Respond to change for improvementsTransformation is a process. God will give us the best, so don't settle for less.The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)Be patient, until you are ready. There is a qualification to be met for your calling. Unless it is met, you will not get it. It took the Israelites from 40 days to 40 years to go to the promised land. Transformation often happens through difficulties. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he ahs given us. Romans 5:3-5Too often we prefer shortcuts without realizing that the patter that we see is a process: sufferings > perseverance > character > hopeWhen we're in affliction, we cry out so that God will take us out from our trials without trying to persevere in it, or even worse complaining about the situations. This kind of attitude cannot bring hope and growth.
3. Don't deny the fact. Face it and rejoice in it.No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Cor 10:13Here are the facts:God's promise: And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath. Deut 28:13.When our life is getting bigger, our capacity with increase automatically, so will our strength because God will not allow temptations to be greater than our strength. So when we realize we are stronger, that can mean our temptations and trials will be greater. What then can you do? REJOICE!!The good news is, through these trials, if we decide to persevere we will be transformed, then the hope of God will come, and we will go up another level. In the next level we will go through the same trial process, and if we decide to persevere we will go up another level again. Then we can look back and see how we have been transformed and have become the head an not the tail.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Fil 4: 12 (NIV)So, whether living wealthy or not is not determined by our surrounding, but by our own heart.How did Paul discover this secret? The answer is through process.
If we go back to the elephant illustration; it might look impossible for a man to control a big elephant, instead the big elephant can easily control the man on its top. But there's a secret to it. In one of the tourist places in Thailand, an elephant trainer will flick the elephant's left ear if he wants the elephant to go to the right, and the right ear to go to the left.
There's a secret to drive your life, and it will be revealed through process
So is life.
I have learnt that our life is built by our decisions in the past. We decided whether we are going to make our own decision for our life, or let someone else do it for us.
Are we DRIVING our life, or just RIDING it?
As leaders we are called to drive, not just our own life, but also others'. We are not suppose to adjust ourselves to our condition, instead we are called to bring changes.
Romans 12:2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
For example, the world mindset says being honest in the business will bring you failure. Our drive should be keeping the honesty, and not only surviving the business, but be successful in it. Another common world mindset (esp. in Asia) is offering a "special entertainment" for customers for shortcuts. Our drive should be building a strong relationship with customers with integrity.
How can we drive well?1. It all starts with a vision"If a man knows not what harbor he seeks, any wind is the right wind." Lucius AnnaeusA sailing ship can travel windward or off-wind, and the sail is only opened when the wind is blowing in the same direction with the ship's destination. How does the sailor know when to open or close the sail if he doesn't know where he is heading? All wind direction can be a ‘good' wind. The wind speaks of ‘opportunities'. There are so many opportunities in our lives that seem ‘good', but we have to understand that not every opportunity is ours to take. A man without a vision will find it difficult to determine which opportunity is his and which is isn't. Choosing the wrong opportunity means wasting of time, money and energy."By seeing today, you can see God's hand in the past. By seeing the future, you can see God's hand today."
2. Respond to change for improvementsTransformation is a process. God will give us the best, so don't settle for less.The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)Be patient, until you are ready. There is a qualification to be met for your calling. Unless it is met, you will not get it. It took the Israelites from 40 days to 40 years to go to the promised land. Transformation often happens through difficulties. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he ahs given us. Romans 5:3-5Too often we prefer shortcuts without realizing that the patter that we see is a process: sufferings > perseverance > character > hopeWhen we're in affliction, we cry out so that God will take us out from our trials without trying to persevere in it, or even worse complaining about the situations. This kind of attitude cannot bring hope and growth.
3. Don't deny the fact. Face it and rejoice in it.No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Cor 10:13Here are the facts:God's promise: And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath. Deut 28:13.When our life is getting bigger, our capacity with increase automatically, so will our strength because God will not allow temptations to be greater than our strength. So when we realize we are stronger, that can mean our temptations and trials will be greater. What then can you do? REJOICE!!The good news is, through these trials, if we decide to persevere we will be transformed, then the hope of God will come, and we will go up another level. In the next level we will go through the same trial process, and if we decide to persevere we will go up another level again. Then we can look back and see how we have been transformed and have become the head an not the tail.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Fil 4: 12 (NIV)So, whether living wealthy or not is not determined by our surrounding, but by our own heart.How did Paul discover this secret? The answer is through process.
If we go back to the elephant illustration; it might look impossible for a man to control a big elephant, instead the big elephant can easily control the man on its top. But there's a secret to it. In one of the tourist places in Thailand, an elephant trainer will flick the elephant's left ear if he wants the elephant to go to the right, and the right ear to go to the left.
There's a secret to drive your life, and it will be revealed through process
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