Ephesians 4:27

by zecqi of Re-Versing Verses – click Comment to read or add comments at Zecqi’s site.

and do not give the devil a foothold.

Ephesians 4:27 | NIV | Other Versions | Context

Brief

In the book of Ephesians, Paul writes to the church of Ephesus, or the churches surrounding Ephesus, to urge Christians of the need to conduct themselves in a Christ-like way. These are some very general but great themes that pertain not just to a single church, and they apply just as much to us today. We do not live with clear knowledge or revelation of what is going on in the Spiritual realm, real-time. Job did not know about the exchange between God and Satan that led to his time of suffering, and even though we’re told because of the revelation of the Bible, we only know of the two heavenly meetings – we know not of much else. We do not live today getting an alert on our smartphones that ‘Ding, Satan has now taken a foothold in your heart’ or ‘Ding, Satan has now occupied 10% of your heart’. These things are in the Spiritual Realm, and we can neither see nor connect our phones or minds to. So how do we know when the devil has a foothold in our lives? What is a foothold in our lives? In this study, we will look at the what are some of the common footholds that the devil has over us and what we can do about them.

Analysis

foothold – in many other versions the term ‘place’ was used. Do not give place to the devil. In a few other versions, the term ‘opportunity’ was used. Do not give the devil an opportunity. These terms are easier to understand, but I like the term foothold because it gives us a blatant analogy as well. A foothold is a technical term in certain sports, like climbing, where your foot is able to secure a position in which it is safely lodged in, so that you are able to place your weight on it and continue climbing. Hence, a foothold needs to be strong and secure – it can’t be a shallow bend where you’re barely able to stick your toes into, and it can’t be a falling edge where you don’t dare to adjust more of your weight onto. In english, a foothold, by extension, also refers to the position that which is secure and from which further progress can be made. In other words, when we read this verse, it is essentially saying, do not give the devil a secure position in your heart/life that enables him more room to work on further progress on you.

devil – unfortunately there’s just a little bit of negative connotation to the term ‘foothold’, it seems. Nobody will ever use the same term to describe God – you’ll never hear somebody say, we should give God a foothold in our lives. Yes, yes, that statement is inherently incorrect in itself, God should not just own a foothold in our lives, but he should be in the driving seat, he should fill our entire hearts. But what is it about the devil that we need to guard? What is it about the devil that is so dangerous? It is obvious, isn’t it? The devil tempts us. The devil will lead us into sin. It may sound like we’re trying too hard to pin some blame onto the devil when a lot of the blame should be apportioned to ourselves, but often, even straight-laced and no-nonsense and holier-than-thou christians will fall into sin and temptations because of the existence of sin and because of the traps of the devil. No matter how close we think we are with the Lord, no matter how many years we have been a Christian, it is still possible for the devil to gain a foothold over us.

As Christians, as believers and as followers of Christ, we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We may grow weak, we may stumble and fall, but no matter how weak and wretched we become, our salvation cannot be taken away from us. No matter how weak and wretched we become, Satan can neither steal our hearts away nor enter our hearts. But if there is a hole in your heart, Satan will step into that hole. He won’t enter our hearts and steal our salvation – he can’t, but he can step into that gap and fill it, tempting you to do evil, say things you shouldn’t, do things you mustn’t. That is giving Satan a foothold. We aren’t giving him our entire hearts, we won’t and he can’t, but we’re negotiating and compromising ourselves and our Lord when we allow a gap to exist in our hearts.

When you constantly harbour feelings of jealousy in your heart, you are giving Satan a foothold in your life. Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? [Proverbs 27:4] So too is anger, technically – and we are looking as anger because it is what Paul used as an example in the preceding verse –  “In your anger do not sin”[Psalm 4:4]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry [Eph 4:26]. Anger, jealousy, deception [Eph 4:25], these are but just some of the more common examples of how we’re trapped into giving the devil a foothold in our lives through regular emotions.

Conclusion

It’s like being on cordial relationship with the neighboring country, where there is a very clear-cut border, and each country constantly watch the bordering cities for any hostility. But when one of these countries decides to attempt to conquer a fort from a third country, that lies right on the border line, you cannot allow it, because if you allow it, it will be akin to giving your enemy a strategic location, a military foothold over your country. The enemy will be able to invade you as and when they like if they have a military fort right on the border, and you won’t have time to counter it.

What are we to do, then? It’s simple, though nobody said it was easy. Do not sin. Do not start to sin. If there are temptations around you that urge you to sin, run away from them. Do not torture yourself by frequenting a place where there are numerous temptations – that’s like carving a hole in your heart and baiting the devil to fill the gap – he will really do it. Don’t do that, instead, flee from sexual immorality [1 Cor 6:18] and other sins. We need to constantly watch that border. We need to constantly check our own actions and our own hearts. We won’t have a status update whereby we will know for sure that the devil has taken a place in our hearts, but pray for discernment, pray for spiritual discernment, and when you ever are aware of your own sins, that is when you will be aware of the foothold that the devil has over you.

And when you are aware, choose not to give the devil a foothold. Instead, let God fill those gaps in your heart.

God bless,
Z.

1 Peter 4:12

by zecqi at Re-Versing Verses   Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12 | NIV | Other Versions | Context Brief The book of 1 Peter was written by Peter to the Christians at a time of immense suffering and persecution. It’s pretty much a letter that was meant to comfort his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, at the same time to encourage and affirm them to be steadfast in their faith. He wrote this letter to every Christian. To all of God’s elect – not some of them, not only the ones who were suffering. Perhaps at that time, in the early Church days, persecution was happening – at varying degrees – everywhere. Everyone was suffering when they walked into this faith whether they expected to or not. Today we may live without the persecution of the society for our faith. We may be unable to see the sufferings of another Christian from the outside; we may feel that there are some of us who do not suffer at all. We may have come to expect not to suffer, and as a result, when we suffer, we are surprised and we feel wronged. Peter questions the Christians – is it strange to suffer? Why are you surprised when you suffer? In today’s study, we will adopt Peter’s take on suffering and expand it to see why we are surprised when we suffer. Analysis Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering – when are humans surprised? They are surprised when what happens is something different or far from what they had expected. What, then, are the expectations of us as Christians that would cause us surprise when we suffer painful trials? I can think of a few, speculatively, and there are probably many more, but let us tackle these scenarios one by one. 1. You expect a good, blessed life in Christ after receiving Jesus as your Lord and saviour. There’s nothing wrong in this expectation if your definition of a good, blessed life coincides with that of the Bible. Did Paul lead a good, blessed life? It’s hard to say he didn’t – near the end of his life he exclaimed himself that he had fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith [2 Tim 4:7]. He was thankful for the protection and immense blessing that the Lord had given him over the years [2 Tim 4:17]. He had mentored so many leaders, raised so many churches, kept pushing on as one of the first missionaries in history – it is very difficult to say that his life wasn’t good and blessed, except for the fact this: Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches [2 Cor 11:24-28] He was persecuted all his Christian life, rejected by non-Christians and Christians alike, and for several times he was near-death. Eventually, how did he died? He was crucified – martyred for the kingdom of God. Sure, it was a good and blessed life, but also a painful and suffering life. They are not mutually exclusive. Christianity isn’t the immunity pill to all bad things. 2. You expect your righteousness to pay off, you expect God’s protection. You may not expect a good and easy life, but major sufferings come to you as a shock. Why you? Why not that man who committed adultery? Why not that family of liars? It is difficult to understand God’s justice even as Christians. It is difficult to understand it especially if we are not able to think in terms of eternal life. When we hold our problems too closely to our hearts, they become bigger than they actually are. Why did Job suffer, even though he was so righteous – even called the most righteous in all the earth; and why did so many worse men not? Why, the extent of his suffering was so great that his friends had no doubt that he must have done some heinous sins to provoke the wrath of God – but did he really? Is it fair? If we always limit ourselves in a mental paradigm that the good will be rewarded and protected from suffering; we will never truly experience the greatness of our Lord. Peter questions why we find suffering as a strange occurrence; Paul lists persecution as a fact – In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted [2 Tim 3:12]. 3. You expect trials and hardships, but you also expect that they will be less painful and easier to cope with through the strength of the Lord. Again, there’s nothing wrong with this line of thought except in definition. This is probably how many Christians think these days, which is gratifying. A lot of Christians today believe that God will never give them more than what they can handle – most commonly a concept taken through 1 Corinthians 10:13, although quite often a concept that has been criticized to be taking the verse out of context – No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it – I do agree with the fact that 1 Corinthians 10:13 isn’t talking specifically on suffering, and in multitudes of verses on suffering in the Bible, this idea was never explicitly stated. But I do not disagree with applying this idea to suffering, and as of now I still do not find evidences in the Bible that states that there are suffering given to us that we have no way out of. There are two main types of suffering – problems of pains (natural evil) and problems of evil (moral evil). I believe temptations are a subset of moral evil, which is a form of suffering, though not all sufferings are temptations. I believe perhaps that the idea that God will never give us more than what we can take can be more precisely stated as God will never give us a situation that he cannot bring us out from – be it suffering or temptation or whatever you want to call it. In essence, we are never strong enough to deal with our trials – but drawing on the strength of the Lord, we can overcome. Many trials will seem overwhelming to you and you may cry that you cannot cope, and you may question God – why did you give me such a huge burden when I cannot cope with it? It’s not that you can cope with it through your own strength – we can never. What 1 Cor 10:13 promises us is not that. What it promises us is that whenever we feel helpless and weak, and not strong enough to cope with our temptations, we can be assured that God will empower us and strengthen us, and through Him we can overcome. Conclusion Have you ever been horrified by your suffering? Have you ever asked God, why is it so unfair? Have you ever pondered, why me and not him? Why me, when I did so much good and have done so much for your Kingdom? If so, you too have been surprised by your suffering as though something strange is happening to you. It sounds scary when we say that all who leads a godly life in Christ will suffer and be persecuted. Who would want to be a Christian, then? It’s not that scary if we understand our Lord. It’s not all that scary when we know the word enough. It’s no longer unjust or unfair when we are able to look at things from a greater perspective and understand the concept of eternal life. Expect to suffer, so that you will not be surprised when sufferings come. Expect to suffer, but also be assured that God is with you through your sufferings, and he will deliver you. Through him, you will overcome, no matter how mind-blowing your suffering may seem to be. At the same time, expect to be blessed. Sufferings and blessings are not mutually-exclusive. Not in a Christian way of life. God bless, Z.

Ephesians 5:16

by zecqi at Re-Versing Verses

making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16 | NIV | Other Versions | Context

Brief

In Ephesians 5, Paul continues to urge the church of Ephesus to walk in a manner that is worthy of the calling that they have received [Eph 4:1] – and in today’s study, we’ll zoom in on the importance of walking in wisdom by using our time wisely. God may be timeless, but time is an important concept to mankind – all humans live within the fixed paradigm of time, and we as Christians believe that we live on borrowed time – we do not know when our time on this earth will come to pass, and yet we do not deserve the grace given us that has allowed for us to live on till today – and hence the idea of borrowed time. Since this time is borrowed, let us make good use of it, because it won’t last forever.

Analysis

making the most of every opportunity – One of the more poignant stories that one of my pastors remembers dearly is how his eldest son, as a foreign student in America, made a friend whom he felt he should share the gospel with strongly. However, he allowed himself excuses and he kept stalling, thinking, next week, after I submit my assignment. Next week, after I finish my quiz. Next month, after I finish my exams. Before he knew it, it was summer, and he returned home to his country, resolving to share the gospel with her the first thing next semester. The new semester came, and he was truly resolved to talk to her about God, but he couldn’t find her. Days passed, and he learnt that she had died over the summer break. He had the opportunity, but it passed by him. What he lost was not just a friend, but the salvation of a friend he cared about.

It’s a common story. You and I may have gone through similar episodes. Paul speaks of opportunities – and there are indeed many around us, waiting for us to discover them. We are often not sensitive to the doors of opportunities that are around us. What are these opportunities? In the story above, the opportunity was to share the gospel with a friend. That’s common, and we most certainly have many other opportunities to do good as well. Other versions declare it differently – redeem our time; make the most of your time – but perhaps there’s a hint of buying up our time in it as well, as opposed to stalling for time. Let us buy up every chance and opportunity we get to do God’s work. Let us find opportunities for Christ in the things that we do secularly. Let us live out God’s words even in the marketplace or even in campus. There are opportunities everywhere, if you would only open your eyes to look for them. And even if it’s something you are not used to doing, if the spirit prompts, do not reject it – do not put out the Spirit’s fire [1 Thes 5:19|Article].

Referring once again to the story above, there are some things in life that, once lost, is squandered forever. There are many opportunities that won’t come by us a second time. There are some opportunities that once we miss it, are lost to the world forever.  Let us not dilly-dally our time away and find ourselves in that sort of a situation again and again. Let us use our time efficiently and carefully and diligently – not doing things in haste, though. There are some things that we need to wait for, and we must wait. But while waiting for those things, there are perhaps many other things we can do. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven [Ecc 3:1|Article]. It takes wisdom to know what to do in a certain time. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity [Col 4:5].

because the days are evil – evil lurks at every corner, for we live in a sinful world in a sinful age and in sinful times. And yet because of the prevalence of evil, because evil has permeated every corner, there is a greater need for the light of Christ to shine around everywhere. We’re fighting against time, plainly speaking. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” [James 4:14-15|Article] Let us be wise in these times of evil – Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times, for the times are evil [Amos 5:13]. It takes wisdom to know when to speak, and it takes wisdom to know when it is no longer necessary to speak or to act. Even as we should make the most of our time and grab our opportunities, let us act with wisdom and for the good of God’s glory.

Conclusion

Let us pray for wisdom to be discerning in the way we use our time. Let us pray that we will be sensitive to the opportunities that are around us, that we will grab them with sound judgement and not in foolish haste. Let us also make the most of our time and opportunities with a loving heart. There are many ways to do good, and some of these ways include a little bit of evil. Let us be wary of that, too.

God bless,
Z.

Colossians 3:23

by zecq at Re-Versing Verses

 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men Colossians 3:23

Brief

The final portion of Colossians 3 speaks on household or family responsibilities of a Christian. For many of us, a significant portion of our daily lives revolve around our families – some more so than others. We should come into contact with our wives, husbands, parents,children, masters, slaves on a daily basis – which makes these relationship harder than most others to manage. Expectations are higher; demands are greater, the investment of emotions is greater. Amongst all these household relationships, perhaps the most complicated one to address through a Biblical way would be that of slaves to their masters. That is the context of Colossians 3:22-24, the Biblical perspective of how slaves should perform their roles in the household. In today’s study, we will look into the definition of slaves in ancient times and in Christianity today, and how this verse should be applied to us.

Analysis

In the Greco-Roman era slaves were a given. Even in ancient Biblical eras – the Egyptian and Babylonian empires for example were known for their en-slavery of the Israelites. As late as the 19th Century, slavery was still a very modern societal issue. But thanks to many champions of various skin colours and continents; it is not a common issue these days. While it undoubtedly still exists in certain cultures, it has been outlawed in most countries. But while Paul was writing this epistle, slavery still exists – it was legal and it was accepted. It was expected.

In my country it is common for households to hire domestic helpers – commonly known as maids; who typically come from a few of our neighboring countries. In essence, it’s more or less like a civilized and cleaned up version of the slavery systems of the old days – just that they aren’t slaves, really – they are employees and protected by the government and their embassies. You don’t own them. You cannot torture or overwork them. Most employers do generally treat them well; but there are some who treat their domestic helpers as slaves, unfortunately. The reverse is true – most helpers do their job well, but there are some who steal from their employers, abuse the children, slack off on their responsibilities. But they are not our slaves. We are not talking about our employees. We are not talking about those who are employed. What are slaves?

Whatever you do, work at it with your heart – Many people tend to read Col 3:23 out of context, forgetting that Paul was strictly talking about slaves. Perhaps if Paul had the time to hold a weekly, 2 hour session on ‘how to treat your slaves’ course for masters of slaves , he would mention about treating them with all your heart at about week 7 or 8. Or maybe not. Not that masters shouldn’t be sincere towards their slaves, but that isn’t the first and foremost thing that Paul wanted to instruct them on. That wasn’t the most important issue for masters of slaves. That was the most important thing for slaves.

There’s a parallel passage in Paul’s letter to the Church of Ephesus as well – Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. [Eph 6:5-8]

as working for The Lord, not for men – Galatians 1:10 explains this very succinctly for us – Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. We were slaves to sin, but by the blood of Christ we were redeemed and freed from the shackles of sin and today, if we are slaves of anything, it can only be Christ – But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life [Rom 6:22].

Now before we upset ourselves by drawing on the definitions of ‘slave’ which we explored a little earlier, there is one notable difference in being a slave of men and being a slave of Christ. Slaves belong to the master, just as we belong to Christ. However, human masters did not create their slaves, they did not know their slaves from before they were born. God created us. God knew us right from the beginning. Some Christians do not accept the term ‘Christian slavery’, in fact modern translations render the term ‘slaves of Christ’ as ‘servants of Christ’. Perhaps it’s just a difference in definition. What does the term ‘slave’ means to you?

If you’re upset with using the word ‘slave’ in relation to Christianity, if you are uncomfortable with calling yourself a slave of Christ, then don’t use the term. If it makes it any better, then use the word ‘servant’ – although there is indeed a difference between slave and servant. Servanthood does suggest more of an employment than a possession – which I think is the key behind why the term ‘slave’ has been used by Christians. As for me, when I look at the term ‘slave of Christ’, I really just think it means that I belong to Christ [Rom 8:9, 1 Cor 3:23, 2 Cor 10:7, Gal 5:24]. Christ owns me. Not that Christ will abuse me or torture me or render my human rights useless or take away my freewill. But he owns me. Maybe 1 Peter 2:16 clears it up a little for us – Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. We’re not slaves to anything or anybody in this world any longer because we’ve been freed – but this freedom is not a license for us to do evil and to sin. In other words, see ourselves as slaves of Christ – not to shackle us down, but to remind ourselves of our identity as citizens of Christ.

That said, I have no personal issue with slavery – my race isn’t typically associated to slavery (I’m yellow-skinned), so if you’re uncomfortable, then just don’t use it. Our God is still the same Lord whether we call ourselves slaves of Christ or servant of Christ or citizens of Christ.

Conclusion

I believe that given the context in Colossians 3, Paul was certainly speaking specifically to slaves – real slaves who had human masters, and who probably had to deal with complicated emotions, situations and issues – things like freedom which so many of us take for granted are taken away from them, for example. It wasn’t like Paul was new to the concept of being slaves to Christ either – he was the one who introduced that idea when he called himself a slave (or servant, depending on your version) of Christ [Rom 1:1]. Is it wrong for us to adopt this verse and apply it to ourselves in our roles as slaves (or servants) of Christ? Well, it isn’t up to me to call the shots on right or wrong, but I certainly would look at this verse in this way. Our relationship with God is a dynamic one – there are hundreds of terms you can use to describe it – father and child, teacher and student, master and slave, master and servant, doctor and patient – the list goes on. Our relationship with God is far greater and beyond that of a master and slave. But it is one part of it. Let us learn how to be sincere and diligent in everything that we do for the good of the Kingdom.

God bless,
Z.

2 Timothy 2:13

by zecq on Re-Versing Versesi

if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

2 Timothy 2:13 | NIV | Other Versions | Context

Brief

In 2 Timothy 2, Paul, knowing that his time of martyrdom is near, writes at length to his beloved son Timothy, in order to encourage the younger man to walk in the correct path as a leader and as a preacher. He especially quotes a ‘trustworthy saying’, out of which we are looking at the last of the 3 verses today. This verse speaks equally about the weakness of mankind and the greatness of the Lord – but we shall afford as little time as possible to discuss mankind, and instead focus our efforts on extolling the greatness of the Lord, which in this verse is manifested in one of his qualities – his faithfulness and his inability to disown himself.

Analysis

Let me begin with a reference verse:

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? [Numbers 23:19]

for he cannot disown himself – What does it mean to disown yourself? Can you disown yourself? Have you ever disowned yourself? In most translations the term is rendered, ‘deny’. God cannot deny himself. We get what it means, certainly – that God cannot deny his own qualities, his own personality, his own identity which makes him faithful even if we are faithless. He will not lie, because it is not his personality; he will not break a promise, because it is his quality to honor his words. But I prefer the word ‘disown’. It sounds more absolute to my inexperienced ears. “I cannot deny myself” sounds a tad arrogant and obnoxious, no? Like some little spoilt prince from a faraway country who always gets what he wants.

God cannot disown himself – but we can. Have you ever betrayed your own principles? Have you ever gone against the morals which you believed in? Have you ever felt the pangs of your own guilty conscience? Have you ever done anything that would displease God? I have – surely you have too? We are faithless at times, we are capable of being faithless, because we are able to disown ourselves. And whether we are faithful or faithless, we do not change the fact that God remains faithful. What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar [Rom 3:3-4].

What exactly does this faithlessness of ours – or this faithfulness of God refer to? It is important to note that the preceding verse had just said that if we disown him, he will also disown us [2 Tim 2:12] – Is that a contradiction? If we disown him, he will disown us, but if we are faithless, he will remain faithful? It is important here to note that while to disown God is a sign of our faithlessness, God disowning us who are unfaithful is not a sign of his faithlessness, but instead a sign of his faithfulness to his words.

There is often a lot of confusion on this as there is so much evidence of God’s mercy and compassion for us in the Bible. If we find ourselves turning against God, or if we have trekked a path away from God, we are assured by the Bible that if we would only return to him, he too will return to us [Zech 1:3|Article]. Even as the prophets spoke at length about judgement and destruction, they also reminded us that the Lord’s mercies are new every morning [Lam 3:22-23].But as we continue to extol the Lord for his mercies, we often forget that the result of continued disobedience and persistent rejection of the Lord is destruction – The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest [Psalm 5:5-6]. We are all sinners, we all do wrong at some point or another – it is not wrong to assume that God will forgive us if we repent of our sins – but it is terribly wrong to assume that God’s forgiveness is reserved as well for us if we repent not and continue to dwell in sin, which he abhors. If we reject him, if we refuse to repent, if we deny him, if we disown him and continue to sin, God will keep to his word, he will still be faithful to his word, and he will, in accordance to his justice, disown us.

If we are faithless, and if we disown God – i.e. we do not repent – there is only one way we can expect God to act, and that is to disown us. Do not expect any remaining mercy if you do not repent, for God is faithful to himself, to his own word, and the wrath that he has promised, he will exact.

Conclusion

God’s faithfulness is absolute. His words are absolute. As mortals our faithfulness to our vows our promises and our own words are often dependent on the faithfulness of others. For example, in marriage. I’m neither married nor about to marry, and I do not even attempt to pretend I understand the complications and the pains involved in any marriage, just as I do not pretend to understand the joys and the satisfaction that many profess to possess in marriage. But often, all it takes to break one’s resolve to stand by his or her marriage vows, is the unfaithfulness of his or her spouse. All that it takes to break a ceasefire treaty, is to have a reckless soldier kill another in a drunken fit by the border. All that it takes to break a business partnership, is the signing of a second partnership of one party.

It’s is absolutely practical. It was harsh of me to use these as analogies. It is certainly, by all standards of ours, absolutely insane if you still keep holding on the promise in these cases. Such is this sinful world. But our God is above and beyond all these. Above and beyond faithlessness.

Ephesians 6:10

by zecqi Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10 | NIV (1984) | Other Versions | Context Brief Ephesians Chapter 6 is the last chapter of the book, a small book written by Paul that’s perhaps very close to the hearts of many. It is a rather unique book, as while it was seemingly written to the churches in Ephesus, there was (uncharacteristically of Paul’s epistles to specified locations) no discussion about the area’s specific issues. Instead, much focus was placed on exalting Christ and the fullness of Christ, in whom each believer can gain richly from. This is the verse of transition between Paul’s exhortations from verses 1-9 and his ‘armor of God’ topic thereafter. We will hence look at the topic of being strong in the Lord with relevance to each of these two. Analysis Finally – Isn’t it interesting to note how ‘being strong in the Lord‘ was the final exhortation? It was the last thing that Paul urged, the one lesson that came after ‘finally’. In verses 1-9 Paul addressed people in different roles and urged them to be faithful and careful in the way they treat the main people they come into contact with in their respective roles. Having addressed these relations, and the duties and obligations that come along and are expected of them, Paul was equally aware that to be able to be up to tasks to these expectations and duties, the people need strength from the Lord. There are so many verses that speaks of strength and courage that it feels a bit like an over-visited topic. We know that our strength comes from God [Philippians 4:13|Article] – a strength that empowers us and enables us to move on and overcome our sufferings and our sins. Perhaps because it’s such an oft-visited topic that makes it even more crucial for us to understand it. We draw strength from the Lord. Why? How? When? be strong in the Lord – What does it mean to be strong in the Lord? It could mean to be strong (and courageous) for the Kingdom’s cause. It could mean to acknowledge that we are weak and to depend on the Lord as our source of strength. Both could be right, and there could be many more interpretations of being strong. We face many mighty enemies, as Paul describes in verse 12 – For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms [Eph 6:12] – and hence we require the armor of God. By our own might we will certainly not prevail, for this is no physical war, and even the best physical weapons or armors will not be able to preserve us in it. We need to be on our guard, as it is a spiritual war, where only in God and through Christ can we claim victory. Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong [1 Cor 16:13]. We need the full armor of God. Not just the helmet. Not just the shield. Not just the sword. Wear the full of armor of God, which brings you strength. That’s ‘how’. We’re not looking at the armor of God in detail today, but the passage from Ephesians 6:11-17 is very elaborate on it. In his mighty power – This answers ‘why’, I believe. Because God is mighty. It is a law of nature, that the weak depend on the strong, the weak draw strength from the strong, the weak gain courage from the strong, and the weak become stronger from all that. We do live in a world where many – not all, but certainly many – believe that the strong are meant to step on top of the weak. Nothing – absolutely nothing, as far as I am aware of – in the Bible preaches that. Even in the topic of faith, Paul has made it very clear that the strong should bear with the infirmities of the weak [Rom 15:1]. Our God is the same – He is strong, make no mistake about it, very very strong. But despite being strong, he is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble [Psalm 46:1]. All we need to do is to understand and believe that our God is mighty. There is no spiritual war where he cannot win. When we are fighting with the strength of the Lord, let us take heart in the fact that our Lord is great. Let us be empowered by God’s might and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength [Ephesians 1:19]. Conclusion When you are weak, when you are scared, when you feel lost and helpless, won’t you turn to God, seek strength in the Lord. Let God be your strength. Let us be strong in his mighty power by wearing the full armor of God. When are we weak? When will we be weak? Perhaps all the time. Even if we do not feel weak, in our daily roles, when we face our family, when we face our friends, when we face our colleagues, we need strength from God as well. Be strong not by your own strength, for it is insufficient; be strong not in others, for it is insufficient; but be strong in the Lord. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Romans 14:1

by zecqi at Re-Versing Verses Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. Romans 14:1 | NIV (1984) | Other Versions | Context Brief From Romans 14, right up till the first few verses of Romans 15, Paul zones in on the degrees of faith and how one who is stronger in faith should treat one who is weaker in faith. ‘Weaker in faith’ – is a term that is very sensitive, perhaps. At a time when they were in a period of transition from the Mosaic Law to the Christian doctrine – not that the Christian doctrine has no laws, or that it is solely on grace – but the inclusion on newly converts – Gentiles – into the system led to a great many cultural differences that the Church had to accomodate for. In this study, we will examine what it means to be weaker or stronger in faith, and take a close look at some examples of disputable matters. Analysis Accept him whose faith is weak – What defines weak faith? In this context, it likely refers to those whose knowledge of the gospel are lacking, and hence stumbled along the way. It is not the faith in salvation; but likely refers to the person’s belief in other matters of the doctrine, which may be hard to understand, accept, or which may lead to controversy. In other words, they are Christians, who believe in God and follow Christ, but may not have a firmly established understanding of the doctrine, or maybe lacking spiritual knowledge and hence the ability to apply some of the word into their way of life. As human beings, it is perhaps natural to want to correct them, condemn them, reprimand them. We may want to use our own ways to educate them. As we get caught up with the magnitude of our knowledge in comparison to some of those around us, we may tend to be over eager to spit out what we know at them – without gentleness, without being sensitive, without the spirit’s prompting. Here, Paul says to accept them. Accepting them doesn’t mean that you subscribe to their theology or their understanding of the doctrine. Accepting them doesn’t mean to imitate them. Rather, accepting them is a perhaps a safeguard against ourselves, lest we go out there without gentleness and stumble people left right and centre. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak [1 Cor 8:9]. It is not always wrong to correct them, but let us have discernment on when and how we do it. Things that stumble people will always exist, but those who stumble others are in trouble [Luke 17:1, Matthew 18:7]. It’s one thing if you’re unable to lift others up. But it’s another thing in its entirety if you stumble others, even without intending to. Without passing judgement – And we come to the topic of judgement. Often when Christians who are perturbed by certain truths or theology go to others to voice their doubts, and we may be alarmed and harshly put them down as our most natural, first, immediate reaction. Let us be careful not to do that, for that often does nothing more than to confirm their doubts. You may win an argument against someone with a lesser understanding of the gospel, but without love and gentleness, we cannot expect to win them over. If in our mind we’ve already condemned them, then it is hard for love to enter the picture. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister [Rom 14:13]. on disputable matters – Matters of dispute? In the context of Romans 14 we’ll read about food. Can they eat everything? Yes- this is no longer the days of the Mosaic law where people are restricted from certain types of food. There are many laws in the Old Testament that have been abolished in the New Testament – but only if it’s clearly stated. The Old Testament is not only a historical text to us. Most of its laws still hold true to us. The context of food might not make much sense to you, but it does have great value in my life. Let me explain – born and raised in a Chinese society, most of my peers have relatives who, in accordance to Buddhist or Taoist religious customs, offer food to gods or ancestors; thereafter serving the same food for dinner. Can we eat those food? I’ve been brought up with a strict – no – as answer to that, and so far I’ve never knowingly eaten food that has first been offered to idols because most of my relatives around me already expect that Christians must not eat them, and Christian elders within the family are staunchly against it. Reading Romans 14 – I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean [Rom 14:14], 1 Cor 8 – But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do [1 Cor 8:8]; i hold the perspective that we can eat it even as Christians. If I am alone in a room, hungry, and there’s a plate of food that has been offered to idols, I will pray, and I will eat. Not everybody have agreed with my take on this. But do cut me some slack too – The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them [Rom 14:3]. The key here isn’t really about whether you eat or not, but whether there is love in your actions or not. Conclusion Does this mean we do not talk about controversial topics, or leave a flawed theology without correction? I would think not. There are big, world-wide issues and many other seemingly smaller yet controversial issues that may stumble believers if not understood properly. Furthermore, if certain Bible passages are horribly misinterpreted, it could lead to acts of superstition and spreading of false teaching. What should we do, then? Accept them (not the ideas, but the people), yet speak to them and counsel them in gentleness and with love – do not expect a change in their mentality overnight, but keep praying for them and counseling them. Very easy to say. Let us pray for the discernment for ourselves. If we’re ever in the role of being stronger than others in faith, let us not stumble others by our lack of love and gentleness. We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves [Romans 15:1]. If we’re ever in the role of being weaker than others in faith, let us not stumble others by our lack of understanding. God bless, Z.

2 Corinthians 5:15 by zecqi at Re-versing Verses

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:15 | NIV | Other Versions | Context

Brief

. . . What does it mean, for us? In 2 Cor 5 Paul launched a passionate defense of the conduct of the apostles [2 Cor 5:12], and clarifies that the way they live is solely down to the staunch belief that this was the reason why Christ died on the cross for them [2 Cor 5:14-15] – so that they could live again as a new creation [2 Cor 5:17|Article], and do live for God and not for themselves. It is a mentality that the world will view as out of their minds [2 Cor 5:13], but they no longer look at matters from the world’s view [2 Cor 5:16]. The death – and the revival of Christ – changed the way the apostles lived.

Analysis

That Christ is risen is something that has been mentioned a number of times in the New Testament – especially with many of the New Testament authors being witnesses to the death and the subsequent revival of Christ.

And he died for all – When he died, he died for us, men, so that we may live. To live, in the Bible, is not merely to breathe and to function, but to be live and be free from sin. His death for us was not meant to tie us into guilt or obligation to him – For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. [John 3:17] It was an act of salvation.

 that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them – Because he died for us, we should live for him. Because through his death we are free from sin, hence we should live for him. Because by his death we are given a new beginning, hence we should change our ways to center around him. The apostles were full-time workers for God’s kingdom, even though the likes of Paul was known to tent-make as well and didn’t need to depend on the charity of the churches. In the lives of the apostles they were so Christ-centric and all their activities revolved around the message, the gospel and the church. Indeed, they no longer lived for themselves but for him who died for them. The best hint, perhaps, is from the fact that most of the apostles died as martyrs for God’s kingdom’s cause.

who died for them and was raised again – There are two parts to this process – firstly his death, second his revival. Well, obviously, but let’s look at them in greater detail. The death of Christ meant a lot – it was a necessary sacrifice, it was necessary for blood to be shed, it was necessary for a life to be ended, it was necessary for Christ to be crucified – one of the worst ways to die.  And of course, without the death of Christ there wouldn’t be a revival to talk about anyway. But without his revival, it would perhaps be completely meaningless to worship him. His revival is significant in showing that he conquers death; he has the power over death; and that he is a living God. If he had merely died, but not revived again, how would he be different from the many martyrs from the Bible? How would he be any different from the idols that others worship? No – the key to his difference is demonstrated by his revival. This is an omnipotent god – the god of Gods, the king of kings. Jesus wasn’t just a martyr. No other martyr would die and revive again. That wouldn’t be much of a martyrdom, would it?

Conclusion

If you life didn’t change after knowing that Christ died for you and why, something is probably quite wrong. We probably won’t be like the apostles – who gave their entire lives to God, even in their career paths. We can live entirely for God even without serving full-time. If all the Christians in the world are pastors and missionaries, then who’s going to spread the gospel to the marketplace and the heartlands? Jesus died for you to wash away your sins. Don’t start sinning again. Don’t waste the new beginning Christ has given you. Don’t waste the faith God had in you – that he would send his son to die for you. Reconcile yourself with God.

God bless,
Z.

Hebrews 11:6

by Zec at re-Ver(sing) Verses

Hebrews 11:6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Brief

What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 [Article] tells us very clearly that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11 has been generally known as the Hall of Faith in the Bible, and in Hebrews 11:6 we’re told very clearly how important faith is – to the extent that without it, we have absolutely no way of pleasing God. Faith is one of the few most fundamental concepts of Christianity, along with love and hope [1 Cor 13:13]. In today’s study we will examine the two most fundamental beliefs that spearhead the Christian faith – the belief that God exists, and the belief that God lives.

Analysis

And without faith it is impossible to please God – I think there are many things that God delights in. Perhaps when we extol him in praise and worship. When we turn to him in prayer in times of difficulties. When we give all the credit to him in our accomplishments. When we love one another. When we follow his word. When we do good work. Yet, perhaps many of these things can be done superficially and without true faith. It’s an age old question whether non-Christians who are morally upright, do plenty of good, very charitable and pretty much does no fault in their lives – would they get saved? Without faith, God does not take delight in their good work. It’s as simple as that.

because anyone who comes to him must believe he exists – in Genesis 1:1 [Article] it says, in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Regardless of which version or language you prefer, God is mentioned in the first few words of the Bible. The first verse of the entire Bible is the first check of Christianity – if you do not believe that God exists, you disagree with that first verse of the Bible, and there is no point reading on; because that is the first thing, and perhaps the greatest thing that forms the basis of this faith. Perhaps especially so for the offsprings of Christians, born in Christian families, whether a second-generation, third-generation or subsequent-generation Christians. Do you believe that God exists? Surely you know it, but do you believe it? Your parents told you so, your leaders told you so, your teachers told you so. But do you believe it? This is the first check of Christianity, but it’s not the only check. Yet it is the greatest check. Everything else in this doctrine counts for nothing if you do not believe that He exists.

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him – do you believe that when you seek the Lord, you will find him? Do you believe that when you pray, he listens? Do you believe that when you desire for him, hunger for the daily bread and thirst for the living water, the holy spirit will be poured unto our hearts? This is equally important to the belief that God exists, though certainly not the foremost check – after all, it would be meaningless to ask if you believe that you will find God when you seek him if you do not believe that God exists. This is really not to suggest that we ought to be motivated by the reward, and hence seek the Lord. No, we do not seek the Lord because of the reward per say, though we must believe that we will be received when we seek the Lord. A god that exists and yet does not receive those who seek him is not a living god – our Lord is a living god. God sought us out first – hence there is no way that we cannot find him if we truly seek him. Sometimes we may not feel him. In times like that we just got to cling on to our understanding of this unchanging God, who has promised, eternally, to bless us and keep us.

Conclusion

The Christian faith is defined by Hebrews 11:1 – faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see and the Christian hope is not an if – it’s a certainty. Christian faith is a simple enough concept to grasp, but it is not easy to live out. In Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faith, there were many faithful people or groups of people identified and commended. But at the end of it we are told – These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised [Heb 11:39|Article]. Most of them did not see the deliverance of their nation in their lifetimes. Christian faith is not easy. It will sometimes waver. It will sometimes stumble. But at the end of the day, cling on to these two beliefs – the belief that God exists, and the belief that God lives.

“But I have prayed for you,Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” [Luke 22:32]

God bless,
Z.

John 13.1

from re-Ver(sing) Verses

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. John 13:1

Brief

You know John 3:16? Supposedly the first verse every Christian ought to know, and for good reason? Many people claim it’s overhyped, but I don’t think so. I think the gospel of John is filled with gems like these on Jesus. You know how some people summarise the gospels? Matthew – Jesus the King; Mark – Jesus the Servant; Luke – Jesus the Man; John – Jesus the God. Very sweeping, and any proper scholar of the Bible will probably scoff at that summary, but I think it apt enough for a one-line summary of the gospels. I’ve been doing re-Ver(sing) Verses for quite a while, and many of the verses I’ve picked were obviously verses that I’m more familiar with; but I’ve been avoiding John 3:16. It feels like I’ll not be able to do it justice, such a big, big verse it is. And yet when I reflect upon all my work here at RVV I wonder, which verse exactly have I done justice to? None, clearly, and I’m reminded that it’s okay not to do them justice. John 13:1 is a favourite verse of a friend, and let me just say right from the very start that I’m not going to do it justice – there’s so much in this verse that I’ll be overlooking in this very brief study.

Context

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father – When was this exactly? We’re told clearly in the verse itself that it was just before the Passover feast. In the next verse, there’s a mention of the evening meal [John 13:2]. Is this evening meal the Passover feast itself? Most likely not, deducing from the events that happened during the meal. Instead, this was likely to have taken place 2 days before the feast, in line with the events of Matthew 26:1-13. This evening supper was likely to be in Simon the leper’s house. If not, it would be sometime between that supper and the Passover Feast. Hence, it would be within Holy week itself. Just days before the crucifixion. It’s like somebody on a death sentence knowing that it’s going to happen at the end of the week. The hour had come.

Analysis

Having loved his own who were in the world – Christ, in his 33 years of life on earth, was fully human – not 50% human, 50% god. Yet at the same time, he was fully God. His body was flesh and blood – he was human, just as we are humans today. We are the same human race. Species. Whatever you call it. And we belong to Christ. We are his own. He takes responsibility for us. He loves us.

he loved them to the end – Dare I ask, when is the end? When is the end of love? When is the end of Christ’s love for his own, who were in the world? This may seem obvious at first glance to anybody, but let’s think about this deeper. Two possibilities enter my mind – what about you? Let’s work this out bit by bit. The direct context of this verse, as stated in the verse itself, is just prior to the crucifixion. The hour had come. His life on this world was about to come to an end. That is the first likelihood – the end of his life on earth. The second would be the end of time itself. But when is the end of time? Is there even an end of time? We know that we have eternal life in the courts of God, and we will preside over the angels [1 Cor 6:3] with Christ at the right hand side of the Father. If there is eternity, when is the end of time? Is it the end of this world – i.e. destruction – perhaps, because if there is no more world, there won’t be anymore humans – his own whom require loving, and we would all be rejoicing together in the presence of the Lord.

I’d like to argue that, when John wrote he loved them to the end, it wasn’t so much so to tell us that, he stopped loving us at the end; but more of a way to say – he never stopped loving us. Even in his final moments, he prayed for them – those who were unworthy, those who were sinners through and through; those who rejected him, abandoned him, mocked him. I like to use Stephen’s example as a more vivid description of this mentality – when Stephen the martyr was being attacked, or more precisely, stoned; he fell to his knees in prayer for God to forgive those who assaulted him. That was the priority – not running away (he probably couldn’t anyway), not struggling against his enemies, not cursing them with hatred. No, his love for his enemies came before his survival instinct. It’s that kind of love that we’re talking about in Christ, whom Stephen imitated right till the very end. Compare the words they uttered in their final breaths –  Acts 7:60 and Luke 23:34.

Immediately after John 13:1, the author recounted for his readers some of the instances of that love – Christ’s washing of his disciples’ feet, for one. In the same chapter, we find one of the greatest instructions on Christian love in John 13:34-35 – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” He repeats this subsequently in John 15:12 – My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you – and 15:17 – This is my command: Love each other. In his prayer just before he was arrested, Jesus prayed for his disciples – I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one [John 17:1] – and for all believers – I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me [1John 17:23]. He prayed for their unity, in love.

Conclusion

I’ll like to conclude with three takeaways from this verse. Firstly, let us be comforted and rejoice because Christ’s love for us is to the very end, and as I mentioned above, I see this not as he loves us till death, but that he never stops loving us. Secondly, let us return this unending love, and love him to the end as well. I don’t dare to say that we can love him for eternity – eternity is too large and long a scale of time that I cannot even begin to comprehend – but at least, for the subsequent years of life that I have on this earth, I can commit to love him to the very end. Thirdly, let us love each other with an unending love – not just our neighbours, but our enemies as well. It’s not hard to love God. It’s not even that hard to love God till the end. But to constantly love people, who are often unlovely (ourselves included) – let us cling on to the words of God and the commands of Christ – let us use the life of Christ as the very example that it is possible.

We know love is sincere, love is kind. We know that God is love. We know all the qualities of love. But today, let’s just reflect on the timescale that the Christian love is supposed to run on  – eternity.

God bless,
Z.