Devotional
for the Week 25 February 2008
Our
Worship Must Be Evident
Scripture
Text: 1
Thessalonians 1:2-3; Isaiah 2:14-17; 1 John 3:16-18; Romans
8:18
Introduction
Worship
is a process that is continuous. It is not an event that
occurs only on Sundays or during our quiet time with the
Lord. True worship encourages service, which means that
it is manifested through the daily living of our lives.
Faith
Must Be Evident
1
Thessalonians 1:2-3 refers to "work produced by faith".
Faith must therefore be accompanied by actions. This is
further reinforced in Isaiah 2:14-17. If we do not act
upon our faith, then such faith would be impotent and
useless to the lives of those in need. While we believe
that God has loved, saved and forgiven us as we put our
faith in the saving work of Jesus (John 3:16), we also
need to avail ourselves to expressing God's love to people
in need through our actions. Otherwise, we would be empty
vessels of a faith and such faith is dead.
Love
Must Translate To Action
When
we love someone, we express our love through our actions.
God's ultimate show of love for us is through Jesus who
laid down his life for each one of us. 1 John 3:16-18
further illustrates a simple example of how we may express
love. We are to not only love with words and tongue but
with actions and in truth. These could be in the form
of small acts of love, interest in the lives of others,
service and showing of compassion to those in need of
it. God's love is in us and we are to express this through
reaching out to others, which will involve sacrifice and
patience.
"Hope"
Is Not An Empty Word
We
are encouraged in Romans 8:18 that our ìpresent
sufferingsî, that is, our current state of living,
external oppositions or persecutions, the frailty of humankind
and the sacrifices we need to make in our expression of
God's love while doing His work, pale in comparison to
the glory that will be revealed in us when the time comes.
This
"hope" is important as Scriptures teach us that
our endurance is inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Thess 1:3). Therefore, when we go through crisis and
sufferings, we are to look to Jesus and what He has promised
in scriptures, like in Romans 8:18. We have the Holy Spirit
in us who will teach and guide us. Through this, we experience
God's grace and are anchored by Him safely throughout
the storm.
Conclusion
Our
worship must be evident and this evidence is manifested
through how we live our lives and the responses of our
hearts to the situations and opportunities that require
our expression of God's love. Our hearts' responses testify
to others about our works produced by faith in Jesus,
our labour prompted by love of God and our endurance inspired
by hope of glory at the end.
Prayer
Response
Lord,
thank You for the love, grace and hope that you have given
us. Help me to follow Your heart and give me the courage
to express Your love even in difficult and awkward situations.
I pray for wisdom and discernment to see your people in
need through Your eyes and not mine, and to response with
Your love so that You may be glorified. Amen
Devotional
based on sermon by the Rev Lim Jen Huat