perfect love and keep on praying

graphics hunt

As I am doing my devotion for Lent, a burden is continually laid upon my heart. The same resounding message that keeps ringing in my ear is "time is short, pray hard".

Luke 22 talks about the last hours of Jesus. After he had his last supper with his disciples, he went up to the Mount of Olives to pray. Verse 40 says"...pray that you will not fall into temptation..." but when he came back from from his prayer, he found his disciples sleeping. He again reminded them to pray so that they will not fall into temptation. I feel the anguish of Jesus and the intensity of his feelings. He prayed so earnestly that his sweat fell like droplets of blood.

 Jesus was very focused upon his mission, he knew that the hour was near for him to die. Verse 42, "...Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Jesus was here on earth not to have a successful ministry, he came to seek and save the lost, he came for sinners like me. His blood was shed on the cross so that we can have eternal life. We need a sacrifice that was perfect so that our sins can be redeemed. And Jesus was that Lamb of sacrifice, he was without sin.

We are living in the last hours, let us get up and pray unceasingly. In the last days many hearts will grow cold, Matt 24:12, "...Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold..." 

Sometimes it may be very hard to understand the necessity of this sacrifice. Why must God allow man to sin and then send Jesus to die on the cross for us? This is the will of God that sometimes it is too complex for our human minds to comprehend. I think he wants us to see the consequences of our sins or wrong doings and he also wants us to know that despite our imperfections, he still loves us. This is perfect love.

And he provided a way for us to be saved,
Acts 16:31,"Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household." 

There are many who are living broken lives, so broken that they find no hope in living. Let us pray for them and share this message of hope with them. Jesus did not come for the "rich", he came for the "poor", he came for those whose spirits are broken. If you are loosing hope and feeling discouraged, go to Jesus. If you feel despair and meaningless in this life, go to Jesus. He is our perfect love, he came for you and me. He came to save us and to give us hope.

alabaster jar

Desert Design

Matthew 26

As I continue with my Lent devotions, I was inspired by the story of the woman with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume. She poured expensive perfume at Jesus's feet. Such a beautiful act of love for Him. She probably gave all that she had to buy this perfume for Jesus. And only to pour everything at his feet. 

It just dawned on me that we should give our best for God. I am guilty of spending more time on my leisure activities and work than on God. 

Worship and devotion to God involves sacrifice of our time, money and all that we have. 

The alabaster jar of perfume inspires me. A simple woman on the outside ...with a heart of gold on the inside. God looks at the heart not our achievement or success. Let's be women and men after God's own heart. Let's focus on the things of God and devote ourselves to his service!

2 Chronicles 16:9

"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”

This alabaster jar is all I have of worth
I break it at Your feet, Lord, it's less than You deserve
You're far more beautiful, more precious than the oil
The sum of my desires and the fullness of my joy
Like You spilled Your blood, I spill my heart
As an offering to my King

Here I am, take me as an offering
Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory
Take me

This time that I have left is all I have of worth
I lay it at Your feet, Lord, it's less than You deserve
And though I've little strength, and though my days are few
You gave Your life for me so I will live my life for You

Like You spilled Your blood, I spill my heart
As an offering to my King

Here I am, take me as an offering
Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory
Here I am, take me as an offering
Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory, take me

Worthy, worthy, You are worthy, worthy is the Lord
Worthy, worthy, You are worthy, worthy is the Lord

Here I am, take me as an offering
Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory
Here I am, take me as an offering
Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory
Take me

Alabaster Jar by Gateway Worship

are you ready?

freephotostack.com

Today my reading was on Matt 25 about the Parable of the ten virgins. I sensed in my heart that there's an urgency to be alert and prayerful. We are living in the end times, so we need to be watchful. The parable of the ten virgins is a warning. Who do we want to be?  The 5 foolish virgins or the 5 wise virgins? The bride represents the church, and the groom represents Christ. When the bridegroom arrives, the foolish virgins were not ready.

Will I be ready when the Jesus Christ comes back? What would I be doing when the Lord comes back? Do I want to be a wise and faithful servant, be faithful in what the Lord has called me to do and be ready when he comes back?  Am I just a believer in name and not whole heartedly following after God?

Ultimately, I will be accountable for what I do on this earth. How I spent my time and where I put my money and resources. The world is a temporary place, life in heaven is eternal. After we leave this world, people will eventually forget about our achievements in this world. Even our children will not stay with us forever, they do not belong to us, we are just stewards, eventually we have to release them. Money and possessions we cannot take with us too. Whatever we do on this earth eventually will be worthless. The Lord do not look at our success and achievements, he looks at our hearts.

Let us continue to encourage each other to persevere in doing the Lord's work, to be a good steward of what the Lord has given us. Let us not be complacent, taking our salvation for granted, like the foolish virgins who were not ready. Let us continue to work out our salvation, maintaining a loving relationship with the Lord and obeying his word.


Philippians 2:12"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling..."