Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Gifts For Jesus On Christmas
by Rev. James Wong
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” Matthew 2:11 (NIV).
The gifts of the wise men began a beautiful tradition of giving during Christmas. We do not know who these wise men were but we do know that they came from the east, which could be India, China or Persia. They were people educated in philosophy, medicine and astrology. They must have studied the scriptures because by looking at the special star in the sky they knew that the promised Messiah, the great deliverer, was born. They took a long journey to Jerusalem with the purpose of worshipping Jesus.
The gifts that the wise men gave to Jesus were the best they had. The gifts were carefully planned and selected. Here were the treasures they gave to Jesus. (1) Gold. This was the most precious metal and it was a gift that was fit for a King. Jesus was born to be the King of kings. (2) Frankincense was used in the temple worship to God. Jesus was not only to be the king but God who is worthy to be worshiped. (3) Myrrh was a spice used to embalm a body after death. Imagine, someone send you a gift that is fit for burial! Jesus was born not to live but to die. He would die for the sin of the world and give them new life.
The question is, what would you give to Jesus during his birthday? Imagine someone throwing a party for you and everyone else has received a gift except you! What can you give to Jesus that he does not have? You can give to him F.I.R.S.T.
F = Finance. Give to God the first part of your finance. “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income …” (Proverbs 3:9 TLB). God does not need your money but by giving to Him 10% of your income you show that he is first in your life.
I = Interest. Put God first in all your interests. It could be your hobbies and the things you are passionate about doing. Let him have the first place in all those interests.
R = Relationship. Put God first in all your relationships. Let him be the first in your marriage relationships, family relationships, workplace relationships or business relationships.
S = Schedule. Put God first in your schedule. Give him the first day of the week and worship him on Sunday. Give God the first 5 minutes or so to be quiet before him and meditate on his word before you start your day.
T = Troubles. Put God first in all your troubles. If you are in trouble, do not suppress it, repress it or express it, tell it to God. Consult him first in prayers and let him lead you.
Accepting God's Plan For My Life
Living the Abundant Life (2)
Mary’s Song: Luke 1:46-55
5 reasons why God’s plan is the best
1. God made me for his purpose.
Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
~Luke 1:46-47 (NIV)
Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. ~Ps 100:3 (NIV)
2. God is mindful of me.
“For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” ~Luke 1:48a (NIV)
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”~1 Peter 5:6 (NLT)
3. God’s plan for my life is the key to blessing.
“From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.” ~Luke 1:48b-50 (NIV)
"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” ~Deut 30:19 (NLT)
4. God honors humility.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. ~Luke 1:50-53 (NIV)
5. God keeps his promises.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers." ~Luke 1:54-55 (NIV)
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” ~Isa 7:14-15 (NIV)
2010 Bishop's Christmas Greetings to BCCM Congregations
21-12-2010
Dear Reverends, Pastors, Elders, sisters and brothers in Christ,
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life. (John 3:16)
A very merry Christmas and blessed New Year to everyone! In this joyous Christmas season, I pray that all of us in Christ Jesus will once again experience the presence of our Lord and Savior in each one of our life and family.
Christmas is the time for us to celebrate God’s marvelous love for all humankind. God the Creator of heaven and earth in the first Christmas has given us His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Savior, who died and has risen for us, so that for everyone who believes in Him, their sin can be forgiven and they may not perish but may have eternal life. (John 3:16) This is the most precious gift of Christmas to the world.
Praise the Lord! Today as the church of Jesus Christ in this world, we can consistently experience God’s amazing grace and love. In the past over 2000 years, the church has proclaimed the salvation of God’s amazing love in Christ Jesus to all over the world. Basel Christian Church of Malaysia (BCCM) this year is celebrating the 128th Christmas. In the past long historical development of BCCM, we have witnessed how God in His marvelous love has been faithfully guiding us thus far to this stage of achievement in our growth. We witness how we have grown from a very small local congregation in Lau San Kudat in 1882, which had about ten families, to what we have today with about 140 local congregations located all over our country. All these are only by God’s merciful grace to His church.
May God once again motivate us in this Christmas of 2010 with His marvelous love, to be united in one accord to continue on proclaiming His love and salvation in Christ Jesus to the end of the earth. May God the Immanuel fill us with joy and agape love in our hearts in this Christmas, to strengthen our faith, hope and love in Him.
May all glory be to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favors! Amen.
Peace and love,
Bishop Dr. Thomas Tsen Lip T
Gift For Jesus On Christmas
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ~Matt 2:9-12 (NIV)
GOLD = the most precious metal, the gift for a KING
FRANKINCENSE = used in Temple worship to GOD
MYRRH = a spice used to embalm a body after DEATH.
1. I give him my trust.
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” ~Ps 143:8 (NIIV)
2. I give him first place of my life.
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all the other things will be given to you as well.” ~Matt 6:33 (NIV)
F = Finance / I = Interest / R = Relationships / S = Schedule / T = Troubles
3. I give him my heart.
“Commit everything you do to the Lord . Trust him, and he will help you.” ~Ps 37:5 (NLT)
“Wherever your treasure is, your heart will be there also.” ~Luke 12:34 (NIV)
4. I will bring others to Jesus.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” ~John 3:16 (NIV)
“Go out into highways and countryside and urge everyone you find to come in, so that the house will be full.” `Luke 14:23 (NLT)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
