Showing posts with label exodus. Show all posts
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Honoring Your Parents
Recently, I've met someone whom I believe, is a very loving son. If you think that giving up dreams and goals just to take care of your parents can only be seen in movies, then you are wrong. During his college application, he got three scholarships abroad but he declined all of it because his parents were old and sick and he is their only child. He took care of his parents to the very best that he can. So he continued his studies in his home country and worked as a coach. In my opinion, he showed not just about loving your parents but also honoring them.
Ephesians 6:2 (“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise) clearly states this directive from God. Honoring our parents is a commandment on which we should all obey. This directive should include loving them, bringing joy into their hearts, respecting them, taking care of them and most importantly obeying them. Yes, we are growing so fast and we might be busy in our present work, responsibilities or appointment. But we should never forget that our parents are growing old. Are you willing to sacrifice your happiness just to show them that you love and respect them? How much of your time you are willing to provide to them and taking care of them? We might also think that our parents caused us a lot of pain and that they did not do so much for us. There will be those memories when there was a lot of pain and struggles. Just surrender your hatred to God and empower the importance of forgiveness. Say to God that you are open for anything and He will show you the true meaning of love.
We should remember that obeying Him has its own gifts. In Exodus 20:12 (“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.), reveals the priceless gift that we will receive. I know it won't be easy for others to honor their parents due to the negative things that have happened in the past. Why don't we just remember those beautiful and happy moments with them, those joyful times that we spent with them and forgetting all the hatred and aches. And to the parents, let your children fly on their own and walk into their journey and embrace them with love. My happy moments with my parents were those times that I was with them abroad and spent quality time with them. Those days were priceless.
Presently, this guy that I'm talking about is now in Dubai. He asked his parents' permission to work here to earn more and be ready for his future. His parents allowed him, probably they thought that it is time for him to grow and find his passion. Maybe this is the priceless gift that this guy received that after taking care of his parents and ensuring that everything is okay now, he can now accommodate the plans for his future. This guy is my personal trainer in gym; I truly admire him on this aspect. I'm happy that I found this kind of person who is passionate on what he is doing and at the same time, a very loving person, friend, human being and most importantly, a SON.
Image taken from tbcsf.blogspot.com
Monday, July 9, 2012
Breaking the Faith Barrier
Sometimes, when we are tapped to do or accomplish a task that is new to us, the initial reaction is doubting ourselves. We might say that we can't do it and we are quite afraid to fail and that we might not qualified for such responsibility. If you read Exodus 4:1-13, Moses encountered the same feeling and anxiety. He was appointed by God to save the Israelites but he doubted himself despite the power that He showed upon to him. In our lives, we come to such stage, that we choose to ignore what He is asking and saying to us. It only shows that we don't trust ourselves and we don't have faith in Him. In order for us to break the barriers in faith, let us reject the following attitudes:
1. Doubt - Moses doubted that the Israelites will believe him that he was chosen by God to lead them. He insisted on this manner even if God showed him several proofs and provided assurance. If we have doubt in our minds, just continue to study the scriptures and it will reveal to us the biblical truth. By not trusting Him, it will only lead to disobedience and the blessings will not be completely poured into us.
2. Feeling of Inadequacy - Moses felt that he lack of skills in order to accomplish the commandment from God. He was afraid to speak and might lead for him to stumble. But what God said? That He will speak for him and leave up the rest to Him. Primarily, God is looking into our hearts for the qualifications and not the human factors as He is so powerful that He will give us everything we need.
3. Fear of Failure - Moses even asked God to replace him for such assignment. He was so afraid that he will fail and will not be victorious in this task. But isn't it obvious that fear of failure hinders us into saying 'yes' to God? Instead of giving Him our full trust, we chose to look into other paths as we are so afraid of losing. But be reminded that He is fighting on our behalf for every battle and the outcome is not His basis of looking into us, it is how we followed Him and how we put our faith on Him.
Let's leave the success or failure into Him, He is the one who will decide it and it shouldn't be our concern. We should have a heart that trusts Him and the attitude of being obedient. As we break down the faith barrier, we will be able to see the evidence of God's presence and power and experience the joy of obedience. In everything we do, we should only put our faith to Him that everything has a purpose and He will always there for us giving us protection and guidance.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Why Lie?
It's always a question to myself... is it okay if you know that your motives are pure and clean? This issue tackled me again as I recently made an exit to Johor Bahru to assist friends and all the lies in front of the immigration officer is magnificent. Such as, "just here to go shopping", "I'm going back to Philippines afterwards", "nah, I just need 4 more days"... The result of those movie-like lines were good, the exit was a success and a new hope and beginning started to motivate these people... but why lie?
I believe that we are living in this fast pacing world that conditions us to lie because sometimes, it is not easy to say the truth. Admit it, we sometimes fall in committing a lie such as reasons on why we can't come to the office, why we are late in our appointment, selling yourself in an interview, etc. It is always wrong to lie because the bible says so. But the argument on "what if it results to a better situation?", "what if my purpose is just to protect a person?", "what if it will benefit to all?". If you will read John 7:2-10, Jesus initially stated that He won't coming to the festival but in the end still left for the occasion not publicly but secretly. Can we categorize it as a lie? If you read Exodus 20:16 (You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor), it is directly commanded not to give a wrong information or basically to lie.
In Webster's definition, lie is making an untrue statement, briefly just like that. But in my opinion on the Christian definition, lie is something that you said falsely that results into hurt and negative to other people. I believe that God looks to us thru our heart, if the movites are clear, will hurt nobody and can provide us a better future and long time peace. Being honest is not always easy but the most important thing is that we keep our faith strong and unshakable. Honesty is also not just how you speak to others, but also how you speak to yourself. While it is apparent that God requires His people to be honest and truthful in their heart toward God and his people, it is also clear that there can be situations where faithfulness and loyalty to God and His people is more important in the eyes of God than satisfying our own law of self-righteous honesty.
I believe that we are living in this fast pacing world that conditions us to lie because sometimes, it is not easy to say the truth. Admit it, we sometimes fall in committing a lie such as reasons on why we can't come to the office, why we are late in our appointment, selling yourself in an interview, etc. It is always wrong to lie because the bible says so. But the argument on "what if it results to a better situation?", "what if my purpose is just to protect a person?", "what if it will benefit to all?". If you will read John 7:2-10, Jesus initially stated that He won't coming to the festival but in the end still left for the occasion not publicly but secretly. Can we categorize it as a lie? If you read Exodus 20:16 (You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor), it is directly commanded not to give a wrong information or basically to lie.
In Webster's definition, lie is making an untrue statement, briefly just like that. But in my opinion on the Christian definition, lie is something that you said falsely that results into hurt and negative to other people. I believe that God looks to us thru our heart, if the movites are clear, will hurt nobody and can provide us a better future and long time peace. Being honest is not always easy but the most important thing is that we keep our faith strong and unshakable. Honesty is also not just how you speak to others, but also how you speak to yourself. While it is apparent that God requires His people to be honest and truthful in their heart toward God and his people, it is also clear that there can be situations where faithfulness and loyalty to God and His people is more important in the eyes of God than satisfying our own law of self-righteous honesty.
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