Matthew 2 - Egypt

"Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." (Matthew 2:13)

This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt I called my son." (Matthew 2:15)

Reading Matthew 2 this time made me think deeper about the idea of fleeing to Egypt. Abraham and Issac (if I did not remember wrongly) have had done that too. It seemed to suggest that whenever there was an issue, Egypt was an easy place to seek some kind of refuge.

Don't we use 'Egypt' to symbolise the world today? There are so many things that can allure our sight and pull us away from the things above.

Reading about how the angel of the Lord asked Joseph and family to flee to Egypt and to "remain there until I tell you"... this made me think of the words of Jesus when He prayed for us.

Be in the world, but not of the world.

And yes, we are to remain here, until the Lord tells us it's time.

And then "Out of Egypt, I called my son" can then really apply to us, isn't it?

He will call us back. It is only temporary. And there is a purpose why we are here.

Matthew 1 - outstanding women

and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, ... (Matthew 1:3)

and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, ... (Matthew 1:5)

... And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, (Matthew 1:6)

Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. (Matthew 1:16)

The Bible don't usually record about women, unless they have done something rather outstanding...

some of these women here in Matthew 1 have done rather admirable things, worthy for us to ponder over and measure against our own faith. we are all women and some of us, we know, we are not even supposed/worthy to be called by Jesus. And yet, these women are named in the genealogy of Christ, and we? We are called into this family, to be a part of His body.

Rather amazing stuffs really.

Matthew 8 - only a word and a touch

Only a touch
but do you believe?
“Lord, if you will,
you can make me clean.”

Jesus reached out
and the leper was healed
A simple touch
and the fever left her

Only a word
now, how about this?
"Lord, I am not worthy…
but only say the word.”

The centurion’s faith
and the servant was healed
The disciples’ cry
and the storm died down
The demons’ plea
and were cast out and drowned.

But

All at the word of Jesus.

For He said, “Go.”
And it was done as the centurion believed.
He rebuked
And the winds and sea obeyed.
And He said, “Go.”
And the demons left.

It is the Lord’s doing
It is only by His Word
Our deeds alone can never deliver us
Only the Word can save

But our faith is built upon this Word
as the centurion did
We make our supplications according to His promises
like the disciples had

Are we able to believe in only a word and a touch?

Do we truly believe in an Almighty God?


… and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. (Matthew 8:16)

James 5 - verse for thought

You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (James 5:8)

Strengthen your hearts.... I like how Elder James says it. It's like, yes, he knows we are feeling inadequate, weak, uncertain.... Our hearts are failing us... Sinking.. Running away everywhere... And he says, strengthen your hearts... Don't be discouraged. Don't be unsure. Surely you can do this, because that who is in you is stronger than the world around you. You are stronger than you think you are. And, the best part is, He is coming soon. So, hang in there :)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)

The power of intercessory prayers. Perhaps we have been praying much for one another; but how often do we confess our sins to one another? In this sense, perhaps I should give some credit to the catholic practice of 'confession' when they go into a quiet place to 'confess' their sins to a priest.. But we need to get this right.. Confessing your sins to one another goes together with praying for one another. How else do you pray for someone if you do not first know what they need most at the moment? And we all know that we need the mercy and grace of God most, for we often (always?) fall short of the glory of God.

Let's confess our sins to someone today and have that someone pray together :)

James 4 - verse for the day

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? (James 4:1)

many times, the reason we get worked up, irritable, upset, or angry, is because within our own hearts, we are desiring for something selfish (ie for our own personal gain - for example, as a teacher, I'm usually using the soft, friendly approach; however there were times when I also had my outbursts (which is totally not me) and when I reflect later on, I'm just being full of pride, demanding from my students a form of respect and that they should in no circumstances undermine my authority). And so, when we do not get it, we "quarrel" and "fight"...

in actuality, we should be fighting more with the passions and selfish desire within our own hearts.

yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (James 4:14)

who knows what will happen tomorrow? Each day's burden is enough for the day. (:

James 3 - verse for today

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (James 3:1)

Teachers need to talk a lot.... Counsellors as well... We really need to watch our mouths.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. (James 3:16)

We need spiritual wisdom to know the right words to speak. And this wisdom will be demonstrated in one's works - gentle, full of mercy and good fruits...

James 2 - verse for today

have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:4)

You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; (James 2:22)

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because of the serious lack of time (i am working and studying at the same time right now!) to do a thorough catch-up on daily reflections, plus my ardent desire to read the bible daily with the rest of you, I have decided that posting a verse or two for the day would suffice for now for days when I really cannot write.. however these are the verses that gave me much food for thought and leave me mulling over them for days and I welcome you to share your thoughts with me (:

James 1 - The 1:27 Project

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27)

James started his epistle talking about having joy and being steadfast in trials. He also highlighted the process of sinning - lured and enticed by his own desire -> desire conceived -> sin is born -> sin is fully grown -> death.

Then he talked about being quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. And he ended the chapter with exaltation to be doers of the word, and not hearers only.

The last verse caught my attention.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God....

He said that after he defined what is a worthless religion, suggesting that the opposite of such is a religion that is pure and undefiled before God. In other words, either your faith is a worthless one or one that is praiseworthy before God. There is no in-between.

And he went on to elaborate further...

is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Recently, it has become quite difficult to keep oneself unstained from the world. From both without and within the church, there is much influence of the world. We are so easily persuaded and swayed and numbed to the so-called norms of the world, but these norms were not even norms a decade ago!

During a JY discussion about dressing, some students said that it is okay to see people wearing short skirts (for example) outside church and they feel that it is okay too; but seeing people wearing short skirts in church, they would feel uncomfortable.

But why the difference?

Is it because when we are in church, we are made more aware of God's presence and therefore become more sensitive to how He might think?

And when we are outside church, we are already de-sensitized and don't think much of some of these "norms" that are creeping into our mind and taking over what we believe in? It is really scary, if you really think about it. These are the "stains" that Elder James was talking about when he exhorts us to keep ourselves unstained from the world. We know that once we are "stained", it is difficult to remove them! It is better that we avoid getting such "stains" in the first place.

How do we keep ourselves unstained then? Do we stay away from the world?

No, for there is a purpose for us in this world; but we need to be in the world, but not of the world, and the only way

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

We need to receive the Word of God with meekness, knowing that this Word can wash us and save us. And then

be doers of the word, and not hearers only (James 1:22)

We need to put into action what we have heard, and what we do know. We cannot say, "We know, we know, but it's just... so hard." and then stop there.

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:25)

We need to trust that we will be blessed, and that He will help us.

The other point about a religion that is pure and undefiled before God is on charity. It's funny how Elder James highlighted this point about visiting the orphans and widows in their affliction, as though it is of the same importance as keeping oneself unstained from the world?

I certainly think so! Although, sad to say, it is something we often neglect.

We must remember how Jesus came to earth to save the sinners, for it is the sick that need a doctor, and not those who are well. Jesus always went all out for the outcasts (the physically disabled, the demon-possessed, the tax-collectors, the sinners) of the society. How can we not follow after His footsteps?

How can we today show some love and charity?

(James 1:27 is still something that I am still working on... both the keeping unstained and the charity part. Let's make this our 1:27 project? :))