Category: Faith

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Acts Meditation 1:4, 14 – Waiting for Promise

J.J.

“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father…” – Acts 1:4

“All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” – Acts 1:14

Jesus ordered, not suggested, His disciples wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father.

In fact, Jesus had conveyed this promise before His crucifixion and after His resurrection (Luke 24:49). Why did the disciples have to wait for God to fulfil His promise? Surely, He could fulfil it in an instant?

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Acts Meditation 1:3 – The Disciples’ Journey

J.J.

He [Jesus] presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. – Acts 1:3

Three things Luke describes in this verse. Jesus presented many proofs of his resurrection. Jesus appeared to the disciples for 40 days. Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God. Our doctor-writer must have meant to say something important here.

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Teenage Apostles

Today, while I was at a gathering of Christian ministry people involved in young adults ministry, something struck me to wonder how old the apostles were when they first followed Jesus. A quick Google search gave me surprising results. Two sources suggest that the apostles were likely in their 20s or younger (https://www.jstor.org/stable/3136128?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents; http://bibleq.net/answer/4801/). 

The apostles were teenagers, while Jesus was about 30 years old. 

Boy, that blew my mind. Not least because I have been so influenced by the mental pictures of the apostles as bearded old men. Also because I realised how the apostles were youths who were discipled by Jesus, and who then led the early Church in their early adulthood. 

It also then struck me that as I was soon reaching the age that Jesus commenced His public ministry, I desired to follow Jesus’ footsteps in discipling young ones. I have been occasionally praying for disciples but have not presently so found 12. No I figure I can’t manage 12. So just a few would do. 

Whatever it is, it struck me how we assume many things about age. Perhaps especially so in the cultural context of the world. But in God’s Kingdom, it is not age that matters but faith, which is tied to humility. 

We need to disciple our young, like how Jesus discipled His young teenage apostles. It is they who will carry the message of the Kingdom of God in a spectacular way to a watching world. 

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Have We Disintegrated Mission and the Gospel? 

(7-10 minute read)

A Singaporean Christian was on his way for a short-term mission trip to a village outside Phnom Penh. He saw an injured man lying along the road. He thought to himself, if I can preach the gospel to him after I help this man, then I will go help this man. As he approached the injured man, someone else came and tended to the man. So the Singaporean stopped in his track, and continued on his way to his short-term mission trip. Was this Christian a Good Samaritan?

No? But that’s what many Singapore Christians and churches do in missions–a false view of missions which we inherited unthinkingly.

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Reflection: Punishment or Protection?

Have you ever experienced a negative event wondering if it was punishment for your past transgression?

Like when things are going well, and suddenly you’re beset with a decapacitating illness?

Like when you enjoy your work and colleagues and feel like you’re really contributing, and suddenly you’re posted out to a different workplace or job scope?

Like when you feel that you’re in the right ministry, right relationships, right place–it feels like you’re right smack in the centre of God’s will–and suddenly, you hear a call to move out?

I have (though not all of those.)

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In Divine Council

In the Lord of the Rings universe, after Gandalf sensed something amiss at Mirkwood, he consulted the White Council, the Council of the Wise, comprising Galadriel, Elrond, Saruman, Radagast and others. They deliberated the possibility of dark lord Sauron returning. The Council would later take action in rescuing Gandalf and defeating and evicting Sauron from Dol Guldur.

The White Council is portrayed as a group of wizards and elves entrusted to keep watch over Middle Earth and to protect its peace. Though Gandalf was wise and able, he could not do without the wisdom and power of the Council in resisting Sauron.

The Bible refers to a similar concept infrequently talked about today. The Council of the Lord God.

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The Delight of Power – Jeremiah 9:23-24

“Thus says the Lord, let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practises steadfast love, justice and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24

Power. Knowledge is power. Strength is power. Wealth is power.

Power is exalted in the world. Few would deny it. Many seek it. We praise those with power. We envy those with power. We delight in power.

We say, that CEO is a Christian, praise God! We say, that Minister professes Christian values, praise God! We say, that pop star said “God”, praise God! We are saying, they have power and we want to be like them.

But this power is nothing.

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The Word of the Lord to the Church from Jeremiah 7 (2016)

3-4 The King of the Heavens, the God of the Church says to you: change your ways and I will let you remain in your place. Do not believe what some church leaders say: this is the house of the Lord, this is the house of the Lord, this is the house of the Lord!

5 If you truly change your ways, if you truly treat one another with justice, if you do not oppress the migrants, the single mothers, the poor, the marginalised, or commit violence in word or deed, and if you do not chase after idols like fame, fortune, force or fear, I will let you remain where you are Church, secure, in peace, prospering, where I gave your forefathers.

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Finding Rest (Jeremiah 6)

I’m tired. Where can I find rest?

“Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.'” – Jeremiah 6:16.

Rest is found on the good way of the ancient paths.

The people of Judah were judged.

Their cities were wells full of oppression, evil, violence, destruction, sickness and wounds (v 6-7).

Their people were greedy for unjust profits. People dealt falsely. Even the prophets and priests declared peace when there was in truth impending disaster which flowed from their evil (v 13-14).

Their people are stubbornly rebellious. They slander (v 28).

The word of the Lord is the object of scorn to them; they do not pleasure in the word (v 10).

This is the picture of people who turn away from the ancient paths.

Where are the ancient paths? How are they to be found?

Stop in your tracks.

Stand by the road.

Look hard with eyes not of flesh but spirit.

Ask for the ancient paths. Seek. Question. Explore.

It is right there. Before you. Beneath your noses. At your bedside. Under your bills and newspapers. In your phone.

The only question then is, will you walk in it? Or will you follow the trail of the people of Judah and say, we will not walk in it?

We need rest for our souls. Rest is waiting for us on the good way of the ancient paths.