"I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds." Revelation 2:23

Do I want to reach the point when lives are being lost before I believe in who God is? From the Bible we have every warning that Jesus will repay us according to what we do. Just because Jesus died for our sins doesn't automatically transfer these consequences to him too, not when I purposefully choose not to follow him.

Jesus sees through every part of me,
yet warns me of what will come if I don't repent.

"Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." Revelation 2:16

God has given me a chance to repent, but this chance is not endless. He has warned me he will come soon. I do not have a picture of Jesus fighting with a sword in my mind. Because even before his death, he did not retaliate and told others to put away their swords. But these events cannot downplay his authority and power as God.

I don't want to imagine what fighting against Jesus will be like,
I don't want to be his opponent.

"I know your afflictions and your poverty - yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan." Revelation 2:9

It is comforting to hear God say "I know". He understands the pain we go through because Jesus went through suffering as well. Amongst all the negativity we can drown ourselves in, he reminds us that we are rich. This is probably not an adjective we would describes ourselves with, but because we have God there are so many reasons that we are exactly that - rich!

Count all the riches I have, not the things I lack. 

"Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." Revelation 2:5

Take time today to reflect on where you were and where you are now. Write down a list of 1) things you used to do but no longer do 2) visions and passions given by God 3) thoughts towards God. Make an effort to do these things, because that is the solution to bouncing back from the fall.

God did not save me for me to fall even further away from him.

"Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." 2 John 1:9

There is no point going ahead in this life without Jesus. There is no advantage and no prize. It does not get us across the finish line any faster. But it sure gets us there alone and purposeless.

Slow down and find Jesus and his teaching every step of the way.

"But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him." 1 John 2:11

It is simply not safe to have a beautifully cleaned car interiorly with dirty windshield and windows. The driver cannot see the road properly. Similarly, we cannot place all our attention on loving others yet neglect the corners of hate in our life. Hatred, no matter how small, blinds us and hinders us from living the life of love Jesus called us to.

Wipe away all the windows of hate today;
the dangers ahead are unforeseeable.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

What if we changed our perspective from "God, you're so slow" to "God, you're loving and patient"? And what if we considered the needs of others rather than impatiently grumble that it has been a day since God hasn't answered your request? God never told us he wouldn't fulfill his promises. This means he certainly will.

Look up from your watch and see the needs of those around you.

"Be merciful to those who doubt." Jude 1:22

This is a reminder to have patience and compassion to those who are figuring things out. But we should have the same mercy towards ourselves. When we are doubting, it's easy to feel guilty and pressurise ourselves unnecessarily. We think we no longer believe and walk away from the faith in its entirety.

Don't be jarred by doubts,
but be gentle in thoughts and unyielding in prayer.

"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." -2 Timothy 1:6

We know the gifts God has graciously given us. But sometimes we say we don't and flip through the Bible to try find our gifts. We use this to buy time against doing God's work; maybe because we're scared, shy, and want to hide away.

Don't let anything hinder me from God's work today; 
be inextinguishable.

"God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." -Hebrews 11:40

I am a part of God's story, together with all the heroes of faith I read about in the Bible. It is staggering to know they believed in the better that God had planned but not yet revealed. It was Jesus who did and continues to bring about unity in unprecedented ways.

Continue this faith story for the future generations to read and hear about.

"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." -Hebrews 7:25

Ever felt like giving up? Surely, this is an encouragement for those times. Jesus has the power to save me, not just a part of me, but every part of me. And because he lives forever, I can trust that for my lifetime he will always be praying for me.

Jesus is forever fighting for my salvation.

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." -Hebrews 3:13

If we walk alone when following Jesus, we may more readily give into temptation and not see sin as clearly. We need to people by our side. True friends who know your story, who are looking out for you, and will give you pointers no matter the circumstance. We all want these people in our lives, so be that person for your community today. 

Lovingly encourage someone everyday to stay faithful to God.
Begin today!

"Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men." -1 Peter 2:13

We think we can only follow one authority. But leadership in this world is more complex than that. God has placed different authorities in our different areas of life. Whilst our ultimate authority is God himself, he has called us to submit every authority for his sake, and so we should.

Submitting to authority does not mean I'm succumbing to this world.

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." -1 Timothy 2:1-2

We complain about the latest government decisions. We're upset because the bill passed doesn't match our personal values. We protest for what we believe is right. And we work against what our boss has asked us to do. But have we prayed?

Channel your negative energy and opposing actions into prayer,
especially, for those in positions of authority.

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." -Ephesians 5:1-2

This is one of my favourite bible verses. It spoke to me while on a mission trip because it gave me a vision of how to serve and a life calling to imitate God in the way he has loved others and myself. There is no better person and example to follow than Jesus!

We love from being loved by the Lover.

"If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me." -Philemon 18

I'm more than willing to help others - support them financially, offer my time, and send messages of encouragement. But to absorb their costs of damage and to take on their sentence at the end of the court case? That I'm not so sure. Jesus, however, has already done this for me; he has taken upon himself every single one of my sin, and paid the price for it.

Love others deeply enough
to be willing to take on their charge no matter what it is.

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." -Colossians 2:6

My journey as a follower of Jesus is supposed to be in God. It is allowing him to saturate every aspect of my life - every thought and action. It is not living according to my own ideals, desires, and strength. What benefit is it to receive Jesus partially?

Receiving Christ Jesus is not a ticket of freedom to do whatever I want.

"All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth." -Colossians 1:6

I forget there are so many people fighting for the gospel every day in persecution. They are risking their lives and sacrificing everything in order for the gospel to be made known. Yet since I understood God's grace, in what way have I and haven't I been a part of the gospel growing all over the world?

The gospel does not stop with me.

"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." -Romans 14:13

We are individually accountable to God. It's not my business to judge how my fellow believers are living. The way we live out our faith can be different but does not always mean it's wrong.

I'm not saved to be right before God,
and cause everyone else to fail.

"So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace." -Romans 11:5

We look around and wonder who else is on this journey following Jesus Christ. Sometimes it feels like we are the only ones. But that is far from the truth. Even now, there are others, walking the same path - chosen by grace.

I am NOT alone in this walk of faith;
I have NOT been rejected by God!

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." -Romans 8:26

There are definitely times when it's hard to know exactly what to pray for. We sit completely overwhelmed by the situation, speechless and heartbroken. Praise God for the Spirit who knows us and God better than we ever could. He is helping us navigate our conversations with God.

Keep praying even if you don't know what to say,
because God does.

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised" -Romans 4:20-21

When the odds are against us, we lose hope. We assume the door is closed. We are left disappointed and heartbroken. Abraham leads the way on how to face these situations: be immoveable in our faith in God and praise him.

Today I choose to be expectant of God's promises 
and to have faith in him alone.