5 February 2017

My dear readers,

(Extracts from RPG, Jan – Mar 1998, Edited by Dr SH Tow)

1. WORKS OF FAITH

LUKE 17:1-10, JAMES 2:14-26

Faith is the root of saving religion. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). But faith without works is dead (Jas 2:20); root without fruit is false. If we say we have faith, it must show in our works. Our interest today is focused on the works which prove our faith. If we have faith –

(a) We guard our conduct. Woe to him whose conduct should cause others to stumble, especially young children. It were better for him that he be cast into the sea. The greatest harm is done to the name of Christ by professing Christians who live inconsistent lives, who do not practise what they preach, whose tempers and tongues are no different from the world's. The eyes of the world are watching; men judge us by our deeds, not by our creeds. Our worldly lifestyle is doing irreparable harm to souls around us.

(b) We forgive our brother, not by calculating the number of times, but by a generous forgiving spirit, always bearing in mind that we are under the same condemnation. We are thus reminded whenever we pray the Lord's Prayer; "Forgive us our debts [trespasses] as we forgive our debtors [trespassers]." It is a test of being forgiven ourselves. The reason for forgiving others is compelling. God has freely forgiven us all our grievous sins. Can we not forgive our neighbour a few trifling offences?

(c) We serve as "unprofitable servants". This is the test of true faith: how we serve the Lord. Do we serve Him with a proud and self-righteous spirit, or do we confess that in us dwelleth no good thing – no merit, no worth, no strength? It is God who enables, who counts us faithful and calls us to be His servants. All that we are and all that we have is from God. We claim nothing and deserve nothing. Daily we receive from His good hand. Let us give to God our bodies, a living sacrifice. We are only debtors and unprofitable servants.

CONCLUSION: These are the WORKS of FAITH in practice

2. FOLLOWING JESUS WITH UNDERSTANDING

LUKE 18:28-34, PSALM 73:25-28

Our Lord's earthly ministry was fast drawing to a close. "And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51). In Jerusalem the conflict of the ages would be fought and settled, once for all. Our Lord had spoken to the disciples of the suffering and death that should come upon Him, but "they understood none of these things." They were more concerned with what they would receive for following Jesus.

Peter, the spokesman for the twelve, asked Jesus, "Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?" (Matt 19:27). Earlier Jesus had told them to count the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:27-28): balance the losses against the gains. Is it worth it? The answer from Jesus Himself is an unequivocal Yes! Have you left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the sake of God's Kingdom? (a) In this present time manifold more. (b) In the world to come life everlasting.

We who follow Jesus today are given the same promise. In Christ we receive many times what we may have forsaken. In following Him we are joined to His body and through Him with many members (1 Cor 12), who are to Christ as "brother, sister, and mother" (Matt 12:50). If you have left any, in Christ you will find recompense manifold, for the true church is a large and universal family. You may have left home for the sake of the Lord, but in Him you are welcomed to many homes. Then, in the world to come, you will have a mansion in the Father's house, an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you (1 Pet 1:4).

Following Jesus is not for sociopolitical advantage as the disciples initially thought (and many in the church at large still think today). The blessings of discipleship were purchased at great cost to our Lord who endured the mocking, spitting, scourging and death. If we follow, let us do it with understanding and gratitude.

PRAYER: Lord, I will follow Thee everyday, all the way. Amen.

3. GIVING TO GOD

LUKE 21:1-4, MALACHI 3:7-10

Our Lord, in the midst of many pressing matters, did not fail to observe how people cast their gifts into treasury. The rich gave large gifts, but a poor widow put in two mites ­– coins of smallest value. From this observation, Jesus taught a vital truth on giving to God, saying, "Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had."

The principle laid down by our Lord here is: in giving to God the proportion is more important than the portion. How does the gift bear to one's substance? A man who earns a million and gives ten thousand is merely giving one per cent (1%) of his income. A poor widow who gives her entire saving of ten dollars has given 100%. In the esteem of God, she has given much more than the millionaire.

What proportion of a Christian's income should be offered to God? This is a sensitive question ill-understood by many believers. Unless spiritually appreciated the matter of giving can be the cause of needless pain and misunderstanding. However, if we recognise that

(a) we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out (1 Tim 6:7),

(b) all that we are and all that we have come from God the bountiful Giver,

(c) filial love and gratitude demand that we return thanks to God with our substance, and

(d) meaningful giving is a tithe (Gen 28:22; Mal 3:10) or one-tenth of one's income.

When one's giving is by faith, happily and not grudgingly, bountifully and not sparingly or stingily (2 Cor 9:6-8), God is pleased, and He is "able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." Herein is the mystery of faith-giving: the more we give the more the Lord gives back to us, and in more ways than we think.

THOUGHT: "No tither ever becomes poorer."

God bless all readers.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor