Say No And Yes

Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. - 1 John 3:10

When we wash our hands to clean off the grime and germs, do we actually clean them ourselves？ No and yes. To be precise, the soap and water does the job - not us. But we make the choice to use the soap and water to clean our hands.

In 2 Timothy 2, the apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore if anyone cleanses himself... he will be a vessel for honor". This does not mean that we on our own have the power to cleanse ourselves from sin. Rather, we use the cleansing provided by Jesus Christ, who died for us on the cross.

Philippians 3:9 tells us tat we are "found in Him, not having [our] own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith."

When we receive Christ, His death and resurrection sets us free from the penalty and the power of sin, thus enabling us to say no and yes in everyday life. We can say no to the desires of the flesh, or "youthful lusts" that Paul mentioned. And we can say yes to "righteousness" (right behavior), "faith" (right belief), "love" (right response), and "peace" (right focus).

As we're cleansed daily, we'll be "useful for the Master, prepared for every good work".

Lord, help us to think of the right and the true,

The pure and the noble - it all points to You;

For if we consider what's worthy of praise,

We'll then want to live for You all of our days. - Fitzhugh

Right thinking leads to right living.

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2 Timothy 2:20-22

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purpose and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

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累了，心伤了，才懂得何为叛逆的终局。i'm really sorry... I don't know that this will be the ending... it might be a process, but, i'm the one who cause it... T.T

I am so sorry, disappointed everyone... those who taught me the Truth, those who loves me, those who trust me... and the one I love... Daddy, i had hurt your heart, finally i know, going against the law, will never be peace nor happy...

all the happiness that i had, are like fireworks, nice but only last for a moment... but it cost alot... with a burden heart, have no way to go... I know that you're my refuge, but, i'm tired now...

Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.

I'm the fool.. blur with everything i have... what more i can do? I'm so sorry... to everyone...

Aim High

Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. - 2 Corinthians 13:11

When my daughter and her family were in town for a visit, I had a chance to take my son and two son-in-law out for a "guy" outing.

We decided that while the ladies were shopping, we would go to a firng range and practice shooting. We rented two pistols and took aim at our targets. While shooting, all four of us discovered that on one of the firearms the sight was set too low. If we aimed using that sight, we hit the bottom of the target. We had to aim high in order to hit anywhere near the bull's-eye.

Isn't life a lot like that? If we set our sights too low, we really don't accomplish all that we can. Sometimes we have to aim high in order to reach a desired goal.

What should be our aim in life? How high should we point our ambitions? Well, since Scripture is our true guide, we will shoot for nothing but spiritually maturity. In fact, in Paul's farewell to the people of Corinth, he said, "Aim for perfection". And we also have the high aim of these words from the lips of Jesus, "You shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect".

Perfection is a lofty target, and we won't attain it in this life. But if we want to honor God and get close to that high goal, we need to aim high.


O to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. - Chisholm

Conversion is the miracle of a moment; maturing takes a lifetime.

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Hebrews 5:12-6:3

In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truth of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not lying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement. And God permitting, we will do so.

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It Can Never Happen To Me

Now in my prosperity I said, "I shall never be moved." - Psalm 30:6

Actor Christopher Reeve was paralyzed in a horseback riding accident in 1995. Prior to this tragedy, he had played the part of the paraplegic in a movie. In preparation, Reeve visited a rehabilitation facility. He recalled: "Every time I left that rehab center, I said, 'Thank God that's not me.'" After his accident, Reeve regretted that statement: "I was so setting myself apart from those people who were suffering without realizing that in a second that could be me." And sadly, for him, it was.

We too may look at the troubles of others and think that it could never happen to us. Especially if our life journey has led to a measure of success, financial security, and family harmony. In a moment of vanity and self-sufficiency, King David admitted to falling into the trap of feeling invulnerable: "Now in my prosperity I said, 'I shall never be moved'". But David quickly caught himself and redirected his heart away form self-sufficiency. He remembered that he had known adversity in the past and God had delivered him: "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing".

Whether He has brought us blessing or trial, God still deserves our gratitude and trust.

I can always count on God, my heavenly Father,

For He changes not; He always is the same;

Yesterday, today, forever, He is faithful,

And I know He loves me, praise His holy name. - Felten

In good times and bad, our greatest need is God.

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Psalm 30:6-12

When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken." LORD, When you favored me, you made my royal mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.

To you, LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: "What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me; LORD, be my help."

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.

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Psalm 3:27

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.

Neighborly Kindness

A certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. - Luke 10:33


One of the major obstacles to showing compassion is making prejudgements about who we think is worthy of our compassion. Jesus told a parable to answer the question: "Who is my neighbor?". Or, who qualifies as worthy of our neighborly acts?

Jesus told of a man who traveled on the notoriously dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jerucho. As he traveled, he fell among thieves and was robbed, beaten, and left for dead. Religious Jews (a priest and a Levite) passed him, but they walked by on the other side, probably for fear of being religiously defiled. But a Samaritan came along and had unconditional compassion on the wounded stranger.

Jesus' audience would have gasped at this because Jews despised Samaritans. The Samaritan could have limited or qualified his compassion because the man was a Jew. But he did not limit his neighborly kindness to those he though were worthy. Instead, he saw a human being in need and resolved to help him.

Are you limiting your kindness to the ones you deem worthy? As followers of Jesus, let us find ways to show neighborly kindness to all people, especially to those we have judges as unworthy.


How many lives shall I touch today?
How many neighbour will pass my way?
I can bless so many and help so much,
If I meet each one with a Christlike touch. - Jones

Our love for Christ is only as real as our love for our neighbor.

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Luke 10:25-37

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neigbor?"

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."

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In our daily life, we met alot of people who helped us when we are in need, but when others are in need and it is within our ability, did we do so, take the trouble to help them?

Father Lord, please give me a heart as you had on me... therefore I could have Christlike behavior towards these people...

Stockpiling Or Storing

Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. - Ecclesiastes 5:16

Rugs, lamps, a washer and dryer, even the food in the cupboards - everything was for sale! My husband and I stopped at an estate sale one day and wandered through the house, overwhelmed by the volume of belongings. Dish sets lettered the dinning room table. Christmas decorations filled the front hallway. Tools, toy cars, board games, and vintage dolls crowded the garage. When we left, I wondered if the homeowners were moving, if they desperately needed money, or if they had passed away.

This reminded me of these words from Ecclesiastes: "Just exactly as he came, so shall he go" We're born empty-handed and we leave the world the same way. The stuff we buy, organize, and store is ours only for a while - and it's all in a state of decay. Moths munch through our clothes; even gold and silver may not hold their value. Sometimes "riches perish through misfortune", and our kids don't get to enjoy our possessions after we're gone.

Stockpiling possessions in the here-and-now is foolish, because we can't take anything with us when we die. What's important is a proper attitude toward what we have and how we use what God has given. That way we'll be storing up our treasure where it belongs - in heaven.

Whatever we possess on earth

We have to leave behind;

But everything we give to God

In heaven we will find. - Sper

Letting go of earthly possessions enables us to take hold heavenly treasure.

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Ecclesiastes 5:8-17

If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over then both are others higher still. The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?

The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.

I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him.

Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.

This too is grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind?

All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.

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Completely Clean

It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. - Hebrews 10:4

Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me-ee. Happy birtday to me... Happy bir...

After humming the "birthday song" a second time, I turned off the faucet's running water. It is said that singing the song through twice while washing your hands (about 20 seconds) is a good way to remove most bacteria. But it doesn't last. I need to repeat this process each time they are contaminated.

In the Old Testament, the people of God offered sacrifices over and over to cover their sins. But the blood of the animals didn't actually "take away sins". Only the precious sacrifice of Jesus could do that!

Animal sacrifices are no longer needed because Christ's sacrifice...

~ was one for all - unlike animal sacrifices, which had to be offered "continually year by year".

~ cleanses us completely from all guilt and sin - unlike the blood of animals that was a reminder of sin's penalty and could never take away our sins.

"By one offering [Christ] has perfected forever those who are being sanctified". Only through Jesus can we be declared completely clean.

Once for all, O sinner, receive it;

Once for all, O brother, believe it;

Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,

Christ hath redeemed us once for all. - Bliss

Christ's cleansing power can remove the most stubborn stain of sin.

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Hebrews 10:1-18

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming - not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Therefore, when Christ came int the world, he said:

"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,

but a body you prepared for me;

with burnt offerings and sin offerings

you were not pleased.

Then I said, 'Here I am - it is written about me in the scroll - I have come to do your will, O God.'"

First He said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says:

"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord.

I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds"

Then he adds:

"Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."

And where these have been forgiven, there is on longer any sacrifice for sin.

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Daddy, thank You so much... that You had given us Your only Son, Jesus Christ...

His precious blood, has washed away our sins, and made us become holy... I am no longer with sins but completely clean before You... Daddy, I thank Jesus that pay all the consequences for me... I just can't imagine what could it be if I need bull's or goat's blood to remind myself what had i did...

Daddy, You are so wonderful, that I have no word to describe about your mercy and greatest love... with strength given from You, I will make sure that I am clean and Holy... and always be a blessing for everyone around me... Daddy, I love You...

Lingering Damage

The sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite. - 2 Samuel 12:10

A young teen who was constantly getting into trouble always apologized when his parents confronted him. No matter how much he hurt his parents with his previous wrong-doing, he would soon turn around and d something else wrong - knowing he would be forgiven.

Finally, his dad took him out to the garage for a talk. Dad picked up a hammer and pounded a nail into the garage wall. Then he gave his son the hammer and told him to pull out the nail.

The boy shrugged, grabbed the hammer, and yanked out the nail.

"That's like forgiveness, Son. When you do something wrong, it's like pounding in a nail. Forgiveness is when you pull the nail out."

"Okay, I get it," said the boy.

"Now take the hammer and pull out the nail hole," his dad replied.

"That's impossible!" the boy said. "I can't pull it out."

As this story illustrates and King David's life proves, sin carries consequences. Even though David was forgiven, his adultery and murder left scars and led to family problems. This sobering truth can serve as a warning for our lives. The best way to avoid the lingering damage of sin is to live a life of obedience to God.

A Prayer: Thank You for being slow to anger and filled with compassion. May I not presume upon Your mercy by assuming there will be no consequences for my sin. Help me to confess and then to sin no more. Amen.

Our sins can be forgiven and washed away, but their consequences are ours to pay.

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2 Samuel 12:1-14

The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

"Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him."

David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity."

Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master's house to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.'

"This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.'"

Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD."

Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die."

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Father in heaven, I have sinned against You... please forgive me... I would like to be a blessing to anyone else... Please, don't hurt anyone of them because of me... Lord, here is my prayer...

I swear, that I will not commit in any adultery anymore, before marriage... Lord, but, please help me go through all these... I had over the boundaries, please wash away my sins... that I could serve you better with holiness in me...

Holy Spirit, please do remind me all the time... as a blessing but not a curse...

Everyone come to this world as a straighten wire...

However, because of sin, we all curved, benched...

No matter how much effort we do, still, there is marks, showing that it wasn't straight... wasn't perfect...

With Jesus' precious blood, here we are being washed clean, have the record of holy before you...

Father Lord, Please, help me go through all these, with strength given by You alone...