Sunday, September 28, 2014

Grace for the sinners

These few days, I feel grateful as I now reading the gospel of Matthew. Every time I read this gospel, I feel God's grace more and more again. His grace is endless. His love endures forever!

When I read the first chapter, I can always see God's grace. He had put Tamar, Rut, and  Uria's wife (Bathseba) in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Tamar slept with her father-in-law, Rut was a Moabitess, and Bathseba was an unfaithful wife. How could a holy God set those sinners in the genealogy of Jesus Christ?

Continue to the next chapter, I read on how the Magi visited baby Jesus. They were also gentiles, but once again God gave them a privilege to know that the King of kings was born so they could come and worship Jesus. Was it a grace, wasn't it?

Jesus taught and healed many people. He even ate with the sinners and tax collectors, including Matthew. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

Jesus answered them boldly and clearly, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:12-13)

There were times when I felt so dirty and unworthy for God's love. But when I read and found God's grace that changed the life of sinners on the Bible, I convinced to receive His love, grace, and mercy. No one is too sinful for God's grace. Nobody is too broken for His mercy.  No matter what we've done in the past, God's love is more than enough to change our lives. His grace and mercy are more than enough to heal our wounds and transform our lives. Moreover, God really wants us, the sinners, to take part on His story and glory! What could we ask for more?

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Be blessed, be happy

When struggles come to our way, often we think that we would be happier if the problems are solved. We would be happier if we earn more money. We would be happier if we always healthy. We would be happier if we marry a right person. We would be happier if we are famous. We would be happier if we......

There are a lot of requirements needed to be happy. We try our best to fulfill the requirements.... do we live happier?

Almost all people live to be happy. Is happiness our life's purpose? What life is for than just to live happily ever after?