But Now: Before and After Meeting Jesus: "Before" and "After" Spiritual ‘’Photos’’ of Bible Heroes

 "Before" and "After" Spiritual ‘’Photos’’ of Bible Heroes

Today, I want to remember several biblical heroes who had "before" and "after" ‘’spiritual photos. ’’

Saul
Before: A blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent man
After: A fervent preacher of the Gospel.

Zacchaeus
Before: A dishonest tax collector
After: A man repenting of his sins and giving generously to the poor.

Mary Magdalene
Before: A woman possessed by seven demons
After: A devoted follower of Jesus and a witness of His resurrection.

The Samaritan Woman
Before: A woman living in sin
After: A witness of Jesus who shared her encounter with Him and led many in her city to believe in Him.

The Demon-Possessed Man in the Region of the Gadarenes
Before: A man possessed by a legion of demons
After: Completely changed, sitting at Jesus' feet, clothed and in his right mind, eager to follow Jesus.

These heroes' lives serve as powerful reminders of the transformative power of encountering Jesus. Just as they experienced radical change, we too can be transformed by His love and grace.

Topical meditation 2024

May 12

But Now: Before and After Meeting Jesus: Once Walked in the Desires of Our Flesh, But Not Anymore

Once Walked in the Desires of Our Flesh, But Not Anymore

"Among whom we also all walked once in the desires of our flesh, doing the wishes of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature children of wrath—as also the others." - Ephesians 2:3

"We walked in the desires of the flesh." This applies to all people, but blessed are those about whom it is said, "once." For those saved by grace, that is in the past. They walk no more in the desires of the flesh.

The born again walk in good works prepared by God (Ephesians 2:10), in a manner worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1), in love (Ephesians 5:2), as children of light (Ephesians 5:8), and carefully (Ephesians 5:15).

Let what happened "once " remain in the past, and in the present and in the future, I want to walk with God. I want to walk in love, in the light, with caution, and faith.

But Now: Before and After Meeting Jesus: Once enemy of God, but now reconciled

 "Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence." - Colossians 1:21, 22

In these verses, Paul reveals a profound transformation: from being enemies of God, we are now reconciled to Him. Formerly, our minds were consumed by hostility and our deeds were evil. Yet, through the sacrificial death of Christ, we have been reconciled to God.

This reconciliation is a miracle. Through Christ's death, we have been made holy, unblemished, and blameless in the presence of God. It is a transformation that surpasses human understanding and emphasizes the depth of God's love and grace.

Topical meditation 2024

May 10

But Now: Before and After Meeting Jesus. Once separate from Christ, but now in Christ.

 

"Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ." - Ephesians 2:12, 13

I will remember that I was once without Christ in order to appreciate more the privilege of being with Christ. I will remember that I was once without hope and rejoice that I now have the blessed hope. So that I may always be humble, forgiving, hating sin, concerned for the lost, glorifying God, and always rejoicing, let me remember my "once upon a time" state.

Topical meditation 2024

May 9

But Now: Before and After Meeting Jesus. Once walked in sinful ways

 "In which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them." - Colossians 3:7

In the life of a Christian, sinful ways and sinful desires are things of the past. He once walked in them, but not now. A Christian has been hurt by sin, so he will flee from sin. His hatred of sin keeps him from sin. Once he lived in sin, now he mortifies them.

Topical meditation 2024

May 8

But Now: Before and After Meeting Jesus. Once not a people, but now the people of God

 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. - 1 Peter 2:10

Peter reminds Christians of the difference between their past and present: once we were not a people, but now we are the people of the Almighty, the Holy, the Omniscient, the Ruler of all. We are His own people, we are a holy nation, a chosen generation. Once we were without mercy, now we have received mercy.

Remembering the past and seeing the change in the present:

1. Humbles us, preventing us from boasting.

2. Brings gratitude to our hearts.

3. Strengthens our faith.

If He has shown mercy to me, who is undeserving, then in the future too He will continue His good work that He started in me. What an honor it is to be part of His people.

Topical meditation 2024

May 7

But Now: Before and After Meeting Jesus. Once darkness, but now light in the Lord.

 I have been following a weight loss program since last month. The nutritionist instructed us to take a picture on the first day of the program and write "before" on the picture. Then, take another picture after a month and write "after" on the picture to see the difference.

That's why I thought about changes in our spiritual life. Every child of God has "before" and "after" "spiritual photos". We can all testify that after meeting Jesus, our lives are not the same as before we met Him. And that change continues throughout life. As we grow spiritually, our spiritual condition today is different from our condition yesterday.

This week, I want to remember verses that remind us of this truth.

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." - Ephesians 5:8

In the life of every born-again Christian, there is a difference between the past and the present; there is a "once" and a "but now".

Once we were darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. Once we were lost, but now we are saved. We were once captives of sin, but now we are conquerors of sin. Once we were enemies of God, but now we are children of God. We must remember the "once" so as not to be proud now; we must remember the "once" so that now we expect new victories with faith.

Topical meditation 2024

May 6

Divine Presence in the Workplace

 "Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, 'The LORD be with you!' And they answered him, 'The LORD bless you!' Ruth 2:4

Who wouldn't want to work for such a person? His greeting is not merely a formality but a sincere expression of kindness. Boaz wishes his employees the very best: the presence of God. In turn, the workers reciprocate with heartfelt blessings: 'May the Lord bless you.' In this workplace, where God's presence is valued above all else, the work will undoubtedly be blessed.

From my diary,

May 5,  2024

Surrounded by merccy

 "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him." - Psalm 32:10

This verse contrasts the wicked with those who trust in the Lord. The wicked rely on themselves, their own righteousness, wisdom, and power. In contrast, those who have received God's forgiveness rely on the Lord's justice for justification, His blood for forgiveness, His power for protection, and His wisdom for guidance. What a blessing it is to be surrounded by the mercy of the Lord, which is better than life itself!

From my diary,

May 4,  2024

Love has a bad memory

"Love … keeps no account of wrongs." - 1 Corinthians 13:5

Love does not carry a notebook to record injustices and ill-treatment towards it. On the one hand, love has a bad memory: it does not remember the mistakes and sins of those it loves. On the other hand, it has a brilliant memory: it remembers very well the kindness and good treatment done to it.

If I want to have that blessed forgetfulness, I must also have a good memory of another truth: let me always remember that my Lord never remembers my sins, nor should I remember the sins of others.

From my diary,

May 3,  2024

 

Death for lack of instruction

 "He shall die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray." - Proverbs 5:23

We often hear that people die from lack of food, lack of normal living conditions, lack of medical care, etc. But here, the book of Proverbs speaks of another cause of death: death for lack of instruction.

Many have lost their lives because of their foolishness, either because they did not hear or did not accept instruction.

From my diary,

May 2,  2024

Encouraged by Answered Prayer

"I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech." - Psalm 17:6

The psalmist knows that the Lord will hear him, that's why he prayed. And he knows that the Lord will hear him because the Lord had answered his prayers before.

One who has confidence that the Lord will hear does not hesitate to bring their petitions to the throne of grace. Answered prayers in the past encourage them to persist in prayer. Those who have witnessed the Lord's faithfulness gain courage to approach Him in supplication.

I too can testify to answered prayers, so I will continue to pray in faith.

From my diary,

May 1,  2024

 

Pleasant ways of wisdom

 "Her ways are pleasant ways, And all her paths are peace." - Proverbs 3:17

The ways of wisdom are not only true but also pleasant. However, this may not be evident to everyone. For those who revel in the pleasures of sin, the ways of wisdom seem boring. Yet, to those who fear God, for whom holiness is happiness, and who are liberated from the grasp of sin, the ways of wisdom are indeed delightful. These paths bring joy to those with clear consciences, who find delight in the Lord and meditate on His Word. They cherish communion with Jesus and contemplate heavenly things.

Those outside this path fail to comprehend how the paths of wisdom can be pleasurable. Yet, those who walk in wisdom have personally experienced the joy of traversing these paths.

From my diary,

April 30,  2024

Faith over fear

 "But He said to them, 'Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?'" - Matthew 8:26

There was an answer in Jesus' question: you are fearful because you are of little faith. When faith in Jesus is present, fear of danger will be absent. Jesus wasn't asking for information in His question; He was giving information: You are fearful because you lack faith. Hence the solution: believe with all your heart and you will not be fearful. If the Savior is present, how can you perish?

When I am afraid, let me remember Jesus' question and the answer it contains.

From my diary,

April 29,  2024

Exhausted but still in pursuit

 "When Gideon came to the Jordan, he and the three hundred men who were with him crossed over, exhausted but still in pursuit." - Judges 8:4

Gideon's men had just won a battle, but the war was still ongoing. They were exhausted but continued to pursue the enemy.

There is a lesson here for me: even if I have no strength and am tired, I must continue my struggle against the forces of darkness and my own carnal nature.

Winning a few battles does not mean the war is over. I will ask the Lord for strength and power to continue chasing the enemy, remaining in Christ's army until the end.

Our way may be narrow and our struggle hard, but our Commander, Jesus, has already secured victory.

From my diary,

April 28,  2024

Like the Sun: Deborah's Prayer for Those Who Love God

"Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD! But let those who love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength." - Judges 5:31

Deborah's song of victory concludes with a powerful declaration. While she calls upon God's enemies to perish, the focus then shifts to a beautiful blessing. She prays for those who love God. She prays that those who love God would resemble the sun: bright, beautiful, shining, radiating light and warmth, pleasant, and strong (no man can prevent the sun from shining). Whom was the prophetess praying for? For those who love God and prioritize Him above all earthly things, who walk with Him on the path of holiness, who obey His commandments, meditate on His Word, rejoice in His works and words, seek His kingdom above all else, hate sin, love God's children, serve God, and fight against His enemies.

Deborah loved those who loved God, so she sought such a wonderful blessing for them.

Those who love God pray for others who love God and desire the best for them.

I love God, therefore Deborah's prayer applies to me as well.

From my diary,

April 27,  2024

 

Prayer for Practical Obedience

 "Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God." - Psalm 143:10

This prayer of the psalmist is also my own. Like David, I too desire to learn to do God's will. It's not merely a matter of knowing what God's will is, but of actively living it out. In our journey with the Lord, we're not attending a theoretical class to simply understand God's will in theory. Rather, we're engaging in a practical learning process, seeking to apply His will in our everyday lives. That's why the psalmist doesn't say, "Teach me to know Your will," but "Teach me to do Your will."

From my diary,

April 26,  2024

Beyond Our Plans: Trusting God's Design

 "The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands." - Psalm 138:8

My plans are sometimes wrong; sometimes I forget to pursue the right plans, and sometimes I lack the wisdom and ability to carry them out.

The psalmist is confident that the Lord will fulfill His purpose for him because His steadfast love endures forever, and he knows that his prayer will be heard: 'Do not forsake the work of Your hands.'

The Lord never leaves His work unfinished; no purpose of His remains incomplete.

From my diary,

April 25,  2024

The Courage to Obey

"Therefore, be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left." - Joshua 23:6

In his farewell message, Joshua commands obedience to God's Word without compromise. I see a principle in his words: it takes courage to obey God's Word. It takes courage to adhere to pure scriptural truth amidst the prevalence of false teachings. It takes courage to resist temptations and the devil's deceitful schemes. It takes courage not to compromise with the world and sin; it takes strength to persevere in the race of faith. 

From my diary,

April 24,  2024

The Fear of the LORD: Key to Abundant Blessings

 Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways." - Psalm 128:1

"Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD." - Psalm 128:4

God's blessing is the result of fearing God. Those who fear God have hatred for sin, love for His Word, obedience to His commands, and a commitment to walking in His ways. In their reverence for God, they shun evil and pursue holiness, resulting in blessings upon their work and family.

From my diary,

April 23,  2024

Standing Against Evil

 "... you are not able to tolerate evil ones. And you have tested those claiming to be apostles and are not, and you have found them false." — Revelation 2:2

In the letter addressed to the church of Ephesus, in addition to rebukes, there were also words of praise, and here are two things worthy of praise: they cannot tolerate evil ones, and they exposed the false apostles. The true church does not tolerate evil and can expose the lies of self-proclaimed apostles. Those who do not teach what Christ's apostles taught and do not act like them are false and must be unmasked.

From my diary,

April 22,  2024