The following are 22 questions the members of John and Charles Wesley’s “Holy Club” asked themselves each day in their private devotions over 250 years ago.
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
4. Can I be trusted?
5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
7. Did the Bible live in me today?
8. Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?
9. Am I enjoying prayer?
10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
13. Do I disobey God in anything?
14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Am I proud?
19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
22. Is Christ real to me?
Short story of the Holy Club: http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1983/issue2/216.html
Monday, September 13, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Run the Race with Endurance
Excerpt from "5 Minutes with K.P." in the GFA magazine, Send
"The writer of Hebrews said, "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1). He was very much aware that we are enlisted in a marathon race that can only be won if we have sufficient stamina to last the entire long distance.
As Westerners, we suffer from lack of endurance. Our society is very fluid-people move frequently and surveys show that 50 percent of engaged couples think at least once that if their marriage doesn't work out, they will have a chance on a second one.
It is much easier for us to change, walk away, close our hearts, become bitter or give up instead of enduring for the long haul. It is an uncommon thing to find-in our society and in the Church- the "stickability", permanency, endurance and commitment in the face of difficult that the Bible talks about when it comes to following Jesus.
Especially if you are a young person, I encourage you to embrace the word "endurance." Paul wrote to his young disciple Timothy, "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim 2:23). In other words, "Although enduring hardship is difficult, hold onto it, because through this you will grow and improve on the inside."
The best years of my life in terms of developing as a leader, and the most valuable lessons I learned, happened when I worked with a mission organization in northern India. One of my leaders was next to impossible to deal with. No matter what I did, he found fault with it. It was not easy at all to endure. I felt like I died a thousand deaths. But somehow my upbringing and my instruction about discipleship called for staying on and not giving up." - K.P. Yohannan
"The writer of Hebrews said, "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1). He was very much aware that we are enlisted in a marathon race that can only be won if we have sufficient stamina to last the entire long distance.
As Westerners, we suffer from lack of endurance. Our society is very fluid-people move frequently and surveys show that 50 percent of engaged couples think at least once that if their marriage doesn't work out, they will have a chance on a second one.
It is much easier for us to change, walk away, close our hearts, become bitter or give up instead of enduring for the long haul. It is an uncommon thing to find-in our society and in the Church- the "stickability", permanency, endurance and commitment in the face of difficult that the Bible talks about when it comes to following Jesus.
Especially if you are a young person, I encourage you to embrace the word "endurance." Paul wrote to his young disciple Timothy, "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim 2:23). In other words, "Although enduring hardship is difficult, hold onto it, because through this you will grow and improve on the inside."
The best years of my life in terms of developing as a leader, and the most valuable lessons I learned, happened when I worked with a mission organization in northern India. One of my leaders was next to impossible to deal with. No matter what I did, he found fault with it. It was not easy at all to endure. I felt like I died a thousand deaths. But somehow my upbringing and my instruction about discipleship called for staying on and not giving up." - K.P. Yohannan
A Christian's Response to Difficult Situations in Life
What will my response be when things turned against me in life?
What will my response be when man falsely accuse and persecute me?
What will my response be when Christian brothers betray, attack or desert me?
What will my response be when Christian leaders fail me?
What will my response be when I am hurting badly and seething with anger?
I am not sure how I will respond when times like this comes my way. Yet I have seen many lives destroyed or crushed by their response to these situations. It can be difficult to hold on to God and easy to let loose our hurts and fury in such situations. But if there is one thing that should govern our response, it must be God Himself - His very words. How then should a Christian respond to such situations in life?
In times when things turned against us, sometimes without reason, we must cling on to God. To believe that He is in control, He knows what's best, and He will make all things well someday; even though we cannot see it now and we are in tears. There is great Hope because of Jesus Christ. He has saved us, redeemed us, make us His very own and given us eternal and abundant life. (John 1:12; 3:16; 10:10) Our earthly life is but for a moment; then we shall have no more tears for eternity, and our troubles on earth will be nothing in light of our eternal glory in Him. (2 Cor 4:16-17)
In times when man falsely accuse you and attack you, even Christian brothers, be patient. For God will judge justly and bring about His righteous wrath. (Rom 12:19) It is not right for you and I to take matters into our own hands and repay evil for evil. (Rom 12:17; 1 Thess 5:15) Rather, we must overcome evil with good.(Rom 12:21) We must never sinned in our anger with the words we say and the actions we do. We must be wise not to play the devil's game and not to let him have a foothold in our lives through our response(Eph 4:26-27) Be patient and stand firm in the Lord.
In times when Christian leaders fail you, pray. This is a time when you could find yourself confused, disappointed, angry, upset, bitter or a mixture of everything. It is vital to pray at such times because this is when the devil will incite and deceive you and many in your church. Widespread rumours, misunderstandings, divisions and fights is the devil's gameplan. Let us not be deceived into becoming a tool for him but let us be self-controlled and alert; for the devil is taking such opportunities to devour people up in church. (1 Peter 5:8) Pray for your leaders, and ask the Lord to show you what is happening and how to deal with it wisely. (Rom 15:30; James 1:5)
And in all things, always pray and always give thanks to God in all circumstances. (1 Thess 5:17-18)
And to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. (Rom 12:12)
Let us therefore sing to the Lord in response!
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." (Ps 107:1) Amen.
What will my response be when man falsely accuse and persecute me?
What will my response be when Christian brothers betray, attack or desert me?
What will my response be when Christian leaders fail me?
What will my response be when I am hurting badly and seething with anger?
I am not sure how I will respond when times like this comes my way. Yet I have seen many lives destroyed or crushed by their response to these situations. It can be difficult to hold on to God and easy to let loose our hurts and fury in such situations. But if there is one thing that should govern our response, it must be God Himself - His very words. How then should a Christian respond to such situations in life?
In times when things turned against us, sometimes without reason, we must cling on to God. To believe that He is in control, He knows what's best, and He will make all things well someday; even though we cannot see it now and we are in tears. There is great Hope because of Jesus Christ. He has saved us, redeemed us, make us His very own and given us eternal and abundant life. (John 1:12; 3:16; 10:10) Our earthly life is but for a moment; then we shall have no more tears for eternity, and our troubles on earth will be nothing in light of our eternal glory in Him. (2 Cor 4:16-17)
In times when man falsely accuse you and attack you, even Christian brothers, be patient. For God will judge justly and bring about His righteous wrath. (Rom 12:19) It is not right for you and I to take matters into our own hands and repay evil for evil. (Rom 12:17; 1 Thess 5:15) Rather, we must overcome evil with good.(Rom 12:21) We must never sinned in our anger with the words we say and the actions we do. We must be wise not to play the devil's game and not to let him have a foothold in our lives through our response(Eph 4:26-27) Be patient and stand firm in the Lord.
In times when Christian leaders fail you, pray. This is a time when you could find yourself confused, disappointed, angry, upset, bitter or a mixture of everything. It is vital to pray at such times because this is when the devil will incite and deceive you and many in your church. Widespread rumours, misunderstandings, divisions and fights is the devil's gameplan. Let us not be deceived into becoming a tool for him but let us be self-controlled and alert; for the devil is taking such opportunities to devour people up in church. (1 Peter 5:8) Pray for your leaders, and ask the Lord to show you what is happening and how to deal with it wisely. (Rom 15:30; James 1:5)
And in all things, always pray and always give thanks to God in all circumstances. (1 Thess 5:17-18)
And to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. (Rom 12:12)
Let us therefore sing to the Lord in response!
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." (Ps 107:1) Amen.
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