What Do You Want?

John 1: 37-39a

The Interest Of The Disciples. The two disciples had heard John give a public declaration of the identity of Jesus (19-34). Then, they were given some private direction concerning Him (35). John was saying to them, “Go follow Him, He is the One.” They heeded the call and they began to follow Jesus.

At this point, they were just two regular, religious men. Neither was saved by grace. Neither was a child of God. They were just curious about Jesus. The Word of God had pricked their hearts and they became interested in Him.

That’s how people come to know the Lord! The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to show the lost person their need of a Savior. He uses the Word to point them to Jesus (John 16:7-11). He uses the Word to create a hunger within them for something they do not have. He gives them the desire for more!

When the Spirit of God begins to create this hunger within a heart, it is called conviction. The sinner becomes convicted about his sinful condition; his condemnation in Hell; his need of a Savior; and his need to get to Jesus Christ!

The Investigation Of The Disciples. Jesus knew these men were behind Him and He turned to speak to them. He asked them a strange question, “What do you want?”

He asks this question for their benefit. These men were hungry for a relationship with God. They had been following John the Baptist. John had been teaching them that Messiah was coming and they were longing for a relationship with that Messiah. When Jesus asked them “What do you want?” He was asking them to examine their motives for wanting to follow Him.

If they were looking for a new life; for eternal life; for salvation and hope for the future, then they were following the right Man!

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What are you looking for? What do you want?

If you are looking for Someone Who will love you unconditionally, Jesus is for you!

If you are looking for Someone Who can save your soul, give you eternal life and provide you a home in Heaven, then Jesus is for you!

If you are looking for Someone Who can forgive your sins and change your life, then Jesus is just Who you are looking for!

What you get out of life depends on what you are looking for in life.

So, what do you want? What are you looking for?

Life And Light Into The World

Read John 1:4-5

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The Lord Jesus brought life and light into the World.

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He Brought Life Into Deadness. When Jesus came into this world, He entered a world filled with dead men, who don’t know that they are spiritually dead. Jesus came so that dead men could live! When a dead lost man meets Jesus, he crosses over from death to life (John 5:24). When that dead man becomes alive in Jesus, everything in his life changes (2 Cor. 5:17).

• Jesus is the Strength of Earthly Life. Jesus makes life possible! We are alive by God’s grace.

• Jesus is the Secret of Effective Life. – Jesus makes life worth living! He gives life abundantly! He gives life purpose!

• Jesus is the Source of Eternal Life. Jesus makes life permanent! Those who know Jesus by faith will live eternally (John 11:25-26; John 3:16).

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He Brought Light Into Darkness. Jesus came to deliver the lost from their spiritual darkness, and to bring them into His glorious light. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

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What is sad is that the world stumbles blindly in the dark seeking light in all the wrong places.

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And the world reject the light! “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

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And they do worse than that! The lost world is actively trying to quench the light to prevent it from shining anywhere.

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But the Light that has shone brightly from eternity past, will continue to light the pathway toward eternity for all those who desire to follow Him!

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Jesus brought life and light into the world...

To bring us home to our heavenly Father....

Trust In The Lord

A poster of the Logos Hope Ship on my wall read, "Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength." I nodded. Now, that is what I need. And that is what I will do.

Life is tough when we are to do things all alone. It is good if we have help and guidance from our loved ones and friends sometimes, especially when we are in difficulties or troubles.

The problem comes when they are not within sight. Sometimes, we can become so helpless and hopeless. What we fail to see is that The LORD God is always around us, waiting for us to call on Him. He waits for us so that He can bless us abundantly. If only we will come to Him at first sign of trouble, He will give us new strength.

Many things can be done faster, easier, smoother, and better if we will trust and obey God.

If only we will wait for the Lord...

Leading A Quiet Life

I have often reminded myself to lead a quiet life, and to mind my own business.

But often there would be friends to talk, to joke, to share and to listen to.

So some days, instead of leading a fruitful life, I was seen wasting my time away.

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This morning I managed to quietly do my own things for a long long while.

And frankly speaking, I really enjoyed what I do.

Looking around, I had done quite a lot of things when I was alone.

And I really enjoyed my solitude doing my things.

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We all need our quiet corner to do our own things.

And especially to do some of our unfinished businesses.

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How about you?

Do you enjoy your quiet time?

And do you have many unfinished businesses too?

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It may sound strange.

But we all need to spend time on our own.

Maybe it is time for you to start doing something alone too.

And stop meddling into other people's affairs once in a while.

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We need to be more independent in our lives.

And not so much dependent on others for who we are and what we do.

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Oh yes! Leading a quiet life can be fun too.

Landslide Kills Technician

Co-worker saved by gallant efforts of colleagues who dug him out with bare hands.

A late afternoon landslide bought out the best of a group of oil palm plantation workers, as they sprung into action tearing away the mud that covered two of their colleagues with their bare hands.

Their adrenalin-charged digging saved one of the victims, who was rescued within 15 minutes.

But sadly they could not save the other buried worker, a technician. He was buried too deep in the rubble. It took one hour for his friends reach him; by that time he was already dead.

The two workers were fixing gas pipes near the slope when the earth gave way and cascaded onto them so fast they had no chance to get out of the way.

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Landslide is not expected. It is not visible and cannot be detected.

It is tragic to die buried in a landslide.

The family will be heartbroken for the rest of their lives.

The friends will blame themselves for their helplessness. So close to help yet not close enough to reach him!

It was a horrible event, but many would forget about it after a good read.

Tragedies happen everyday, but they seldom matter until the people become the victims.

Landslide kills many....

Be A Blessing

I was given the task to teach remedial mathematics to a class of undisciplined and unruly students.

Very early I made my acquaintance. I tried to understand their study problems. To me, they are below average students, not that hopeless or helpless. It is just that they are very weak in mathematical skills, and they desperately need someone to give them proper guidance.

Ever since my first lesson with them, I have not stopped inspire and motivate them. I give them my full attention. Somehow, they have become very special to me, each and everyone of them. And I want to see them progress faster as time goes by. Deep inside me, I want to mold them into a civilized group of students who care about learning.

This is my second month teaching them. I have always tried to teach them slowly and carefully, repeating and reminding them the basic mathematical skills when they face problems.

Vaguely but unmistakably, I can see gradual changes for the better. They are improving and can now get more work done correctly. They are willing to cooperate and can work as a team. Best of all, they respect me and are ready to work under my instruction.

In the course of our lives, sometimes we are uniquely placed to make someone's life better. It is good if we learn not to grumble too much. Let us just take up the challenges. God willing, let us be a blessing to people around us.

Do You Want To Live Or Die?

I can't remember when it was; it could be late in 1982 or early 1983.

It was one of those nights with very heavy rainfall and cold wind, after one of our Varsity Christian Fellowship gatherings.

I was walking with a group of christian brethren from the same college and colleges nearby, passing through various faculty buildings, crossing the main road of the university campus, and making our way along the foot path dividing the opening fields.

The surrounding was bright with glaring fluorescent lights and very silent. It should be after 10.30 or close to 11. Most of the rooms in the student blocks were bright. Were they busy, or snuggling in their nice warm beds?

Suddenly I tripped, falling head first into a deep drain with rushing water.

Then, a sudden and terrible thought rushed to my ears, "Do you want to live or die?"

I shriveled and died inside, gripped by the fear of God!

Then my mind was filled with my unrepented sins all at once!

Oh! How did the Almighty God see them all! How I had grieved Him!

Was it the day for my reckoning?

It was quite some time before I realized someone(s) was trying to pull me up.

Then I heard many voices, "What has happened?"

I looked around, trying to understand.

I didn't know how to answer them.

I was stunned and terrified!

The frightening voice continued to ring in my ears...

"I slipped!" I answered softly.

It was not a good answer...

Then I realized in my right hand I was gripping my Bible.

It was a Good News Bible, my very first English bible.

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I searched my bookshelves, up and down.

I finally found my old bible that was soaked in water.

The pages are old, yellow and torn...

But it is my first bible...

My precious bible..

"Do you want to live or die?"

I heard the still small voice again...

This time I knew the answer.

"Both!"

If I live, I want to live by faith in Christ.

And if I die, I want to go to Him too! In my heavenly home!

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)