The Seed

     Today on Friday Fruits, we won't talk about fruits but rather, we will talk about "seed". Yes, the seed that will soon transform into a tree. And the tree will soon produce fruits, good fruits.
     That seed is the gospel. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth...” (Romans 1:16). As clear as it gets, we should understand what he gospel is all about. Understand and let that understanding grow. I should emphasize that it should grow, or most people thought that gospel is a one-time query that should be answered with a simple "yes" and viola! You are saved. It's definitely not like that. The seed should grow, or to put it the other way, a seed grows into a tree and produces fruits of different quantity is a tree indeed.

     Now, what really is the gospel? What is the seed? First, I should clarify one thing – that one can preach the gospel rather short, while one can preach it undeniably long. Let’s just say that the manner on how you present the gospel to different kinds of people is the reason. Just like how intellectually Jesus presented the good news to Nicodemus, and how comforting Jesus shared the good news to the Samaritan woman, and also how, with almost no talking, Jesus saved the man who was crucified along Him. Now, don’t be confused your task. As Christians, our task is to share the gospel, whether you deliver it eloquently, shyly, or intellectually, the Holy Spirit will always be in charged with the regeneration of a person. It’s not us who converts people. We just can’t. It’s the Holy Spirit who has the power of regenerating people.

     But we should not get it wrong. We should still put lot of effort in sharing the gospel. We are tasked to talk to different kinds of people, different religious backgrounds, so there must be a certain level of wisdom we should acquire and which, I believe, God would graciously provide. Be emotional if needed, be authoritative if needed, be intellectual if needed, be tactful if needed, but don’t ever change God’s Word for whatever reason or purpose. So don’t give false assurance to people, remember that your job is not to give assurance to people, it’s the Holy Spirit’s.

     Now, how should I present the gospel to you, my dear readers? This is what I’m talking about. I don’t know you. I can’t even see you, but still, I should efficiently present the gospel. For every good speaker should know his audience. Not that I’m saying I’m a good speaker though.

     I guess I’ll settle with the summed up presentation of the gospel but still focusing on it’s very foundation – JESUS. Whether Nicodemus, the disciples, Samaritan woman, the good news always revolves in Jesus. Understanding his earthly ministry is the basis of the gospel. Saving the lost through His death on the cross and He is the King of the kingdom of God and we are the obedient followers. Understanding His person is the credibility of the gospel. Jesus, being 100% God and 100% man, is the only qualified being to save us from the grips of sin. Believe those facts, and live according to those facts. For the glory of God is ultimately revealed through Jesus’ death on the cross.

     To end it, I want you to review the gospel, to remember our role in the advancement of the gospel and always ask yourself “What is the good fruit and what is the bad fruit?”

FF: How will you take This?

     Today on Friday Fruits, I want to tackle something that is worthy to be emphasized and requires outmost consideration, that is “IGNORANCE”.

     Don’t even try to ignore ignorance. I want to show how critical this “ignorance thing” is. There should be a limit to ignorance. It’s time for us to say “enough!”.

     Up to this time, I may have just been saying vague words about ignorance, so let me escort you to the exit of ignorance. Just a quick question – What are the things that you have ignored today? … Yeah, it’s hard to answer because the very answer or answers just escaped from your mind. Well, that’s the essence of ignorance, that’s how ignorance works. Simply frightening…or maybe, the very word “fear” escaped from you.

     Another question – Is there something really important that you might have just ignored today? If you are thinking something instead of that very important thing, if you are doing something instead of that very important thing, if you are preoccupied with something instead of that VERY IMPORTANT THING, that’s it for you, I guess. Keep on doing what you’ve already been doing, in other words – be ignorant. But in case you want to fill you mind with this important thing, this is the best advice for you:

     “and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:32

     It won’t get any simpler than that! Simple but not easy! Because your mind was created by God, your mind was destined and deserves to think about God.

     I think it’s best to stop here, to leave you plenty of rooms to think about. And to end today’s Friday Fruits, here’s the last question – What is the good fruit and bad fruit today?

     I pray that may we not ignore God and I pray that may we not ignore God in the ages to come.

FF: Attraction

Welcome to “Friday Fruits”

     This Friday, I want to talk about “Attraction”, what comes to your mind when you hear A-T-T-R-A-C-T-I-O-N? You may say love, or puberty, you become attracted to opposite sex when you reach puberty, right? Some may think too far ahead, like saying things about homosexuality and same sex marriage. Hmm, but right now, it’s not where we’re going, if I could say, we’re going further than that.

     What I mean to say about “going further” is – thinking deeper, and farther from our everyday perspective. Let’s stop the charades! What I’m talking about is A-T-T-R-A-C-T-I-O-N towards GOD. Yes, being attracted to GOD and to the things related to GOD. Not yet clear? Let me put it this way – attraction is like a force that pulls you to something or someone. It is like a magnet that attracts a metal or metal that attracts a magnet. Same way for both magnets, given that they are in opposite poles.

     Now, going back, our fingers are attracted to move and point the mouse to the address bar, attracted to click and type “f-a” then the search bar would automatically suggest facebook.com. Click, like, posts and repeat the process whenever there’s free time. Now, that’s A-T-T-R-A-C-T-I-O-N! It seems like there’s a force that pulls our little fingers to move on its own.

     I’m just talking to myself, “What if there’s also a Force that pulls us to where our bible is?”, “What if there’s a Force that pulls your hands together and pray?”, “What if there’s a Force that attracts you to open your mouth and sing praises to the LORD?”. Now that’s the wrong question! Because there IS really a Force that attracts us to GOD! GOD Himself is the Force that attracts us to Him. Or to properly say, GOD attracts HIS people. It’s so obvious that a Christian should be attracted to Christian things, but not in this generation I guess. You can’t pray to GOD while reading Facebook posts, can you? Same way in reading the bible while clicking “like”, unless you’re using “auto like” I guess. Now, let me put the right question, “To what force you’re going to be attracted into?”.

     Yeah I know you want to defend Facebook, Twitter or anything those kind, I also believe that GOD gave those things for us to enjoy. I know that you can write a 100-page antithesis concerning this, but it’s not about proving who’s right or wrong in the first place. Just imagine yourself at the presence of the Almighty GOD, would you draw your phone out of your pocket and start tweeting? Post it on Facebook? Selfie with The One True God then post to Instagram? Would you defend yourself in front of the LORD?

      Obviously, it’s not just about the internet, it’s about our everyday lifestyle. Where do your hands pull you? Where do your eyes pull you? How about your feet? Your ears? Mouth?

      To end our “Friday Fruits”, let me ask you this: WHAT IS THE GOOD FRUIT AND BAD FRUIT TODAY?

      And I thank GOD that you were attracted to read this blog. Cheers!