A Spare tire

I compare myself to a spare tire, spare tire in a compartment. An extra, a substitute, last option. As long as things are well, they won't be needing it. It is just neglected, tossed away, hidden as if it doesn't exist but when things go wrong they'll sought for it. Same with me, At the office I felt that way because I was always been the last option. If things were well, I'm just being ignored but when things got out of hand, that's the time that they'll include me. Honestly I felt bad. Well to be fair with them I was given a chance but I failed  so what right do I have to feel bad? right??? But then as I was analyzing or you could say reflecting my situation, I thought about Jesus. How many times have we treated Him with contempt, how many times have we treated Him like a spare tire??? Most of the time, right? Most of the time we make decisions without even bringing or consulting Him first. When the decisions we made didn't work out, and things got out of hand, then that's the only time that we come to Him. When we have problems, we want to resolved it our way, leaving God out of the picture but when things got even worse, that's the time we sought for God's help, that's the time we include God. So how do you think God would feel if we treated Him that way? If during the times that I felt like a spare tire, I felt bad when I don't even have the right to feel that way. How much more God? And mind you God has all the right to feel bad. Why??? Because God is God, He has no flaws, He has no equal, and most of all He never disappoints us. If I blew my chance because I failed, God on the hand never fails. His promises stand true forever. We should never treated Jesus like a spare tire rather we should treat Him with utmost priority. He had all the right for our time, attentions, affections, and devotions. Why??? because He saves us. He had given us the most precious gift that no one can even equal. He had given us His one and only son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died for us, He gave His life for us, us who are unworthy and undeserved.  Through Him we are reconciled to God. He clothes us with His righteousness so we can be made right with God. Our Lord doesn't deserved to be treated like a spare tire, He deserves more, He deserve our full devotion.

- 陳錦錦

Why problems never get exhausted

I can't exactly remember what I was thinking when I was walking back to office after eating my lunch at home, when the verse that I've read last night from the book of Judges suddenly came into my mind. The verses answered my issues, my questions before on why do problems never end. So why do problems never get exhausted?

These are the nations that the Lord left in the land to test those Israelites who had not experienced the wars of Canaan. He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle.

Judges 3:1-2 (NLT)

The nations that was left in the land are thorns to the Israelites, In the modern times those nations are the problems, trials and difficulties that continue to strike us. It says that God left those nations to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who have no experience in war. In the same way God wants to teach us how to endure and persevere in the midst of trials. Let say we want to acquire patience and self control, so how would we able to develop it, how will God teaches us? God will send us situations wherein we will be able to practice patience and self control.

These people were left to test the Israelites—to see whether they would obey the commands the Lord had given to their ancestors through Moses.

Judges 3:4 (NLT)

Trials, problems, difficulties are not totally eliminated when we become Christians, the same way the Canaanites living in the land were not eliminated. Through those trials, our faith is being tested. When adversity come will we keep on obeying God or do we turn our back from Him, will we give up and waste our life or will we persevere until we finished the race?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 3:2-4 (NIV)

Will we able to say what the Apostle Paul said,

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness,which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)

- 陳錦錦