18 September

On our prayer meeting last Wed, the speaker emphasized how we should yearn for Christ's word like how we yearn for our favorite food. . . naisip ko, oo nga ano! Jesus says that He is the bread of life. Ang ganda nung parallelism kasi bread = food and Jesus is not just ordinary food because He is the food that nourishes and gives us eternal life. kaya na-check ako dun. Gaano ba ako kaexcited na "kumain" o mag-partake sa bread of life?

Ang ganda nung storya ni Abraham sa Romans 4 kasi kahit na si Abraham ay simpleng tao lang, he became the father of many nations. Ang laki nung pinromise ni God sa kanya and it's not because Abraham had done extraordinary acts but it's only because he trusted God.

Sabi nga dun sa isang translation ng Romans 4: "If those who get what God gives them only get it by doing everything they are told to do. . .that eliminates personal trust completely and turns the promise into an ironclad contract!"

Meron tayo tendency to rely so much on how obedient, how good, how pure we have been and then somehow expect God to recognize that and in return, we expect Him to make our lives pleasant. The thing is, first of all, there must be Jesus. He must live in us first. And Him living in us is what makes us obedient, pure, holy. Mahirap magpakabuti ng tayo lang. Sabi sa Matt 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. E yung mga Pharisees di ba mga pari na noon yung mga yun?

"Seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you as well."

Yung "Things" which will be added to us are God's promises. And because God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow - He is consistent - He can make the same great promise to us like what He did to Abraham! Isn't that great?

J.B.