A Tale of Two Life Lollipops

A personal devotional between spiritual pursuit and secular life: Interested in Christian growth after salvation, as well as travel, (architectural & design) arts, and reading classical books in the historical context

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[Daily Devotional]

 “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!” (2 Samuel 9:7, NLT)

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ לֹ֨ו דָוִ֜ד אַל־תִּירָ֗א כִּ֣י עָשֹׂה֩ אֶעֱשֶׂ֨ה עִמְּךָ֥ חֶ֙סֶד֙ בַּֽעֲבוּר֙ יְהֹונָתָ֣ן אָבִ֔יךָ וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֣י לְךָ֔ אֶֽת־כָּל־שְׂדֵ֖ה שָׁא֣וּל אָבִ֑יךָ וְאַת ָּ֗ה תֹּ֥אכַל לֶ֛חֶם עַל־שֻׁלְחָנִ֖י תָּמִֽיד׃

“God’s kindness redeems our helplessness.”

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[Daily Devotional]

“O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer to you because you have revealed all this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings!’

(2 Samuel 7:27, NLT)

כִּֽי־אַתָּה֩ יְהוָ֨ה צְבָאֹ֜ות אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל גָּלִ֜יתָה אֶת־אֹ֤זֶן עַבְדְּךָ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בַּ֖יִת אֶבְנֶה־לָּ֑ךְ עַל־כֵּ֗ן מָצָ֤א עַבְדְּךָ֙ אֶת־לִבֹּ֔ו לְהִ

תְפַּלֵּ֣ל אֵלֶ֔יךָ אֶת־הַתְּפִלָּ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

Our prayer should be an interaction with Him.

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[Daily Devotional]

Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.”

(2 Samuel 7:3, NLT)

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר נָתָן֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֖ לֵ֣ךְ עֲשֵׂ֑ה כִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה עִמָּֽךְ׃ ס

While we stay with Him, our judgment will not go astray, as an enduring kingdom was granted to David and his family because of the obedience of David to Him. This is where we are seeking in our spiritual life.

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[Daily Devotional]

David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord.

2 Samuel 6:21, NLT

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִד֮ אֶל־מִיכַל֒ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּֽחַר־בִּ֤י מֵֽאָבִיךְ֙ וּמִכָּל־בֵּיתֹ֔ו לְצַוֹּ֨ת אֹתִ֥י נָגִ֛יד עַל־עַ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה ע ַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְשִׂחַקְתִּ֖י לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה

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[Daily Devotional]

David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today. (2 Samuel 6:8, NLT)

וַיִּ֣חַר לְדָוִ֔ד עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר פָּרַ֧ץ יְהוָ֛ה פֶּ֖רֶץ בְּעֻזָּ֑ה וַיִּקְרָ֞א לַמָּקֹ֤ום הַהוּא֙ פֶּ֣רֶץ עֻזָּ֔ה עַ֖ד הַיֹּ֥ום הַזֶּֽה׃

Either fearful or graceful presence needs us to follow His rules.

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[Daily Devotional]

Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” (Genesis 18:14, NLT)

Abraham, upon visitation by the Lord, humbly and hospitably welcomed Him into his heart and life. However, the Lord first lowered Himself to see Abraham (and us) in this human world, and invited him/us to this valuable relationship. The Lord exercises His control over all things in the creation, and this lordship requires us to accept His Word as absolute on both heaven and earth.

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[Daily Devotional]

Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. (1 Corinthians 14:20, NLT)

Ἀδελφοί, μὴ παιδία γίνεσθε ταῖς φρεσίν, ἀλλὰ τῇ κακίᾳ νηπιάζετε, ταῖς δὲ φρεσὶν τέλειοι γίνεσθε.

As said verse 14:23, infantile spirituality in the early Corinthian church overvalued spiritual gifts, such as speaking/praying in a tongue, which prevented them from morally instructing the body of Christ in love, as well as non-believers. Christians pursue love, rather than the pride in possessing spiritual gifts.

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[Weekly Devotional]

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10, NLT)

αὐτοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν ποίημα, κτισθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐπὶ ἔργοις ἀγαθοῖς, οἷς προητοίμασεν ὁ Θεὸς ἵνα ἐν αὐτοῖς περιπατήσωμεν.

Our salvation was given by His grace, ultimately leading us to do good works, as planned by Him. We are anew created to live closely with Him, away from sins. This understanding extends to verse 4:16, emphasizing that our walk with Him happens within the Christian community, rather than independently.

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[Daily Devotional]

And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church. (1 Corinthians 14:12, NLT)

οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς, ἐπεὶ ζηλωταί ἐστε πνευμάτων, πρὸς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τῆς ἐκκλησίας ζητεῖτε ἵνα περισσεύητε.

Our job at church is more focused on cultivating and serving the church community where we can grow together into wholeness with Him. In sharing His words and messages, mutually intelligible communication lights people’s path in life’s journey, enabling them to grow into God’s family.

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[Daily Devotional]

But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. (1 Corinthians 13:10, NLT)

ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ τὸ τέλειον, τὸ ἐκ μέρους καταργηθήσεται.

We strive to cling to certainties during uncertain times in life; spiritual gifts are one of them, and money are another. Paul emphasizes spiritual gifts are a mere part of perfection. Other achievements on earth are fleeting. We are frequently overwhelmed by hectic daily lives, the sheer amount of pileup that comes along, and other needs around/within us. Paul urges us to learn how to find God` love satisfactory to ourselves under whatever situations.

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[Daily Devotional]

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:3, NLT)

καὶ ἐὰν ψωμίσω πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντά μου, καὶ ἐὰν παραδῶ τὸ σῶμά μου, ἵνα καυθήσομαι, ἀγάπην δὲ μὴ ἔχω, οὐδὲν ὠφελοῦμαι.

This reminds me of the verse:  But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ (Matthew 7:23, NLT), warning any self-initiative ministries based on one’s own ideology, philosophy, or other constructs. The Bible merely means “Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.” (Matthew 7:21, NLT)

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[Daily Devotional]

Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:

first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership,
those who speak in unknown languages. (1 Corinthians 12:28, NLT)

Καὶ οὓς μὲν ἔθετο ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ πρῶτον ἀποστόλους, δεύτερον προφήτας, τρίτον διδασκάλους, ἔπειτα δυνάμεις, ἔπειτα χαρίσματα ἰαμάτων, ἀντιλήμψεις, κυβερνήσεις, γένη γλωσσῶν.

Our church communities are inevitably at different stages of development, away from the descriptions of the early fathers, rather than staying ideal. Spiritually healthy churches, thus, are more dynamic in seeking ways to improve than enjoying their achieved healthiness.

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[Daily Devotional]

For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ,[a] you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. (1 Corinthians 11:29, NLT)

ὁ γὰρ ἐσθίων καὶ πίνων κρίμα ἑαυτῷ ἐσθίει καὶ πίνει μὴ διακρίνων τὸ σῶμα.

Examining our hearts leads us to finding humbleness in true repentance and brokenness.

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[Daily Devotional]

For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. (1 Corinthians 11:26, NLT)

ὁσάκις γὰρ ἐὰν ἐσθίητε τὸν ἄρτον τοῦτον καὶ τὸ ποτήριον πίνητε, τὸν θάνατον τοῦ Κυρίου καταγγέλλετε, ἄχρι οὗ ἔλθῃ.

I wholeheartedly agree that “when we gather as the church, we should be quick to serve rather than be served.”

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 [Daily Devotional]

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31, NLT)

Εἴτε οὖν ἐσθίετε εἴτε πίνετε εἴτε τι ποιεῖτε, πάντα εἰς δόξαν Θεοῦ ποιεῖτε.

“As Christians, we live before the Creator of all. We enjoy what He gives us with thanksgiving, and refrain from what He prohibits, knowing it is for our own good.”

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[Daily Devotional]

And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. (1 Corinthians 10:17, NLT)

ὅτι εἷς ἄρτος, ἓν σῶμα οἱ πολλοί ἐσμεν· οἱ γὰρ πάντες ἐκ τοῦ ἑνὸς ἄρτου μετέχομεν.

We need to honor the body and blood of Jesus through the Lord’s Supper on a regular basis, requiring no creativity in observing the Eucharist, but needing to know the meaning of this celebration.