Scripture: Matthew 22:37-39

Before I love someone, is God my ultimate and first love?

When married people or couples talk about love I often hear them say who their first love is (or was). They would enumerate names or if they marry them they say ‘siya ang pinakauna at huli.’ Kilig right?! Sabi nila you get butterflies in your stomach, you are always happy, and you are almost so sure siya na til the end. The very emotion someone feels when they get into the ‘first love’ business. But really… you think so?!..

If love is this good then maybe we all should dive into it. The smooth moves of the boy next door or the pretty face of your kabarkada. And all the sweet nothings that melts your heart. But isn’t love supposed to be something you give? And when you give something it means you had it before. Ask yourself ‘do I have this thing called love?’ Because if I do then I surely can give it to someone.

But I don’t understand! How would I know if I have love to give? Actually, I thought of this too, before. I asked myself if I really know what love is and if I am capable of giving it. Turns out it was right there all along – staring at me. Someone showed me what love is. The kind I don’t know how to explain. And whenever I remember in my head, I can’t help but whisper in awe – ‘I still cannot understand’

But what’s nice about him is that he wants to show it to me. I get it! He wants me to first see it from him – then give it back to him (because I now have fallen in love with him).

This is the story of God who so loved the world gave Jesus to us. God wants us to love Him first and most.  Then only will we understand what love is. The kind of love He wants us to give to others. Why give? For love is not about what I will get or what I want. Do not entertain love when you have not understood it yet or know how to give it. It will only confuse you of what is real. Do not pursue it from someone else for you will get an ‘unripe’ love. Love complements all. It adds joy to the things around us. It does not compromise those that matter, instead it aligns everything into place. It is never too early nor too late. So ask the author about this thing called love.

Who is love? God is love.

Scripture: Luke 10:40

There is nothing wrong in wanting to serve God, (may it be church related or not as long as you’re doing it to honor him) it is only right to serve Him as an expression of our love and gratitude for what He has done for us. But sometimes our activities consume our time that we have no more for Him. Sometimes we are too concerned about the work that needs to be done, and we forget that the priority should be our relationship with Him. This passage tells us that no work is more important than our relationship with God. If anything keeps you away from having that relationship, then you should assess if that activity is pleasing to God.

Everybody knows that the best way to experience God is to carry out His work, but there are times when all we need to do is to sit at His feet and listen to what He is saying.

We’re not called also to continually sit at the feet of Jesus, otherwise our service for Him would cease. Neither are we called to serve Him incessantly, without taking time to find restoration in His presence.

Scripture: Philippians 4:19

I feel so much of a fool. In these times of crisis when everyone fears to loose his job, here I am planning to resign from my jobs. I am not easily satisfied and now I am not. I feel there is something more I could give. We do things out of complacency and sometimes, I feel forced to be like one. And I’m not used to it. I have lived where I always want to excel and stand out from mediocrity. But here I can’t. I have been so privileged to have all the jobs my profession could have, but the desire I had before was not suppressed by all these achievements and successes. There is something more. I believe this is more of a stretch of my faith. How much is medicine proper? I have asked the support of my parents and they told me to finance my own. I can’t blame them. Their responsibility for my studies ended when I graduated. I don’t have enough money to finance my entire studies – just for one semester only. It’s really a foolish thing to go to a battle when you have nothing in hand, but I really don’t know where I could get them. I had worked only for 6 months, with 4 jobs I could manage, barely sleeping, but still not enough. Will I just pursue it in other times? Maybe that’s a better option. I need to save money first for taking med is expensive. But will I be really able to save money? I will trust the Lord who speaks “I will supply all your needs” – the God, who out of His words, created the earth and everything in it and out of His breath, created the intense, fiery universe. And the same God who holds me from the very depths of my flesh, to the inmost core of my cellular functioning, will always prove Himself victorious over all circumstances. He has proved Himself when He sustained me until I graduated college. He will prove Himself up to this time and for all the things that would come. I will believe even if it’s foolish as it would appear. I will believe in Him – my God, my Father, my Lover.

Am I alone in this endeavor? I don’t think so.

Scripture: Psalms 23:6

The concept of pursuing is common. People pursue things in life! Many of us pursue good things because we all want good life! Even God’s goodness, grace, favor, and love– we strive to pursue and run after them. There’s nothing wrong with that. But don’t you know that it’s not us who are supposed to be pursuing them? It is God who does!

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow (pursue) me” (v. 6). Believers, and godly people are being pursued by God’s goodness, mercy, and love. “SURELY!” No doubt; it’s an assurance of certainty. Take note also: it’s not just for few days, “ALL” the days of one God-fearing’s life! Wow!

What else? Let me tell you young ones (youth). David made a very unusual and remarkable decision and resolve in life. He was not yet a king then. He was still a mere shepherd boy. He said: “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Many of us are not like him. Many youth say, ” I will serve the Lord after I finish studies; after I find a job… maybe when I grow older… or when I become rich… so on and so forth.”

Don’t wait till every situation will be convenient and comfortable before serving the Lord. They won’t come. Now is the best time to decide. Be like David with his amazing resolve. “I will serve the Lord… I will stay in God’s temple… I will use my life for Him…” This does not necessarily mean full-time pastor… or everyday you are in the church. It means in your daily life as a youth, in your studies, at home, in school, with friends, and with anybody else or with any situation– you have to serve and dwell in God’s principles. “Dwell in His House!”

Moreover, David didn’t just say, I will… for a few days, a week, or month, a year… or so. It was not terminal. It was a resolve of his entire life. He said… “forever…” WOW!

Youth, you may say: “That’s impossible… I can’t do that… That’s absurd… etc. etc.” But David can and did! You can do the same. I made the same decision and resolve in my life since I was 12. “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Even in my last breath. I am 40 now, I will still allow God to pursue me with His goodness and mercy as I experience His love and favor. That’s all the more, I enjoy dwelling in His house… forever and ever and ever. He pursues me and I will meet Him where He found me. God is a PURSUER! Be pursued!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1

This verse has been a reminder for us Christians that in simple things or in day to day tasks, such as going to school, chatting with friends, doing schoolwork or household chores, we must do it all for the glory of God.  We are reminded to be good Christian examples.  In going to school, do we ever exemplify the discipline of lining up and waiting patiently for our turn to get in the jeepney or FX? In chatting with our peers, have we been cautious in the words that come out of our mouth? Are we exerting much effort in doing our homework or are we doing our best in reviewing for the exams?

God has found us and if we have received Him as our Personal Lord and Savior, He is in us. In turn, we model Godly Character so that people or unbelievers can see God through us.  We lead other people to God, so they may be saved.

May our lives be a “show and tell” for God’s glory.

Scripture: Matthew 23:23-28

The Lord called the Pharisee – Hypocrites. They were religiously upright. Their deeds are just for external display but no inward change because they were neglecting the more important law – justice, mercy and faithfulness. They were regarded by Christ as blind guides – too strict with lesser values but too lenient with great significance. And their righteousness was just for outward bragging – clean outwardly but critically dirty within – full of pride and self indulgence.

I have learned that I must get rid of hypocrisy (religiously upright) but spiritually unreal. I must exercise mercy, justice and faithfulness if I want to be righteous. I also need to focus on what is greater value for God than those lesser significance. In short, I need to know what my priorities are.

And of course, God desires a pure heart and clean hands – I should be both clean and worthy inwardly and externally. Character and reputation must go together!

Scripture: John 4:23

There are many forms of worship. Some worship for fun. And there are those who really look like they are worshiping. Pero ano nga ba talaga ang pag ‘worship’? When Jesus passed by Samaria, he met a Samaritan woman who was drawing water in the well. This woman was shocked when he asked from her for a drink (Why? At the time, Jews do not associate themselves with Samaritans.) But Jesus did not mind for he saw what was in this woman’s heart. She was eager and ready to learn the truth. And Jesus was more than happy to give it to her. Can you imagine your Lord right in front of you listening to you and telling you what you wanted to know? Wala na sigurong mas hihigit pa dito. The Samaritan woman knew about the Messiah but meeting him face to face and listening to him was a different story for her.

True worship brings out the best in you. It comes from the very spirit of your heart. If your heart does not produce a worshipful spirit – then whatever is in there is not worth worshiping for you. Hindi mo gugustuhin na ibigay ang buong pagsamba mo kung hindi mo rin nararanasan ang kagalakan dito. At kung sapat lang ang kasiyahan mo dito hanggang sapat lang din ang ibibigay mo. But God is more than that. He gives more than what we can ask for. He loves amazingly. And he wants you to worship him as a true worshiper does. It will be seen in your actions – making yourself a good testimony for God and turning your back on bad old ways. A true worshiper is also contagious, meaning excited ka na ibahagi sa iba at hindi mo isasarili na parang may mali sa sinasamba mo. Just like the Samaritan woman who immediately ran back to her village and told everyone her face to face encounter with the Lord. After all, true worship worships the Father in spirit and truth. God delights when he sees these so declare him in your life. Remember, knowing these things is not worship yet. It is not a principle. Kailangan makita ito sa iyong buhay. Worship is not a ritual or a set of songs or going to church. Worship is your face to face relationship to the One you give your true worship.

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen: A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.

As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects.

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:

“I don’t believe that God exists.” “Why do you say that?” asked the customer. “Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn’t exist.

Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.
I can’t imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.”

The customer thought for a moment, but didn’t respond because he didn’t want to start an argument.
The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.

The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: “You know what? Barbers do not exist.”

“How can you say that?” asked the surprised barber. “I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!”

“No!” the customer exclaimed. “Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.”

“Ah, but barbers DO exist! That’s what happens when people do not come to me.”

“Exactly!” affirmed the customer. “That’s the point! God, too, DOES exist! That’s what happens when people do not go to Him and don’t look to Him for help. That’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world.”