July 16 Costly Joy－Matthew 13：44-46

There are times we do things simply we love to do and it brings joy to us, it does not have to be expensive or difficult to get. I have loved photography since I was a teenager. Even after fifty years I still like it. When I look back at pictures taken some twenty or thirty years back, they still bring me fond memories of relatives, friends, and places I visited.

In the parables we found in Matthew 13:44–46, the emphasis is selling everything to gain something else. We might think it must be something extremely valuable. In fact, the first story demonstrates the “joy” that led the man to sell everything and buy the field. Both men in the stories “sold all”. But here’s the something extraordinary: the result of this selling of everything is actually to gain. We may not realize that. But when we die, we live; when we lose our life, we find it. When we “sell all,” we gain the greatest treasure: Jesus! Joy is the reason; surrender is the response. The treasure of knowing Jesus is the reward. Is that not something very incredible!  

February 28, 2021 New Every Morning – Lamentations 3：19-26

In certain stages of our lives, we experienced some severe forms of affliction and tormenting. It was beyond our control with one’s finances and human abilities. We could not imagine how bleak in the future and the situation was hopeless. At that moment, we cried out...

February 27, 2021 No Longer Yourself – Galatians 2：14-21

Before I was baptized to become a Christian, it was hard to believe what in the bible said and then I began to walk with God. All these were incredible and I wouldn’t believe I could do as the bible demands. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has...

February 26, 2021 Facing Fear – Psalms 56：3-11

When someone made up some story of false accusation or slander against us, how would you handle this kind of situation. It is quite common in a political campaign or an election. This really made our life upside down and distressful. The only solution is to clarify...

February 25, 2021 To Be Human – Philippians 4：6-8

There is an old Chinese adage: A real man sheds blood but not tears. That implies if one cries to show that he is weak. So when we were young as a boy, we tried not to cry for any reasons. But when I grew older I learned from books saying that crying was a sign to...

February 24, 2021 Never Alone – Ecclesiastes 4：8-12

Loneliness is an all-time high afflicted disease of all ages, social or economic status. Particularly in our digital era and pandemic plague, there are alarming rates of increasing loneliness in our society. And in the long term, the symptoms will become depression....