Musings over the past few days / weeks

Watching part 1 of William Carey's biography on Sat taught me many lessons. It reminded me of the importance of constantly reminding myself of the calling I've received. When you realise the nature of your calling, who has called you, and what price was involved in the calling, I don't think you'll fool around much with your life. Ah...I hope it is always so. There are just too many times that I behave like a fool. We need to constantly stir up our hearts, as spoken of in the Men's conference. I've been led to visit several similar passages which spoke of the same verb.

 2 Timothy Chapter 1
⁶ For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh ^(P)the gift of God which is in you through ^(Q)the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God has not given us a ^(R)spirit of ^[f]timidity, but of power and love and ^[g]discipline.

2 Peter 3

 ¹ This is now, ^(A)beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am ^(B)stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, ² that you should ^(C)remember the words spoken beforehand by ^(D)the holy prophets and ^(E)the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. 


2 Peter 1
 ¹² Therefore, ^(AH)I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in ^(AI)the truth which is present with you. ¹³ I consider it ^(AJ)right, as long as I am in ^(AK)this earthly dwelling, to ^(AL)stir you up by way of reminder, ¹⁴ knowing that ^(AM)the laying aside of myearthly dwelling is imminent, ^(AN)as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will also be diligent that at any time after my ^(AO)departure you will be able to call these things to mind.


Just reading the final passage gives me a window into Peter's heart in the final days of his life. His desire to shepherd the flock of God is so strong, as reflected in this letter. When his death day is imminent, he is convicted to always be ready to remind you of the things which they already know. While there is breath in him, he considers it right, to stir you up by way of reminder. And he aims to work hard at this so that even after his death, the congregation can recall all the truths. What a heart. I know that as Peter writes this, the conversation with Jesus by the shore must have flooded his mind. The conversation of loving restoration by Jesus with a very dejected and spiritually low Peter.


John 21
¹⁵ So when they had ^(T)finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you ^[f](U)love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I ^[g]love You.” He *said to him, “Tend^(V)My lambs.” ¹⁶ He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you ^[h]love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I ^[i]love You.” He *said to him, “^(W)Shepherd My sheep.” ¹⁷ He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you ^[j]love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him ^(X)the third time, “Do you ^[k]love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, ^(Y)You know all things; You know that I ^[l]love You.” Jesus *said to him, “^(Z)Tend My sheep. ¹⁸ Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” ¹⁹ Now this He said, ^(AA)signifying by ^(AB)what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “^(AC)Follow Me!”


Ah.. time would really fail me if I were to go on. There's still the bit before this. I have in my mind, a very vivid picture of Peter. How he was first called. Simply following the Lord's instruction, he hauled up plenty of fish. His response was "go away from me Lord, for I'm a sinful man". And an all to similar scenario was planned by the Lord to restore Peter. This time, Peter was so spiritually low that he needed someone to point out gently to him "It is the Lord". I see in my mind, how he forgot about the fish altogether and instantly sprang to his feet and jumped into the water to swim to shore to meet with his beloved Lord. What a scene it was. What a scene. Ah.. how often have we had our hearts stirred up this way by our God. Perhaps, it is a little of this and also that William Carey kept a diary, that prompted me to decide that hey. I think I should start writing these down. When my heart grows cold and needs a little poke and stirring up, I can re-examine my calling and the immense grace that was shown to me.


It's been awhile now since the gospel meeting. A young man has been in our midst, seeking God. Ministering to this young man, trying to calmly answer his questions reminded me of that blessed day that something in me clicked. It was the most joyful experience. It was as though someone had given my soul new lenses and I looked at the world differently. Oh how far this grace has brought me. With each discussion with him, I feel a stronger connection with him, a stronger desire to minister to him and pray for him. Oh God, increase my love for You and for him, so that I can better bring him to behold the glory of our God.


And speaking of gospel meeting, I need to pen down something which was told to me. Some precious words. It was his last day ministering to us. I don't know why, but I have respect for spiritual elders. Elder, more spiritual, godly men. Their tremendous staying power through the years. I always feel that there is much to be learnt from them. It was on his final day, after gospel meeting ended that I felt strongly that I should shake his hand. I didn't know exactly what to say to him. Because honestly that wasn't on my mind. Somehow, I was looking to hear what he had to say to me. What a weird thought but nevermind. To cut the long story short, I decided that I should chiefly show my appreciation, love and commitment flying down all the way to minister to us. "Not at all, not at all. You just continue going strong with the Lord. Don't look back."
Don't look back. These were the simple words which I chewed on in my mind. What did they mean?


Don't look back 1
Lot's wife. Looking back, yearning to return to the old way of sinful life and then turning into a pillar of salt.


Don't look back 2
Today, in the light of my thanksgiving to God for His saving grace and His grace on my life of sanctification, don't look back reminded me not to look down and be prideful of my successes. What successes? All grace. Someone once briefly mentioned that past successes was what Paul was referring to when he wrote about "forgetting the past". Haven't had time to examine that but if that's true, then that's what he probably meant.


i have no time to bother about grammar and following a logical sequence. I'm merely transfering my thoughts to words.