12/20
I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:21
Mystery of Faith
Some believers grieve their inadequate faith, but they do not understand what Christian faith is. Faith is not any self-power such as solid conviction or force of believing. It is reliance and dependence upon someone apart from one's self. Look up to His righteousness, His holiness, His salvation and then receive them one's own. We should not possess our own faith, or better to have none at all. Poor, naked, and powerless as we are, we can still wish to live with Him alone, without lamenting our least faith. We would rather rejoice having none of our own faith. Without our own, we are driven to depend; and by depending we catch the true faith. Let there be no more grievance about insufficient faith, upon realizing this mystery of faith.
12/21
Whom have I in Heaven? And besides You I desire none on earth. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart, and my part forever. Psalms 73:25-26
With God
Sweet is it to be alone with God. Nothing to give out but to receive. Nothing to give up but to be granted. I feel then wholly joy in the depth of mercy, absorbing it through everyone of my prose. I would then take and say the words of Peter at the mount of transfiguration, "Lord, it is good for us to be here" (Matthew 17: 4). The Lord will not leave us for long. He will send us to the world to witness what blessings we have received. We shall then suffer pain and anxiety from the world. We are thus compelled by the Lord to hold intercourse with the world. Never do we, from our own intents, seek social intercourse.
12/22
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14-15
If No Christ
What if Christ did not come into this world? Say not that we have Confucius, Lao-tzu, Buddha, Muhammad, Plato, Alexander, Caesar. What if then we have had no Christ? I would have played a hero, willing to give life in the battlefield; I would have acted a desperado to assassinate the people's enemy; or I might have been a philanthropist gladly offering my body for the sake of the forsaken. But the thank to Christ for sins forgiven, we shall inherit the heavenly blessings: the joy of being counted a child of God, the pleasure of dying to myself and living in God, the hope of resurrection, and the promised bliss of eternal life.
12/23
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips, when I remember You on my bed and think of You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. Psalms 63: 5-7
Faith and Theology
Faith is a poem, a song, a music. It is neither meditation nor doctrine. Faith is just what "I believe." It cannot know how to explain itself. Faith is the voice of life within. So, it sings itself and dances from within, as found in Paul. His expression, unlike those of modern times, belongs to a type of poetry, and not a result of systematic thinking. Luther says, "Theology is a type of music." True theology, thus, can be found only where perfect harmony, boundless joy, union with the universe and life exist and where reason and spirit, hand in hand, dance and rejoice together. A Christian, then, is a thinker as well as a poet according to one's faith and perception. He or she views all creatures in harmony, setting one's self in the standpoint of Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God: "by Christ all things consist" (Colossians 1:17).
12/24
The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Christmas in Heaven
Christmas reminds me of many friends who have passed away to live with the Lord. Left on earth, we may celebrate Christmas with sorrow because they are not with us. Our beloved ones, who joined our joyful Christmas, are no longer to be seen among us. This renders our merry Christmas rather discouraged. But then the words of Paul come, "Brothers and sisters, sorrow not, even as others which have no hope," and appeal the more strongly to our mind. A lonely Christmas without our beloved ones will not last long. "So also will God, through Jesus, bring back those who sleep, together with Him" (1 Thessalonians 4:14). What a great consolation. We are assured of reunion with them to joy true Christmas in Heaven. This must be true Christmas.
12/25
The angel said to them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be to all people. For to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign to you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward humans. Luke 2:10-14
Joy to World
A voice of joy came out of a newly born baby. Its sound shakes the whole house with gladness. A new Man came to us with hope. The heavens shook with joy when, in Bethlehem at evening, the Son of Man gave His first voice. The Last Adam came forth to humanity, bringing eternity. Heavens, then, echoed with the earth, singing "A Baby Son of Man was born among humans." All creatures, then, sang in a voice "Our emancipation has come." Christmas is a holy day for the universe; a day for the celebration of liberation, freedom and perfection of heavens, and the earth and everything in them.
12/26
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise; When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take to you Mary as your wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18-21
Virgin Birth of Christ
The Virgin Birth of Christ is certainly a miracle, and as such it is not to be explained by science and ordinary experiences. But it is only one of the many miracles which constitute the bases of Christian beliefs. The Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15) is a miracle, the Ascension ( Acts 1:9) is a miracle, and the Second Advent (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), the Last Judgment, the Consummation of All Things (Matthew 25:31-46), are all to be miracles. Miracleless Christianity is no Christianity at all. God dwelling among persons, divinity entering into humanity, the heaven coming down to save and renew the earth; this is what we celebrate on Christmas. We celebrate a amazing miracle on Christmas, and wait and hope for other miracles which shall bring our redemption to completion. Glory be to God in the highest.
12/27
No one has greater love than the person who lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13
Christ and Friendship
Christ is the center and core of friendship. Apart from Him, there is no true, deep, enduring friendship. What He said is very true: "He that gathers not with Me scatters" (Luke 11:23). Friends that gather not with Him must scatter, sooner or later. So it was that when Christ was born in Bethlehem, true friendship came into this world. So angels sang on the Holy Night: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth, peace among men and women" (Luke 2:14); that is, friendship, neighborliness, and enduring fellowship among them.
12/28
Though Christ was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you might be rich through his poverty. 2 Corinthians 8: 9
Wealth in Poverty
Poverty means a life of sincerity. Faith comes out of sincerity. Love and hope come out of sincerity. Poverty is exemplified by the earthly life of the Lord Jesus. We may best understand Jesus in our poverty. True wealth means nothing but being with Jesus. A Christian does not pursue after any wealth other than this.
12/29
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off. And they were persuaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they who say such things declare plainly that they seek a fatherland. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from which they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they stretch forth to a better fatherland, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16
Home in Heaven
With the progress of faith, this world will be non-sense, and the world to come will gain ever increasing meaning. My body yet remains here like looking the star though the curtain but my heart is already transferred there to the glory. The more I am longing there, the lighter I will be here. Confidence in there which is already prepared for us, we can perceive our worldly desires diminishing day by day. Then, hearing the heavenly music and seeing the glory, our hearts flow out of joy. By passing this world, all trials will be ended; all tears will be wiped away; Jesus will be seen in the face; reunion will be granted with our beloved; all puzzles will be solved; all misunderstandings will be reconciled; and we will enter a new life of unbounded liberty. Human complain that life is short, but a Christian never complain the shortness of one's life is not long; for the homeland of heaven lies now before our eyes.
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