As I pondered upon how the apostle’ Peter took him (Jesus) aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you;” (MATTHEW 16:22, NIV), indeed, when the Messiah came, it has been said that He would not suffer and could not fail the mission task that God given Him to do. And in Daniel 7:13-14, it spoke of how the Son of Man would show up and that He would topple Rome, destroy sinners, restore the golden age of Israel, and rule on David’s throne. However, the suffering tortured servant was not seen as a messianic figure by any school of Judaism as depicted in Isaiah 53. And, this was what Peter simply did as to what we would have done. We rebrand Jesus for the market or tweak Him to fit popular expectations. We make Him relevant to our community or tailor Him to suit our culture.
In this way, every generation recreates Jesus in its own image. And, every nation accommodates the Gospel to its own culture. Yet, Jesus Christ does not change to suit our culture. This encourages you & me to let our culture be conformed to His image (Genesis 1:26, NIV) than using Jesus to build our own kingdom, ministry, or career today and this will draw us to receiving the same stern rebuke that Peter got at Caesarea in Philippi, as the Scriptures said, “Get behind me Satan. You are minding the things of men” (MATTHEW 16:23, NIV).
Today, I confess my carnality of flesh to say how my mental confusion traded God’s presence for stage presence sometimes, and that I seek the Lord’s forgiveness and cleansing.
Indeed, the Church Jesus builds impacts culture, not the other way around as I did my today’s meditation.
Let’s pray for a Back to Jesus movement in our city today!
(Written by Jeremy Koh, 10th July 2019)
Profile Background:
Jeremy Koh is a disabled graduate from Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore – formerly known as Spastic Children Association (1987-1997). He graduated with Certificates in Microsoft Office Skills. Jeremy has worked in ServeHope Pte Ltd – Project Assistant/Email Marketing Consultant for 5 years (March 2008 – August 2013). And, Jeremy did a research work for the keyguard at (these)abilites Pte Ltd handling all KeyGuard Operations for 10 months in World United College South East Asia (Tampines Branch). He was Executive Assistant with Vision Strategy Storytelling (3 months, Aug to Oct 2017). Jeremy worked as GB Connector in GrowthBeans Team in Savior-Asia Consulting Pte Ltd (October 2018 to December 2019). Today, he continues to be in GB Youth Organizing Team/as a GB Youth Facilitator in YouthCorps Singapore, a former member of the Special Needs Cluster in YCS, and a Founder in the ground up initiative project called – Project Story for LIFE that serves the Special Needs Community at-large in society today.
Prayer Response to this featured article:
Jesus, help us return to the fundamentals of the one, holy catholic (universal) and apostolic Church that Jesus builds upon, to be totally Christ-centered, Word-based, be Spirit-led as we give God all the glory!
In this way, every generation recreates Jesus in its own image. And, every nation accommodates the Gospel to its own culture. Yet, Jesus Christ does not change to suit our culture. This encourages you & me to let our culture be conformed to His image (Genesis 1:26, NIV) than using Jesus to build our own kingdom, ministry, or career today and this will draw us to receiving the same stern rebuke that Peter got at Caesarea in Philippi, as the Scriptures said, “Get behind me Satan. You are minding the things of men” (MATTHEW 16:23, NIV).
Today, I confess my carnality of flesh to say how my mental confusion traded God’s presence for stage presence sometimes, and that I seek the Lord’s forgiveness and cleansing.
Indeed, the Church Jesus builds impacts culture, not the other way around as I did my today’s meditation.
Let’s pray for a Back to Jesus movement in our city today!
(Written by Jeremy Koh, 10th July 2019)
Profile Background:
Jeremy Koh is a disabled graduate from Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore – formerly known as Spastic Children Association (1987-1997). He graduated with Certificates in Microsoft Office Skills. Jeremy has worked in ServeHope Pte Ltd – Project Assistant/Email Marketing Consultant for 5 years (March 2008 – August 2013). And, Jeremy did a research work for the keyguard at (these)abilites Pte Ltd handling all KeyGuard Operations for 10 months in World United College South East Asia (Tampines Branch). He was Executive Assistant with Vision Strategy Storytelling (3 months, Aug to Oct 2017). Jeremy worked as GB Connector in GrowthBeans Team in Savior-Asia Consulting Pte Ltd (October 2018 to December 2019). Today, he continues to be in GB Youth Organizing Team/as a GB Youth Facilitator in YouthCorps Singapore, a former member of the Special Needs Cluster in YCS, and a Founder in the ground up initiative project called – Project Story for LIFE that serves the Special Needs Community at-large in society today.
Prayer Response to this featured article:
Jesus, help us return to the fundamentals of the one, holy catholic (universal) and apostolic Church that Jesus builds upon, to be totally Christ-centered, Word-based, be Spirit-led as we give God all the glory!
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