The Big Story

As I pondered upon how the Scriptures said, “So the LORD God said to the snake, “Because you have done this, ‘Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:14–15, NIV) in my Advent’s meditation, I observed how the serpent is being punished, for becoming the instrument that Satan made use of him and that he is cursed for deceiving man with lies and leading him to his everlasting destruction, and how he is left without any hope of mercy and forgiveness from God. Through this, the devil chose to deceive Eve and how Eve brought the poison of lies, and in turn, she deceived Adam by offering him to eat the forbidden fruit too. Indeed, such lies reflect the works of the evil angels and his wicked men causing every man to accept every challenging work that he has to bear with its consequences including his family life becoming more laboured and challenging (Genesis 3:16–19, NIV).Yet, Satan and the sin of wickedness in men will be defeated by the hope in God’s bigger redemptive story (Genesis 3:15, NIV).

Hence, I thank God for reminding me that Jesus is the One who would “crush the serpent’s head” how He has “reversed the curse” through His death and resurrection. Truly, I choose live in the light of God’s truth as I celebrate all that Christ has done for me when He “crushed the serpent’s head” on the cross, and share the big story of Christ to others whom I meet today. Indeed, “God is working His purpose out as year gives way to year. God is working His purpose out and the tide is drawing near. Near and nearer draws the time, the time that will surely be. When the earth will be filled with the glory of God, As the waters cover the sea “crush the serpent’s head” (AC Ainger, 1894) as highlighted inside the Every Day with Jesus online devotional text.

Are you living in the light of God’s truth as you communicate the big story of Christ to others today?

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 & a HR Administrator Graduate (CHRA) under Human Capital Singapore–SGEnable Collaboration of Partnership – HCS HR PowerBank (7th Dec 2021 to 3rd June 2022) | Former Project Assistant/Email Marketing Consultant |A Connecter in ServeHope Pte Ltd & GrowthBeans Team in Savior-Asia Consulting Pte Ltd | A KeyGuard Specialist @(these)abilites Pte Ltd handling all KeyGuard Operations for 10 months in World United College South East Asia (Tampines Branch) | an Executive Assistant with Vision Strategy Storytelling (3 months, Aug to Oct 2017); A Founder in the ground up initiative project called – Project Stories for LIFE (Affiliated with Youth Corps Singapore, a former member of the Special Needs Cluster) |A PwD Advocate – a representing voice of the Disabled Community to the public today.

Prayer Response to this featured article:
Father, help us to live in the light of God’s truth as we relate the big story of Christ to others today.

(Written by Jeremy Koh, 4th December 2022)

Out of Small Things

In my Advent’s meditation, I could imagined how Micah witnessed great devastation in the time when he was prophesying to Israel and he saw the destruction of Israel by Assyria (722BC), and that the Lord’s judgment (Micah 1:2–5, NIV), yet again God shows His great faithfulness of the LORD through His mercy (Micah 6:8, NIV ), showing Christ as a Messianic ruler coming forth as the One coming out of Bethlehem, (Micah 5:2, NIV). Indeed, small things’ that we can do can have a great impact on others today.

Today, I thank God that He enables me to send out messages of hope to people regularly that speaks of Christ and His birth, life, death and resurrection so that others can seek Jesus and encounter Him in their lives too. Truly, I believe that small things can do wonders to others which can achievable in God’s hands and how this will result in great outcomes accordingly to His good purposes and plans (Romans 8:29, NIV) He has for them through small things that we do to them.

Think about a small thing that you can do for someone this Christmas!

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 & a HR Administrator Graduate (CHRA) under Human Capital Singapore–SGEnable Collaboration of Partnership – HCS HR PowerBank (7th Dec 2021 to 3rd June 2022) | Former Project Assistant/Email Marketing Consultant |A Connecter in ServeHope Pte Ltd & GrowthBeans Team in Savior-Asia Consulting Pte Ltd | A KeyGuard Specialist @(these)abilites Pte Ltd handling all KeyGuard Operations for 10 months in World United College South East Asia (Tampines Branch) | an Executive Assistant with Vision Strategy Storytelling (3 months, Aug to Oct 2017); A Founder in the ground up initiative project called – Project Stories for LIFE (Affiliated with Youth Corps Singapore, a former member of the Special Needs Cluster) |A PwD Advocate – a representing voice of the Disabled Community to the public today.

Prayer Response to this featured article:
LORD, help us to offer small things to you and use them for your glory and purposes.

(Written by Jeremy Koh, 3rd December 2022)

Call of Moses

Most people think of Moses as a great leader, a hero, and a strong, worthy man of God. But a closer look reveals that he was just like anyone else who might share our church pew. In fact, Moses was shocked that God would call him. Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11, NIV). We look at the list of excuses Moses used to prove to God that someone else would be better suited for the task. First Moses said, “I am not the right person.” Then, “I have no idea what to say,” followed by, “They will never believe me.” Then, “I stutter.” Finally, Moses just asked God to go find someone else for the job.

Many of us too are filled with excuses about why we cannot do what God calls us to do. We have too many responsibilities to get to church school on time; worship is too boring; we don't have time to serve those in need. We pass neighbours with a nod and a wave instead of listening to their concerns and allowing them to know ours. We miss opportunities to share God’s love in Jesus Christ because we assume that someone else will do the job. Yet, God calls us. God did not exempt Moses, and God does not exempt us.

Wouldn't it be simpler to say, “Yes” and to trust the One who made us, who loves us, who promises to be with us as we obey?

Profile Background:
Barbara S. Chalfant – (Pennsylvania, U.S.A), Upper Room Ministries

Prayer Response to this featured article:
Pray, we serve Christ works through faith as we reach out the world. Pray, God forgives our excuses and move us to say, “Yes!” Pray, for someone struggling with God's call.

(Written by Barbara S. Chalfant – (Pennsylvania, U.S.A), the unrecalled date/year of published time from Upper Room)