---apple addict---: June 2012

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Christ-centered relationship

The first few weeks into this relationship, my boyfriend and I agreed that our relationship should be a Christ-centered one. Just like students need revision, after one year being together, I have to revise that concept again.

Till this day, my heart still screams "men are from mars!" sometimes. Our expression of love differs and we have to take time to learn each other's love language. I love romance, he is not used to it. He loves to spend quality time together.

It gets frustrating sometimes when he doesn't echo back your love and care the way you want, in your preferred love language.

One night as I was pondering over this. The Holy Spirit reminded me of this verse "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men," (Colossians 3:23 NKJV). At that moment I knew what God wanted to say to me. Everything that I do for my boyfriend, I must have the intention that I'm doing it unto the Lord, not expecting a return, just expecting that it will propel my boyfriend to love the Lord more!

After being enlightened, it was as if a heavy burden was carried off my back. I no longer had to carry my backpack of expectations. Instead, I need to start to view this relationship in a fresh new way.

As a young believer, before getting attached, I always tell the Lord, I want to love You more than anything. Being in a relationship, it is easy to love your partner more than the Lord, and often times you won't even realise it!

How do you then know that you love the Lord more than your partner? When your relationship is Christ-centered. What does that look like. I would like to suggest that perhaps it looks like this.. Everything you do for your partner birth from your desire to see him/her being closer to the Lord... And your mission becomes to present him/her as spotless bride of Christ. Then perhaps you truly know you love Him more.

Monday, June 04, 2012

Much more

I have been doing painting recently. No I'm not really an artist. I've been doing paint-by-numbers given by a friend.. It is like colouring using arcrylic paint on canvas. I call it cheat painting.

It is not always easy though it is cheat painting! Sometimes the lines are ao fine, you need to concentrate or else you'd go over the line. So when I make that kind of mistakes, I need to retouch and cover up my mistakes by repainting.

Jesus died for our sins, His blood covers our sins just like a thick layer of paint that covers the mistake we have made when painting. Just through this one Man's sacrifice we are given abundant life. How is that possible?

For if by the one mans offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) (Romans 5:17 NKJV)

Whenever I read this verse in the past, I have never questioned myself why Paul had to compare Adam to Jesus. Why he had to compare how death reigned in us through one man Adam, and how MUCH more we will reign in life through one man Jesus Christ.

It is often easier for human to believe that 'I have sinned against God' than 'I'm loved by God'. It is often easier to believe that Adam has brought upon us the curse of sin. Thus, Paul wanted us to see that, hey if you can believe, you can believe that Adam's sin has brought death to the WHOLE world (great impact isn't it?) all the more we should believe that through Jesus Christ, those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life!

Our brain tends to believe in the negative more than the positive! It is easy to think negative. To think positive we have to make effort.

Believe that with Christ we will reign in life greatly!