Your Personal Reflections TRAC WSCS HOLY WEEK MEDITATIONS

9TH TO 15TH APRIL 2017

LIVING IN
RIGHTEOUSNESS
James 1:22-2722 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive
yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but
does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a
mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately
forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the
perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in itnot forgetting
what they have heard, but doing itthey will be blessed in what
they do.
26
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a
tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is
worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and fault-
less is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to
keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

GOD is Righteous and that we should imitate Him.

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 Sunday 9th April 2017 - Day 1
James 2:23
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God,
and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called Gods
friend
Abraham was a very ordinary man. He was as ordinary as most of us,
made mistakes and committed sins, yet God deemed him as a
righteous man and His friend.
Why was Abraham looked upon as righteous? It was because of his
faith. He simply believed and acted according to Gods will. He did
what God required of him, when God asked him to.
Do you experience the fullness of His joy daily from a close fellowship
with God? How has His grace motivated you to live differently from
the world and differently from those who profess to know God, but
by their deeds deny Him (Titus 1:16)?
Dan Allender commenting on grace says, The cost for the recipient of
Gods grace is nothing - and no price could be higher for arrogant
people to pay. Receiving Gods grace is humbling. It makes us realize
our inadequacy to live a godly life by our own effort. Ultimately it will
motivate us to say no to those things which displease God.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast
spirit within me.
- Psalm 51:10

Most Christians believe in God but we do not always do what God Ms Loh Wai Fun
requires us to do. We tell God that we will serve Him but at our WSCS Discipleship & Nurture Coordinator
convenience and when we feel that we are ready. I have always Fairfield Methodist Church
wanted to serve God because He has been very good to me and has
always comforted and helped me when I am down and in times of
need. However, I told God I will only serve Him after my children have
all grown up. Moreover, I felt that there are many sisters-in-Christ
who are far more capable than I am, so there was really no need for
me to serve.

One day while playing badminton, I suddenly suffered a dizzy spell.

My heart started to race. I thought I was going to have a heart attack.
I cried out to God, No, God! It is not my time yet, I have not done
what You have required of me. That very incident was my wakeup
call. Since then, I am always sensitive to God, ready to respond to His
leading and ministering. Hence, when I was called to serve in church
as well as in WSCS Discipleship & Nurture (D&N) ministry, I did not
hesitate. These are not my plans but Gods. Though I do not
understand why God wants me in WSCS Discipleship and Nurture or
what He has in store for me in this ministry, I will do it because He

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 Saturday 15th April 2017 - Day 7
Titus 2:11-12
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all
people. 12 It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly
passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this
present age
wants me to. Like Abraham, I will do it as my simple act of faith and I
believe all things will go as God has planned. God has been gracious
and I have seen and experienced His blessing as I serve Him in this
capacity.
Dear Sisters-in-Christ, if you are still hesitating to step up when God
calls you to, I challenge you to do so as your simple act of faith.

Paul says that Gods grace has appeared and brings salvation to all
people. This does not mean that everyone will be saved. If we think Mdm Millie Ng
that we are doing fine on our own, we will not acknowledge our WSCS Discipleship & Nurture Coordinator
need for salvation and a Saviour to deliver us. As Jesus said (Luke Agape Methodist Church
5:32), I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to
repentance. The good news is no one is beyond the reach of Gods
grace. Have we received this grace of God that saves us from His
wrath and brings salvation? Is our self-righteousness keeping us
from experiencing His grace?

When we experience Gods grace, it motivates us to want to please

Him and to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions We begin
denying ourselves daily, taking up our cross, and following Christ
(Luke 9:23). We reject the lust of flesh, the lust of the eyes and
the pride of life (1 John 2:16); they include pride, greed, craving
status and power, selfishness and living for sinful pleasure. Grace
teaches us to say no to these things, because God and His grace are
far sweeter than anything this world can offer.

We must not only reject ungodliness and worldly passions, but say
yes to self-controlled, righteous lives, resulting in bearing the fruit of
the Spirit that would point those living in the world to Christ. Your
salvation is about the glorification of the name of Jesus before all
nations and all peoples. A life saved by the grace of God is a life
marked by self-control and holiness and points others to Jesus. Does
your life point others to Jesus?

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 Monday 10th April 2017 - Day 2
Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they
will be filled.
Quotations to stir heart and mind - Compiled by Richard A. Kauffman/
September 10, 2007
IF THIS VERSE is to you one of the most blessed statements of the
whole of Scripture, you can be quite certain you are a Christian; if it is
not, then you had better examine the foundations again.
David Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount
THIS BEATITUDE prompts a look at our heart's desire. What hungers
and desires operate within us? Which of them commands our utmost
loyalty?
John W. Miller, The Christian Way
IT IS NOT the one who has attained righteousness but the one who
hungers for it whom the Beatitudes assert God blesses.
Bonnie B. Thurston, Religious Vows, the Sermon on the Mount, and
Christian Living
BIBLICAL is more than a private and personal affair; it includes social
righteousness as well. Thus, Christians are committed to hunger for
righteousness in the whole human community as something pleasing
to a righteous God.
John R. W. Stott,
THE HUNGER for righteousness is the one appetite that Christ
blessesnot to covet possessions or achievement or recognition, but
to live, through every action and perception, the kingdom of God.
Jim Forest, The Ladder of the Beatitudes
Ms Trudy Tay
WSCS Discipleship & Nurture Coordinator
Aldersgate Methodist Church
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Friday 14th April 2017 - Day 6
2 Timothy 4:8
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that dayand not only
to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing
When we acknowledge to God that we are sinners, we receive by
faith the free gift of eternal life that our Lord Christ provided by His
shed blood.
The most difficult part of the Christian life is to be able to hang on
and survive in a world that is hostile to God and His people.
The Christian life is a marathon and finishing a marathon is not easy.
The Apostle Paul showed no despair, no defeat, no cynicism and no
fear as he faced imminent execution.
Our Lord gave Paul and other such believers the crown of
righteousness.
No one is perfect. We all have our character flaws, weaknesses, and
certain temptations that we have a hard time dealing with.
God is not looking for total God-perfection.
The Bible says that all men have sinned and have fallen way short of
the glory of our God. God wants each one of us to have some kind
of concerted effort to try and live our lives right. In other words
just do the right thing as best as we can and as often as we can.
To live a good and righteous life for God will really be worth our
while, as we will definitely be given this crown by God Himself once
we enter into His Kingdom.
Ms Doris Tan
WSCS Discipleship & Nurture Coordinator
Christalite Methodist Chapel
 Thursday 13th April 2017 - Day 5 Tuesday 11th April 2017 - Day 3

James 3:18 Psalm 33:5

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his
unfailing love
During your angry moments, how do you usually behave and
respond? How do you deal with the pangs of jealousy and envy As Christians, we are pledged by our covenant with God to learn His
when they arise? What is your typical reaction when you feel ways and to follow Him (John 10:27). If we are to follow Christ, then
wronged? How do you react when you are not given the recognition we need to be aware of how God wants us to view the world. We
due to you? need to learn to live by His truth.
Do pause and reflect on your truthful answers to these situations
that you have faced or are facing. Yet, this generation struggles to find the truth. Instead of trusting
God and His goodness, we strive and struggle to find justice and
James, the brother of Jesus, reminded us in James 3:13-18 on the righteousness. Richard Strauss in his book The Joy of Knowing God,
contrasts between earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom. Just as provides us a concise definition of righteousness.
you can grade a tree by the quality of the fruit it bears, can you
Gods righteousness (or justice) is the
evaluate your wisdom by your reaction to challenging situations?
natural expression of His holiness. If
Wisdom from above leads to peace, mercy, loving kindness and
He is infinitely pure, then He must be
orderliness. Foolishness only causes disruptive divisiveness, broken
opposed to all sin, and that opposition
relationships, broken homes and despair.
to sin must be demonstrated in His
treatment of His creatures. When we
Controlling one's tongue was discussed in James 3:1-12. Clearly
read that God is righteous or just, we
James must have noted the close correlation between the effect of
are being assured that His actions
a loose tongue and the peace around us. One can choose to either
toward us are in perfect agreement
sow seeds of discord or provide a healing balm to the wounded with
with His holy nature.
the mere tongue. Which wisdom do you choose to embrace?
God is Righteous and Just. Hallelujah! When we follow Him, surely
In Matthew 5:9, Jesus gave the following Beautitude -
goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives; and we
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of
will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever (Psalm 23:6).
God". Aren't you His child and shouldnt you live in obedience to
Prayer:
Him?
Elohim, Mighty One, you made
everything out of nothing, imposed
Ms Nancy Tan
order on chaos, gave birth to beauty,
WSCS Nominations Chair
and called it all good. Help me to
Christ Methodist Church

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know you as the one true God who
created everything and everyone, the
one who has placed me on the earth
for a purpose to magnify your name.
Amen.
(From Praying the Names of God, Anne Sapangler)
Ms Christine Foo
WSCS Discipleship & Nurture Coordinator
Barker Road Methodist Church
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Wednesday 12th April 2017 - Day 4
Hebrews 5:13
Anyone who lives on milk being still an infant, is not acquainted with
the teaching about righteousness
When worship and the understanding of the Word of God is likened
to that of an infant feeding on milk, such worship is stuck on a
stationary treadmill of elementary truths about God. An infant
worshippers thin diet of elementary truths about God reiterates
what Paul said about them without His righteousness, they are
blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the
cunning and craftiness of men (Ephesians 4:14). This poignant
image of impoverished believers who are infant-like also puts across
the contrasting richness that can be discovered in a solid diet of
Gods righteousness and truths.
The immense layers of meanings in the Bible is illustrated in
Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great
and unsearchable things you do not know. Steve Cioccolanti,
founder of Australia-based Discover Ministries explains that Jewish
rabbis are trained to interpret the Bible at four levels namely, the
simple (pashat), hinted or implied meaning (remez), searched out or
metaphorical meaning (drash) and secret or hidden meaning (sod).
But it will require a solid diet of prayers, Bible reading, faith, a daily
walk and conversations with the Lord to uncover His truths beyond
the elementary.
Mrs Tay Sor Har
WSCS Discipleship & Nurture Coordinator
Bedok Methodist Church