EPIPHANY • 5

Who and what is the God of our gospel like?

This week’s readings reveal to us who the God of our Gospel is.

reading for: 3 february

Mark 1:29-39

The Gospel of God Who Seeks

  • READ

Who is searching for who? 

The biblical scene this week is like a big hide and seek! And reading it at a glance, we can mistake who is actually the seeker. Jesus rises early while still dark and goes to a desolate place to pray (v. 35). While Simon and several others rose later to find him. Although we’re not told about the disciple’s frustration on finding Jesus, we can sense this from the context.

2 days before, at the synagogue, Jesus backs up his powerful teaching by casting out an unclean spirit from a man (v. 21-27). Because of this, his fame spreads everywhere (v. 28). Just the night before, Jesus had been healing all the sick and oppressed that was brought to him (v. 32), so much so that the entire city was gathering (v. 33)! 

In Singapore we have long queues for certain brands of barbecue pork, but here we see a city queueing for healing and restoration! By the time Simon and the others find Jesus, they must have been filled with frustration. “Everyone is looking for you Jesus! Where have you been? Don’t you know that there are so many who are searching for you? The sick, the oppressed are all needing your healing! Let’s go! What you waiting for?!”

Jesus simply replies that they should go to the other towns to preach, for that is the reason he came out. And then they went (v. 39). In search for others to preach and experience the freedom that the God of this gospel offers.

  • REFLECT

    In our zealous and enthusiastic efforts to live out our faith, we sometimes forget who is really the one searching. But Jesus in this passage, reminds us that it is God who comes searching for us. The disciples thought that Jesus should stay to continue preaching and healing those who were in Capernaum. But Jesus, knowing the will of the Father, knew that there were others he had to search for. 

    Chinese new year is around the corner and it will be a time for us to celebrate with our family and friends. This is a great opportunity for us to not only renew our relationship ties, but also consider how God is searching for his lost children. 

    As you make plans for various forms of visitations and gatherings (Online and on-site), take time to hear from the Lord how He is at work in the lives of those you visit. You can pray this simple prayer:

    “Lord, You are the One who is searching for Your lost children. 

    Thank you for allowing me to be in _________’s life. 

    As I renew our relationship this CNY, 

    Help me see You at work in his/her life. 

    Lead me to find ways to point him/her to You.

    In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”

reading for: 4 february

Isaiah 40:21-31

The God Who Strengthens the Weak

  • READ

    Do we know who the LORD our God is? Earlier in 40:9, we were told to behold our God! Verses 21-31 can then be broken down into 3 parts which start with a question:

    Part 1 - Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? (v. 21)

    The LORD our God sits above the earth and to him we are all like grasshoppers;

    He can stretch the heavens like a curtain and make it a tent for Himself (v. 22).

    He brings princes and rulers to nothing (v. 23)

    He can blow on them and make them wither, or send a wind to carry them off (v. 24)

    Part 2 - To whom will you compare the Lord or who is like Him? (v. 25)

    He has created the stars and he calls them all by name, 

    He is so great and powerful that not one star ever goes missing (v. 26)

    Part 3 - Why do you Israel and Jacob say that your troubles are not seen by the LORD? Or your rights ignored? (v. 27)

    Have you not known and have you not heard?

    He is the everlasting God, 

    He is the Creator of all the earth

    He never grows weak or weary,

    His understanding is beyond us. (v. 28)

    He gives power and strength to the weak (v. 29)

    Anyone who waits on the Lord will be renewed in strength and soar like an eagle,

    They can run and not grow weary, walk and not faint (v. 31)

    Parts 1 and 2 tell us who this great God is and can be summed up in verse 28, He is the God who is from eternity, Creator of all the earth and never tires. The stars, the heavens and the most powerful members on earth are easily moved by Him.

    Yet this Great and Amazing God, actually cares for Israel, despite being the smallest of all nations (Deuteronomy 7:7) and anyone who waits on Him, can run and not grow weary too like Him. 

  • REFLECT

    2020 might have been so draining for you that you still haven’t recovered from it yet. Or perhaps you know someone who might be feeling that way, he/she is down and discouraged as they look to 2021.

    The LORD our everlasting God who never grows weak or weary, wants to give strength to the weak. Pray this prayer:

    “Everlasting God and Creator of heaven and earth,

    I confess that I am feeling weak and tired. (OR You know __________ who seems so weak and tired)

    As I wait on You, give me the strength that I need.

    Enable me to run with Your strength and walk with Your endurance.

    In Jesus name I pray. Amen.”

reading for: 4 february

1 Corinthians 16-23

Living Compelled by the God of this Gospel

  • READ

    What does it look like to be compelled by the God of this Gospel? Paul in 1 Corinthians 9, shows us a picture of that.

    As an apostle, he had every right to demand for the Corinthian church to provide for him, yet he chooses not to (v. 15).

    Instead, he sees preaching the gospel as nothing worth boasting, because he is compelled (v. 16) and entrusted with this responsibility by God (v. 17). 

    He willingly serves everyone he meets, so that many will turn to Jesus (v. 19). To the Jews he became like a Jew, using the Old Testament scriptures, to teach and win them (v. 20). To the Gentiles, he related and spoke to them as outsiders, so that they too might be won to Christ (v. 21). When with the weak, he shared in their weakness, finding common ground, empathising and loving them (v. 22). 

    Why? For the sake of the gospel, that he might share in his blessings (v. 23).

    You might be wondering, is Paul merely being selfish and caring about being blessed himself? And what are these blessings that he is speaking about?

    Earlier, Paul mentioned, that he longs for the Corinthian church to be enriched in all speech and all knowledge (1 Cor 1:5), for the testimony of Christ to be confirmed in them (1:6), to not lack any gift and be sustained to the end and remain guiltless in the day when Jesus comes again (1:7-8). These things, he longed for his children as a father (4:15). 

    So to live compelled by the God of this Gospel is to willingly give up our rights for others, to bear the weight of sharing about God to others and long to see them turn and grow in Jesus.


  • REFLECT

    Many of us might feel like Paul’s life is not for us “ordinary” Christians. Yet an important reminder is that Paul was simply living compelled by His God. We too have met God in our own way and His invitation is to live all of our lives for Him and others.

    Pray this prayer:

    “Faithful God who called us into fellowship with Jesus (1 Cor 1:8),

    Grant to us the passion and desire to live for You.

    To live in loving service of others,

    To long for them to know You

    so that one day, we will gladly meet Your Son Jesus face to face when He comes again.

    In Jesus name we ask and pray. Amen.”

reading for: 4 february

Psalm 147:1-11, 20c

The God Who is Worthy of Our Praise

  • READ

    This beautiful Psalm is a rendition of what we read earlier in Isaiah 40. How fitting a song of praise would be and how good it is to sing praises to our God (v.1 )!

    God’s desire is to build us up and gather His lost children (v. 2)

    He heals the brokenhearted and binds our wounds (v. 3), just as He gives strength to the weak (Isa 40:29)

    He determines the numbers of stars and calls them each by name (v. 4) (Isa. 40:26)

    He is great and abundant in power and his understanding beyond us (v. 5) (Isa. 40:28)

    He lifts up the humble and casts the wicked to the ground (v. 6) (Isa. 40:29-30)

    He covers the heavens with clouds, rain on earth and grass on hills (v. 8) (Isa. 40:22)

    He takes pleasure in those who fear him and hope in his steadfast love (v. 10) (Isa. 40:31)

    Oh how worthy is He of our praise! (v. 20)

  • REFLECT

    Sing this song, “Everlasting God” by Chris Tomlin

    Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord

    We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord

    Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord

    We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord

    Our God, You reign forever

    Our hope, our Strong Deliverer

    You are the everlasting God

    The everlasting God

    You do not faint

    You won't grow weary

    You're the defender of the weak

    You comfort those in need

    You lift us up on the wings

    Like eagles

Season of EpiphanyCNL