Devo John 4:43-54

43After the two days he left for Galilee. 44(Now Jesus himself had pointed out
that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45When he arrived in Galilee,
the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at
the Passover Feast, for they also had been there. 46Once more he visited Cana in
Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal
official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47When this man heard that Jesus
had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and
heal his son, who was close to death. 48”Unless you people see miraculous signs
and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” 49The royal official said,
“Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son
will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51While he was still on
the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52When
he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever
left him yesterday at the seventh hour.” 53Then the father realized that this was
the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and
all his household believed. 54This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus
performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

Meditation
1. When the anxious father came, Jesus seemed quite indifferent and said to
the father: “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders you will
never believe.” And when the father asked Jesus again, Jesus replied, “You
may go. Your son will live.”
2. This is the dilemma of faith. God, in response to our desperate appeals,
speaks to us and says, “It’s done. Go home and you’ll find the sick healed.”
Faith is very much the same. We come to God desperate for salvation. And
all He said is, “you may go.” The work is done, your healing accomplished.
And, though we lack evidence, in faith, we walk away as Jesus said.
3. When I bring my problem to God, do I tend to accept his word or keep
fretting and fussing? Do I actually live out my life in a way that demonstrates
that I really believe God is in control and wants the best for me? Talk to God
about this and listen to His response.

Personal Note:
When I encounter problems, usually I keep on fretting instead of accepting God's Words and obey His directions.  Over the years, I am more convicted that God is in control and wants the best for me.  As I think more, is there any problem that God cannot help me with?

Mark 13:32-37

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor
the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when
that time will come.34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts
his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door
to keep watch. 35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the
owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or
when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find
you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

Meditation
1. What is the most exciting thing to me about the second coming? The most
depressing? What questions would I like to ask Jesus about it?
2. Read slowly this paragraph. Make this a prayer of anticipation and hope for
Christ’s coming again.
3. The truth of the second coming of Christ transformed my whole idea of life;
it broke the power of the world and its ambition over me, and filled my
life with the most radiant optimism even under the most discouraging of
circumstances. – R. A. Torrey

Personal Note:
The exciting thing about the second coming is that there is hope beyond this life.  The most depressing point is that for those who did not receive Jesus Christ as personal Lord and saviour, there is no eternal life.  I would like to ask Jesus, why do you love me despite how weak and selfish I am.

I was watching the movie "2012" a while ago.  Of course it is fictional and the world would not end on Dec 21 of this year as we know that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor Jesus Christ the Son, but only the Father.  Even great disasters and suffering comes, I along with my brothers and sisters in Christ are at peace because we are keeping watch, which means living in a way that pleases God and loving and obeying God's Words because of our identity in Christ.  I pray that my church and along with all churches are passionate for the great commission of making disciples so more people will know God and bring glory to God's name.