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(Translated version, original article written in Chinese by Pastor Mickey Hsiao)<\/em><\/p>\n By singing praises and hymns, awake your soul, open your heart to the Lord, and prepare yourself to welcome the presence of God and receive the Word of God that will be given to you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Petition with thanksgiving to God for a wonderful day and pray sincerely for a focused Scripture reading time! (Do not rush into reading the Bible without starting with prayers!<\/strong>) (e.g., you may start with a simple prayer like this: “Dear Lord, what will you be speaking to me today?)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Get the following items ready in advance: your devotional notebook, paper, pen, and\/or electronic devotional articles so that you can easily write down the Bible verses, questions, and thoughts you have noticed! You are encouraged to open your Bible and vocally read out the scriptures (Try to practice this reading method daily or once a week)!<\/p>\n Scripture Reading: Matthew Ch. 18 (ESV)<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Take a moment to quietly reflect on today’s Scriptures. Through such exercises, let God’s Word be gradually written into our hearts and be inscribed to our mind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read the devotional articles prepared by CBCLWA (*Read the Bible first before reading any devotional materials.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n (<\/span>vv.\u00a0<\/span>1-14) Why did the disciples ask<\/span>\u00a0Jesus<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWho is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0What response did they expect<\/span>\u00a0to hear<\/span>? What is their\u00a0<\/span>perception<\/span>\u00a0of heaven? Usually when we\u00a0ask\u00a0\u201cWho\u2019s the boss here?\u201d, we seem to want to know \u201cwho has the final say here?\u201d And\u00a0often times\u00a0we want to think we are the one who has the final say.\u00a0<\/span>W<\/span>hen the disciples asked th<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0question, Jesus instead called over a child<\/span>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>the least powerful\u00a0<\/span>or the\u00a0<\/span>least\u00a0<\/span>capable among\u00a0them, and\u00a0said \u201c<\/span>Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.<\/span><\/b>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To better\u00a0<\/span>understand what Jesus meant<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>let\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0look at this\u00a0<\/span>from two different angles<\/span>. First, children are simple and humble<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Second<\/span>ly<\/span>, the Kingdom of Heaven is the Kingdom of God, where\u00a0<\/span>God<\/span>\u00a0rules. We\u00a0have to\u00a0change ourselves to be humble like a child so that God can rule in our heart. In other words, people\u00a0<\/span>who\u00a0<\/span>are\u00a0<\/span>conceited\u00a0<\/span>cannot see their own sins<\/span>. They\u00a0<\/span>cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>nor\u00a0<\/span>even\u00a0<\/span>for them to\u00a0<\/span>enter its doorsteps!\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Jesus\u00a0<\/span>went on to\u00a0<\/span>emphasize\u00a0<\/span>that no one shall stumble or despise any of\u00a0<\/span>th<\/span>e\u00a0<\/span>little ones<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>who believe<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0in Him.\u00a0<\/span>Remember what Jesu said<\/span>, \u201c<\/span>but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.<\/span><\/b>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dear brothers and sisters, there are some more characteristics in children that adults\u00a0<\/span>might not have<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0For instance,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>c<\/span>hildren\u00a0<\/span>are\u00a0<\/span>teachable<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>willing to submit to authority<\/span>\u00a0and they are\u00a0<\/span>often enthusiastic about many things. Let us always remind ourselves to be more childlike<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>to humble ourselves<\/span>, submitting ourselves\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>God\u2019s sovereignty. Let us\u00a0<\/span>simply entrust our hearts to be shaped and molded by God and be a disciple of the Lord. Do not compete for fame and recognition<\/span>, and d<\/span>o not divide ourselves into groups based on perceived status. Do not look down on others because of your pride, and do not cause others to stumble.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n (<\/span>vv.\u00a0<\/span>15-20) Jesus\u00a0<\/span>continued\u00a0<\/span>his teaching<\/span>, saying<\/span>:<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u201cIf your brother offends you<\/span><\/b>\u202f(or\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>sin<\/span>s against you<\/span>)<\/span>\u201d,<\/span>\u00a0how should you deal with it?\u00a0<\/span>There\u00a0<\/span>are specific steps to solve this<\/span>\u00a0and t<\/span>he objective in\u00a0<\/span>all\u00a0<\/span>situations is always to gain your brother back<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>whether\u00a0<\/span>the case\u00a0<\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>personal or\u00a0<\/span>whether\u00a0<\/span>it involve<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0a group of two or three people or\u00a0<\/span>a larger\u00a0<\/span>group such as\u00a0<\/span>the whole church.\u00a0<\/span>I<\/span>f it gets serious enough, the church must act\u00a0as a whole to\u00a0shun th<\/span>e one who sin<\/span>s<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>just as it is written in\u00a0<\/span>verse\u00a0<\/span>17<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cAnd if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Dear brothers and sisters, God\u2019s will for\u00a0<\/span>his\u00a0<\/span>church is to be holy and pure. Though it is difficult to deal with our sin<\/span>s<\/span>, rest assured that our Heavenly Father will lead\u00a0<\/span>us\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>protect and\u00a0<\/span>re<\/span>store o<\/span>ur brother,\u00a0<\/span>only\u00a0<\/span>if\u00a0<\/span>we\u00a0<\/span>are to\u00a0<\/span>gather i<\/span>n the name of Jesus Christ<\/span>\u00a0b<\/span>efore God<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>put aside\u00a0<\/span>all of\u00a0<\/span>our personal opinions<\/span>\u00a0or<\/span>\u00a0prejudices<\/span>, and then be united wholeheartedly in the presence of the Lord.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n (<\/span>vv.\u00a0<\/span>21-35) This passage gives us clarity when it comes to learning the lesson of forgiveness. Many times, we act just like that wicked servant without mercy<\/span>\u00a0for others<\/span>. Why is that?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Here we can see at least two reasons<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n First,\u00a0<\/span>sometimes\u00a0<\/span>we are not trying to forgive<\/span>\u00a0them<\/span>\u00a0from the bottom of our hearts<\/span>. There<\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>difference between the \u201cseven times\u201d of forgiveness suggested by\u00a0<\/span>Apostle\u00a0<\/span>Peter and the \u201cseventy-seven times\u201d demanded by Jesus!\u00a0<\/span>Secondly<\/span>, we often forget how we ourselves were forgiven by the Lord first!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Have you<\/span>\u00a0learned any lesson\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>forgiveness lately<\/span>? Remember what Jesus said:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n (<\/span><\/b>M<\/span><\/b>t.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>18:35<\/span><\/b>)<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cSo also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n (<\/span><\/b>M<\/span><\/b>t.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>6:14-15<\/span><\/b>)\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u201cFor if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Give thanks to God for His enabling us to read the Scriptures and for our response for living out the Word of God today! (e.g., You may start with a simple prayer like this: \u201cDear Lord, what\/where are you going to lead me to today?”)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2111,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,71],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abiding-in-the-lord","category-pastor-mickey-hsiao"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2166"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2166\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2167,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2166\/revisions\/2167"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cbcwla.org\/home\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Worship<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Thanksgiving<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Scripture Reading<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Meditation<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Devotional<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Pray<\/strong><\/h3>\n