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Yesterday marked the end of my first acupunture experience which lasted 10 complete days from 21 feb to 1 march 08, a 10-sessioned Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapy. It cost me a hefty $30 per session.
I’m a staunch believer of TCM. Essentially, TCM advocates the use of natural ways to heal, the theory is much complicated though. Practically, TCM practitioners use cups and fire, needles, their own knuckles and hands to heal. I am a qualified foot reflexologist. I was so absorbed into foot reflexology one time that it became my idol; I have repented since. I sprained and injured my left wrist twice while administering this therapy to customers during the stint of working as a foot reflexologist for about three months; the repercussions being a chronic wrist pain starting from my left wrist now extending also to my right wrist due to poor posture while using the pc.
Comparing acupuncture(A) and foot reflexology(B) …
A is a more torturous process than B. B can be very pleasurable if the pressure is controlled well throughout the 40 min or 60 min standard process.
However, I can say A sees results faster, and is less labour intensive method than B. I can attest to the effectiveness of A in reducing the discomfort of my chronic sinus very soon in the 10-day period. See, B can easily harm the practitioner if you have not enough experience and the furniture did not give you good ergonomics.
Overall the experience of acupuncture was one of ouch, ouch. I feared it. But I couldn’t deny its effectiveness and mystification (a few needles can stimulate your nerves and in turn curing your conditions, cool isn’t it). But needles do prick. Ouch, ouch. I still opt for B if the need doesn’t arise for A.
Gal 6:2-5
2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,
5 for each one should carry his own load.
Have you ever once felt that your brothers and sisters in church only cared about their own business and have no time to mind your business? 2 years ago, I mentioned to a brother that I think this is commonplace in a meritocratic society like Singapore which is fast-paced and individualistic. However, we are indeed taught in the Bible we should mind our own business. In 1 Thessalonians 4:11,12 it says – make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. In Galatians 6:5, it says for each one should carry his own load. So, let us learn to do our own work and take pride and be contented in it, not comparing ourself with another person who has his own work to do. One practical way is to have an organiser and tick off the tasks you have achieved which gives you a sense of satisfaction for that day.
However, we must not neglect Gal 6 verse 2 which says “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Does it sound enigmatic; why verse 5 says to carry your own load but verse 2 says to carry each other’s burdens? It does not. For in verse 2 it means “heavy burdens” – those that are more than one person to carry; while in verse 5 it means your “pack”. In verse 2, Paul refers to helping christians , sharing their load whenever temptations oppress or life depresses them. Love being the fulfillment of law that is stated as the new commandment (John 13:34). Therefore, we should burden ourselves with mutual sympathy as well.
Two things may hinder mutual sympathy
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Conceit; thinking yourself more highly and important than others (Gal 6:3; Romans 12:3) and thus refusing to bear another’s burdens. This is self-deception as measured by God’s standards, no one amounts to anything.
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Comparing your works with the works of others; positive sense (“I’m happy I’m doing better than they are”) and negative sense (“I’m unable to do anything; everyone else is much better”)
To end off, I would like to use an analogy to illustrate this lesson. As you all know, my extended family and I are going to Japan from tomorrow. My aunt will be bringing along her friend who has weak knees and this friend required the use of a wheelchair. To facilitate this, my aunt reduced her luggage to just a backpack instead of a pull-luggage and backpack which most of us will be bringing; she said this will enable her to take care of her friend in wheelchair. I have to praise my aunt for her love for her friend. During this trip, not only has she to carry her own load (backpack) but also to bear her friend’s burden (moving in wheelchair).
I thank God for the people, friends and family, who bore my burdens while i was in bondage of sins and depression. I will be adding this new thing I have learnt to my prayer list and year-end reflection.
In the next post, I will write on Gal 6:1 for the cell group category. It’s about restoration of a person who has sinned. Personally, I was very hurt by how this was done in a previous christian gathering I have joined. What is the most appropriate way?
At the end of the year 08, reflect – Have I taken pride in carrying my own load and also bear the burdens of other people.
Genesis 4:7
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door, it desires to have you, but you must master it.
As a christian, we tend to err in areas at times or another. In this verse, God spoke to Cain when he did not do what was right (giving some offerings of fruits from the soil) therefore not finding favour with God while his brother Abel did (bringing fat portions from some of his firstborn of his flock as offering).
The result – Cain was filled with anger and was depressed.
Eventually, out of anger, Cain murdered Abel. He did not master sin.
Why did Cain become angry?
I hypothesized there could be two reasons. Firstly, he was angry because of jealousy and envy, what he had wanted so badly – favour from God, was bestowed on his brother instead of him. Secondly, he was angry of his brother because he did not help him in matters in pleasing God and got all the favour from God by himself. Cain in his own folly or carelessness, tried to please God in his own ways, while Abel obeyed ways which he knew God could be pleased. The result – God found favour with Abel and not Cain. Cain would be screaming at his brother: “Why have you not tried to correct me?”
I would be sharing on what I have learnt from Gal 6:1-5 on restoration and bearing one another’s burdens in my other post.
One way to increase personal grace is to pray for others. Intercessory prayer is a means of grace to those who exercise it. It is in the paths of intercessory prayer that we enter the richest fields of spiritual growth and gather priceless riches. To pray for others is of divine appointment, and it represents the highest form of Christian service.
I thank God for the past weekend which was very fruitful though I was totally drained and squeezed dry. On Saturday, I did some social work collecting can and dry foods for the needy associations with a group of enthusiastic, selfless youths from my church – we built rapport and friendship. And then on Sunday, I welcomed and played host to a friend to the Gospel service at my church (he was the one I was praying for for weeks) - we shared a table of good food for breakfast and a good discussion on the sermon “The greatest wealth” after the gospel service. He appeared to me as being very receptive to conversations of spiritual and philosophical issues and so I see the possibility for him to come again in the future. Praise the Lord, I’ll continue to intercede for him in prayers.
2 Sam 11:1 Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.
This verse was the start of the narration of David committing adultery with Bathsheba. It was a moment when he, as a king, should be going out to battle but rather, he chose to rest in the comfort in his palace, where he was tempted by the nakedness of Bathsheba bathing. Just a little lust of the eyes was sufficient for the devil to gain foothold in the life of David, eventually developing into a full-blown sin of adultery and murder. And that happened when David stopped fighting.
Since January 12 this year, I started being a disciplined prayer warrior interceding for others and myself even though it was a very difficult discipline. This happened after I realized during a 2nd job interview this year that Jesus wasn’t really my Lord all the time, sometimes pride takes over, other times money will have his say in my life, and the worst thing was, it kept changing. I was awakened from my slumber, and decided that my thoughts must not be ruled by the devil anymore.
Upon closer reflection, I accepted Jesus Christ since 13, started attending church at 15, my life was only a shame and disgrace to God instead of glory to him – I didn’t glorify him in school, at the workplace, in church, in my family, with my friends, with my relationship with the opposite sex and so on. It all happened even when from the outside I was a christian on fire to seek God – reading and studying the Word of God avidly, immersing myself in reading christian books peaking at 3 a week with no problem, and attending expository preaching once every week. However, my prayer life was not strong, it was wobbly. There was a period in my life (when I sinned the most and disgraced God), i prayed the least or even none. There was 1 year 2007 I couldn’t remember myself praying at all.
I could say I was taken over and used by the devil instead of glorifying God especially in the years 2005-2007. That was also the period I prayed the least, or even none. I had no awareness of what’s running on my mind. Sometimes I wanted this, then i wanted that. It was never aligned with pleasing and loving God. The foothold which eventually became full-blown sins in my life included unforgiveness towards family and friends, rebellion against the church authorities, being impatient to wait upon to Lord’s providence and taking things into my own hands, thinking only about my own needs in the church which were not met then and abandoning my christian family, and taking on new pursuits if they gave me a high when I seemed to do well but eventually giving up on them. Eventually, God brought his judgment on me in 2007. My rebellious and wilful way of living resulted in me resigning in a job I was dissatisfied with, health problems and mild depression.
I turned back to Him at the last weekend of 2007 and went back to the church which I rebelliously left and has been attending the church since. I have not seek forgiveness from the church authorities and I don’t know what’s the best way to do it and when to do it. However, I so much wanted to serve God now but because of my sins, it was no longer possible for me to serve at the frontline ministries like being a worship leader or a youth leader like before. I began praying at first initially to gain respite from the pains, regrets and hurts in life but since Jan 12, it became more regular, 2 times a day, it became intercession for others and myself. The more I prayed, the more I find there are things to be prayed for, friends who backslided and unsaved; prayed against, dangerous accusations and lies which could implant themselves in my thoughts, gain a foothold and eventually became a full-blown sin in my life if I was not careful to rebuke them quickly and ask for forgiveness.
For example, yesterday I received a phonecall from an ex-colleague out of nowhere she said she was given my number to call. After acknowledging it was a mistake, I recognized her identity and kindly struck a conversation with her. She congratulated me on finding a new job! This information was only told to my ex-superior whom I was close to. I was mad at my ex-superior because sending her sms to update her my life wasn’t an intention for her to share with everyone else in her office, my ex-office. That night I had to pray immediately for forgiveness and not to harbour any hatred for her. Maybe she had just over-reacted and was loquacious.
I realized the battle is never against flesh and blood, but invisible foes. And you have to continually fight it without ceasing. The moment you are no longer alert and stop fighting, the devil gains his territory; you are devoured! Learn more? Read this article!
“When will christians more thoroughly learn the twofold lesson that they are called to a great warfare and that, in order to get the victory, they must give themselves to unsleeping watchfulness and unceasing prayer?” (E M Bounds)
According to E M Bounds, a methodist minister and devotional writer, christians have a twofold duty to be watchful and pray unceasingly.
In the new testament, there are three different words that are translated to “watch”.
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“absence of sleep”, keeping a wakeful frame of mind
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“fully awake”
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“calm and collected in spirit”
Why watchful? The Bible in 1 Peter 5:8 reminded us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” He never falls asleep, so we must be watchful.
The spiritual walk is a battle fought against invisible foes who are alert and seeking to entrap, deceive and ruin the souls of men. Therefore, the christian needs to realize that he will be defeated utterly, unless he gives himself to constant vigilance and unceasing prayer.
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. (Eph 6:18)
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