Today's Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1

Please read 2 Thessalonians 1 and listen to what the Lord Jesus Christ would like to tell you before reading my Spiritual Journal below. If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from my Devotion on Fire blog:

http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html .

You may click this link directly for the method: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.

 You may begin with a song to praise the Lord and complete you devotion by singing another praise song.

甚至我們在神的各教會裡為你們誇口，都因你們在所受的一切逼迫患難中，仍舊存忍耐和信心。

帖撒羅尼迦後書 1:4

Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

2 Thessalonians 1:4

Please click the links to 2 Thessalonians 1

Chinese 中文: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=帖撒羅尼迦後書 1&version=CUV

English (ESV): http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2 Thessalonians 1&version=ESV

What I got today from Jesus is: The importance of our steadfastness and faith

What I got from Jesus today is a reality check-up of our steadfastness and faith in the midst of our suffering. We had just finished a five hours sharing with a couple in Toronto. They told us how difficult it was for them to go through a test that they could not pass. They asked lots of questions about why. After all, we never can answer people's question about why because there are always lots of things happening without our understanding, especially suffering. It is actually a "relational" question we need to ask and not a "why". Without building up a daily intimate personal relationship with Jesus, we are doomed to fail.

But, at the same time, it is so good to have a two hours time having breakfast with two world-class leaders. One is Dr. Philemon Choi, the founder of Breakthrough in Hong Kong and the other is Ruth Chan, a well-know author and my 17 years long prayer partner. We shared deeply about how we can get through our deepest suffering but yet we have that steadfastness and faith because we have that daily intimate personal relationship with Jesus.

This passage is talking about the coming of Jesus Christ again. How can we have that kind of steadfastness and faith so that when Jesus comes back or at the time of our death we are still in Christ?

Dear Lord Jesus,

Lead us to be willing being with you each day that we have that kind of steadfastness and faith when you return. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.