The Mind of the Melancholeric Man: Musings on Life and Ministry by Patrick Tan
Day in the Life
Back to blogging ... hopefully. Today is Sunday and waiting on my wife as we go to church. We will be going to Binondo today. Ptr. Herb and Karen Johnson once our senior pastor in Binondo, the one before our current pastor is speaking today at church. A few months ago, they were in Papua New Guinea for mission and an unfortunate event happened. Thank God they are okay. But am wondering how they would respond at the changes in our lives. For one, last time they were in Binondo I was still a pastor there, now we're out doing mission. I hope everything turns out well.
The Garment
Excerpt from Max Lucado's In the Grip of Grace:
"My only qualification for writing a book on grace is the clothing I wear. Let me explain.
For years I owned an elegant suit complete with coat, trousers, even a gat. I considered myself quite dapper in the outfit and was confident when others agreed.
The pants were cut from the cloth of my good works, sturdy fabric of deeds done and projects completed. Some studies here, some sermons there. Many people complimented my trousers, and I confess, I tended to hitch them up in public so people would notice them.
The coat was equally impressive. It was woven together from my convictions. Each day I dressed myself in deep feelings of religious fervor. My emotions were quite strong. So strong, in fact, that I was often asked to model my cloak of zeal in public gatherings to inspire others. Of course I was happy to comply.
While there I’d also display my hat, a feathered cap of knowledge. Formed with my own hands from the fabric of personal opinion, I wore it proudly.
Surely God is impressed with my garments, I often thought. Occasionally I strutted into His presence so he could compliment the self-tailored wear. He never spoke. His silence must mean admiration, I convinced myself.
But then my wardrobe began to suffer. The fabric of my trousers grew thin. My best works started coming unstitched. I began leaving more undone tan done, and what little I did was nothing to boast about.
No problem, I thought. I’ll work harder.
But working harder was a problem. There was a hole in my coat of convictions. My resolve was threadbare. A cold wind cut into my chest. I reached up to pull my hat down firmly, and the brim ripped off in my hands.
Over a period of a few months, my wardrobe of self-righteousness completely unraveled. I went from tailored gentlemen’s apparel to beggars’ rags. Fearful that God might be angry at my tattered suit, I did my best to stitch it together and cover my mistakes. But the cloth was so worn. And the wind was so icy. I gave up. I went back to God. (Where else could I go?)
On a wintry Thursday afternoon, I stepped into his presence, not for applause, but for warmth. My prayer was feeble.
“I feel naked.”
“You are. And you have been for a long time.”
What he did next I’ll never forget. “I have something to give you,” he said. He gently removed the remaining threads and then picked up a robe, a regal robe, the clothing of his own goodness.
He wrapped it around my shoulder. His words to me were tender. “My son, you are now clothed with Christ” (see Gal . 3:27)
Though I’d sung the hymn a thousand times, I finally understood it:
Dressed in his righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.”
"My only qualification for writing a book on grace is the clothing I wear. Let me explain.
For years I owned an elegant suit complete with coat, trousers, even a gat. I considered myself quite dapper in the outfit and was confident when others agreed.
The pants were cut from the cloth of my good works, sturdy fabric of deeds done and projects completed. Some studies here, some sermons there. Many people complimented my trousers, and I confess, I tended to hitch them up in public so people would notice them.
The coat was equally impressive. It was woven together from my convictions. Each day I dressed myself in deep feelings of religious fervor. My emotions were quite strong. So strong, in fact, that I was often asked to model my cloak of zeal in public gatherings to inspire others. Of course I was happy to comply.
While there I’d also display my hat, a feathered cap of knowledge. Formed with my own hands from the fabric of personal opinion, I wore it proudly.
Surely God is impressed with my garments, I often thought. Occasionally I strutted into His presence so he could compliment the self-tailored wear. He never spoke. His silence must mean admiration, I convinced myself.
But then my wardrobe began to suffer. The fabric of my trousers grew thin. My best works started coming unstitched. I began leaving more undone tan done, and what little I did was nothing to boast about.
No problem, I thought. I’ll work harder.
But working harder was a problem. There was a hole in my coat of convictions. My resolve was threadbare. A cold wind cut into my chest. I reached up to pull my hat down firmly, and the brim ripped off in my hands.
Over a period of a few months, my wardrobe of self-righteousness completely unraveled. I went from tailored gentlemen’s apparel to beggars’ rags. Fearful that God might be angry at my tattered suit, I did my best to stitch it together and cover my mistakes. But the cloth was so worn. And the wind was so icy. I gave up. I went back to God. (Where else could I go?)
On a wintry Thursday afternoon, I stepped into his presence, not for applause, but for warmth. My prayer was feeble.
“I feel naked.”
“You are. And you have been for a long time.”
What he did next I’ll never forget. “I have something to give you,” he said. He gently removed the remaining threads and then picked up a robe, a regal robe, the clothing of his own goodness.
He wrapped it around my shoulder. His words to me were tender. “My son, you are now clothed with Christ” (see Gal . 3:27)
Though I’d sung the hymn a thousand times, I finally understood it:
Dressed in his righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.”
Raised Up for Such A Time as This
The Story. Haman decides to annihilate the Jews because Mordecai refused to bow down to him. Mordecai runs to her cousin Queen Esther to ask the king for help. Their conversation unfolds in the following passage:
Esther 4:11 "All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king."
12 When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
----
The Risk - Showing up to the king unsummoned many cause you your life unless the king is pleased with you. Many Christian are afraid of sharing Christ for the risk of being ridiculed, isolated and rejected. But what if you share Christ and it turned out to be a positive experience for you and your listener?
"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance ... will arise from another place ..." - Your refusal to speak about Christ will not hinder the Lord's work. He will choose another person through whom he will speak. You have missed a great opportunity lang naman!
"You .. will perish" (one day and eventually be forgotten).
"And who knows but that you have come to your position for such a time as this?" - Who knows? God knows! God has placed you where you are--in that class, that office, that community so you can "show forth the praises of Him". To the Christian student, you are not just a student who happens to be a Christian; you are a Christian who happens to be a student! God has raised you up for this purpose, to be a light in your campus; to be a star of Bethlehem to your friends that will point them to Christ. Seize the opportunity!
"If I perish, I perish" - May our love for Christ and other, and our obedience to Him outshine our fears. Who knows? God knows! He has raised you up for such a time as this! Share Christ today!
Esther 4:11 "All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king."
12 When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
----
The Risk - Showing up to the king unsummoned many cause you your life unless the king is pleased with you. Many Christian are afraid of sharing Christ for the risk of being ridiculed, isolated and rejected. But what if you share Christ and it turned out to be a positive experience for you and your listener?
"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance ... will arise from another place ..." - Your refusal to speak about Christ will not hinder the Lord's work. He will choose another person through whom he will speak. You have missed a great opportunity lang naman!
"You .. will perish" (one day and eventually be forgotten).
"And who knows but that you have come to your position for such a time as this?" - Who knows? God knows! God has placed you where you are--in that class, that office, that community so you can "show forth the praises of Him". To the Christian student, you are not just a student who happens to be a Christian; you are a Christian who happens to be a student! God has raised you up for this purpose, to be a light in your campus; to be a star of Bethlehem to your friends that will point them to Christ. Seize the opportunity!
"If I perish, I perish" - May our love for Christ and other, and our obedience to Him outshine our fears. Who knows? God knows! He has raised you up for such a time as this! Share Christ today!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)