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Roger Soh Cai Xiang
21
Nanyang Technological University
DOB: 051188

Trying to be a Godly Man

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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Neglected this blog again, its been so long since another entry.

Trying to cultivate a habit of reading recently. After reading a mind changing book by John Eldredge : "Waking the Dead"

Recently I bought a book : "The Journals of Jim Elliot" and with the first few pages it wrote something like: "He ( Jim ) made a habit of getting up early in the morning in order to have uninterrupted time for prayer and Bible study, but it was not until his junior year that he began to keep a journal as a means of self discipline. Forcing himself to articulate something on paper helped him to concentrate and gave direction to his devotional times. ... ... ... what is written in these pages I (Jim) suppose will someday be read by others than myself."

Was thinking and hoping that maybe I can do the same.

Matthew 5:1-12

I am quite familiar with the passage of the beatitudes. Hence decided to read a different version of the bible, the Message. It goes something like this

When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.


After reading this, I opened my ESV bible and made the comparison. How different was the meaning I interpreted! I'll just take the Matt 5:1 for example. In the ESV it said, "Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him."

Compared to the version in the Message, "the committed, climbed with Him" It paints a different picture, that if we are committed in following Jesus, we require effort, to climb! It gets tough, the climbing. Well one thing is cause i'm scared of heights, and the second is that I'm kind of heavy hence it requires alot of effort and stamina.

Realised that the disciples then had a great thirst for the words of life so much so that even though when Jesus went to hard and high places, even though its tough, they followed him, just to learn more from him. Am I willing to put in the effort and the stamina to follow Jesus in hard and high places?

I not sure how accurate the Message translation is, I will leave it to another time to research upon, but it paints a probable picture of how the people then sees Jesus much clearer.


Stupid at 10:36 AM

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