Who Are You?

Who Am I? There’re only three possible answers: a believer; an unbeliever; an atheist.

A Believer

A believer believes in the existence of one true God.

Only three religions are monotheistic (believing in the existence of one God): Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. 

In Judaism, the Jews believe that Abraham was the father of the Jewish people in the first two chapters of Genesis in the Old Testament. The Jews believe that Jesus was only a teacher, not a god, who opposed the Jewish teachings and who was subsequently sentenced to death by crucifixion.

In Christianity, Jesus was the Son of God who was born of the Virgin Mary and who died on the Cross to save mankind from sin. Christians believe in the Old Testament about God’s teachings and His prophets predicting the coming of the Savior, as well as in the New Testament about the teachings of the early Christian churches regarding Jesus’ resurrection and the spread of the Gospel. 

In Islam, Prophet Muhammad grew up in a pagan environment. One day an angel revealed to him his duty to reject idol worship and to serve only one true God. Unlike the Christians who believe in the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit), Muslims believe in only one God. Jesus was no more than a prophet, although the Virgin Mary was a miracle. Islam is not a redemptive religion.

Other religions don’t involve one God. In Buddhism, Buddha was not a god, but a prince who left the palace after witnessing the sufferings of mankind. In Hinduism, there’re many gods and they didn’t create the world. Other religions are only moral practices to improve human behaviors for better life and living in this material world.

An Unbeliever

One of the qualifications of being a believer is “accountability” to God. Given that humans are prone to “rationalization”, there’re many unbelievers who rationalize why they should not be held accountable for their doings: God, if He does exist, is neither fair nor just with so much discrepancy between the good who suffer and the bad who seem to prosper; the church is not to be trusted because of the prevalence of sexual crimes committed by pastors and priests; the police are not to be obeyed because of their corruption and racial prejudice; the laws are made to be broken because many lawmakers also break the laws they’ve created.   

However, there’re many who’re spiritual but not religious, believing that there might be a Higher Being who oversees the world. But it’s also their belief that if they’re “decent” human beings, doing no evils, they will survive and thrive in this material world without their accountability to God. 

An Atheist

There’re many who don’t believe in the existence of god or gods. They simply detach themselves from any faith or religion. Why are there so many religions if there’s only one true God?  Many religions don’t involve God; they’re only systems of beliefs with moral codes and righteous behaviors to attain better understanding of the true meaning of human existence.

Buddhism comes from Buddha who wasn’t a god, but a prince who became enlightened when he witnessed human miseries and sufferings.

Hinduism involves many gods.

Judaism believes in one true God, who promised Abraham, who was childless in his old age, that he would have a nation with millions of descendants. God had overseen the nation with instructions and messages from prophets. His people had disobeyed and rejected Him. God used Moses to deliver His people from slavery in Egypt, and ultimately gave them the nation of Israels as He had promised.

Christianity comes from one true God, whose Son Jesus Christ was born of the Virgine Mary to teach and save the world through His death on the Cross and His Resurrection.

Islam believes in worshipping Mohammad, a prophet just like Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Quran is made up of many events with moral teachings of Islam.

According to believers, God comes from nothing. God created the world and the universe, and everything in them. God is a timeless uncreated Creator with eternal existence and no origin. God gets everything from nothing.

According to atheists, the universe comes not from God, but from nothing too, due to its complexity and its presence over millions of years. There’re many theories, including the Big Bang Theory, that explain how the universe came into existence without creation.

WHO AM I?         

There’re only three possible answers: a believer; an unbeliever; an atheist.

A Believer

A believer believes in the existence of one true God.

Only three religions are monotheistic (believing in the existence of one God): Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

WHO AM I?

You are a believer.

Stephen Lau

Ways of Living Your Life

 There’re different ways of living life in this forever-changing world. They all come from the thinking mind, which may change positively or negatively with different life experiences in different phases of life.

1. Living by Wants

Many live according to what they want in life. Wants can come from basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter, or from other things desired in life, such as comfort, health, love, pleasures, success, wealth, and many others.

First, living by wants requires the means, that is, the money or the earnings to make a living, without which it’s impossible to get the wants. Unfortunately, many without the means yet demand their wants, and thus end up in crimes, such as stealing and robbing.

In life and living, there’re many wants, including the following: wanting alcohol may result in AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder); wanting gambling can happen to anyone from any walk of life, due to the fun that often turns into an unhealthy obsession with serious financial and relationship consequences; wanting sex can lead to pornography, adultery, infidelity, and extra-marital affairs; wanting money can cause greed and attachments to material things; wanting hobbies can make life more interesting, such as dancing, singing, and music; wanting sports can increase physical and mental skills in competitive sports, such as football and soccer, while wanting non-competitive sports, such as running and swimming, can be exercises for physical health; wanting success in any endeavor, such as careers and businesses, love and relationships, health and healing, can set goals and objectives in life and living.

2. Living by Personality

An ego is self-identity. Many may have an inflated ego that gives them a distinguished personality to live by. They believe they’re not only much better but also totally different from others. Accordingly, others must succumb to their demands and desires. They’ve become so self-centered that they continuously inflate their own ego with higher expectations while controlling and demanding others to do what they want them to do.

On the other side of the inflated ego are those who’re living by deflated ego. They often feel inadequate, incompetent, and unloved. Their low self-esteem often originates from an unhappy childhood with extremely critical and demanding parents, as well as from ongoing life events, such as career and relationship failures and problems.

3. Living by Examples

Humans are all born to parents. While growing up, some live with their parents, while some live with their stepparents or foster parents.

Children learn to live by examples—the examples of those they’ve been living with while growing up. Positive parental love, characterized by affection, care, comfort, and concern, can be experienced by children in hugging, kissing, praising, and saying nice things to and about them.

But, instead of parental love, some children may experience only abuse, aggression, control, demand, hostility, and rejection from their parents throughout their development phases. They then learn to live by the examples of their parents in developing their low self-esteem and self-worth, academic and social incompetence, as well as mental and physical health problems. According to a study by Harward University, those who didn’t experience parent-child love were more than twice as likely to develop physical illnesses 35 years later.

4. Living by Conscience

Everybody has a conscience, which not only provides the ability to determine between right and wrong, but also the restraint to keep away from some basic urges and desires in the flesh. Conscience can make an individual feeling guilty when doing something bad, or joy when doing something gracious.

Conscience comes from beliefs and core values, as well as from perceptions of past life experiences and upbringing. But conscience not only changes over time but may also compromise. For example, in everyday life, those in authority may require others to do something in conflict with human conscience. Living in a world of compromise, many do consciously or subconsciously compromise their conscience.

According to the Bible, the human conscience is a gift from God, who has placed His standards of right and wrong in the mind of every person. So, when the person is on the right path, a good conscience will be at peace (Colossians 3:15). But when the person is tempted to go down the wrong path, that person will then hear the warning, but still has the freedom of choice to choose the right or the wrong.

The problem of living by conscience is that conscience can easily be contaminated by sin in the flesh.

5. Living by Faith

Living by faith is living according to the will of God. Living by faith is a tall order even for a true believer in God. The explanation is that everybody wants to do certain things his or her own way, instead of following God’s way.

First, becoming a believer in God is usually a long journey. Why? It’s because humans are now living in a secular society where science is the dominant religion. As a result, many don’t believe in the existence of God. However, despite the absence of God in their lives, spirituality may still be present in the hearts of many. It’s because they may believe they’ve an unfathomable spirit that can still provide their minds with direction, guidance, inspiration, and understanding. In other words, many are still spiritual without the presence of God in their hearts.

So, living by faith, you must first become a believer in God. To do that, you must have your intent to believe, which begins with your thinking mind to believe the unbelievable—that is, understanding the many paradoxes of life and existence.

Living by faith: Ask God to give you your "freedom of choice" to choose how to live your life that He has destined for you.

Stephen Lau

What Next?

There're many questions of how, what, when, where, and why that you may want to ask regarding what is happening in your daily life. 

Charles Proteus Steinmetz, a German-born American mathematician and electrical engineer, once said: "There are no foolish questions, and no one becomes a fool until he has stopped asking questions."

So, seeking relevant answers to the questions asked will sharpen the thinking mind over the long haul. It's also important to live in the presence of every question asked and to be patient with all those questions that can't be answered right away. True enlightenment may one day come when you're asking fewer or even no more questions because by then you may have already got all the answers--that may be the ultimate "self-enlightenment" of your thinking mind through asking questions and seeking answers.

"From knowing to not knowing

This is superior.

From not knowing to knowing

This is sickness.

It is by being sick of sickness

that one is not sick.

The sage is not sick.

Because he is sick of sickness

Therefore, he is not sick."

Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 71

Living by faith: God is infinite, and humans are finite. That explains "why" we should obey and trust the "inexplicable" from God.

Stephen Lau

Who Is God?

WHO IS GOD?

God is the "salvation" that He brings to everyone in this world according to His perfect plan and purpose. God desires that all people not only know what Jesus did on earth but also have the forgiveness Christ earned on the Cross.

The Redemption

    “Redemption” refers to undoing the effects of sin for all mankind. The word itself means to “buy back.” Redemption centers on God, who saves His chosen ones from sin, evil, trouble, bondage, and even death. Redemption is an act of God's grace, by which He rescues and restores His people. Redemption is all-inclusive.

 “¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

Christianity is different from other religions in the world—Christians can be good and forgiven; their salvation is a free gift from God.

On the Cross, the world, the flesh, and the devil did their worst, and Jesus was apparently defeated. But God raised His Son from death. The love and justice of God not only had been satisfied but also reconciled by the perfect sacrifice of Jesus.

Jesus’ death on the Cross and His resurrection guarantee that sin can be forgiven, and death defeated. Yes, the war between good and evil will go on, but humans are already given the Helper to fight in the war to gain their salvation and redemption.

The Helper

 Given that faith, trust, and obedience are difficult to come by, they’re often unsustainable. So, how can humans detach themselves from their flesh?

God has provided the Helper. Before His departure, Jesus said He would let the Holy Spirit take over.

“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

So, who’s the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is a Person—as Personal as God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit has been there since the beginning of creation “moving over the water.”

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit inspired all the prophets of Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary to become a human living on earth for several years. Throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth, the Holy Spirit was with Him.

The Helper can help humans in different ways throughout their lifespans, including the following:

He’ll convict but not condemn humans of all their wrongdoings. In other words, the Holy Spirit will restore them, but He’ll not defeat them. “When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.” John 16:8

He’ll guide humans along their life journeys, always giving humans the wisdom to do what’s right and to avoid what’s wrong. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” John 16:13

He’ll teach humans about what they can learn from God, and not from others. “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26

He’ll make humans obey God. “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” Romans 7:6 

Stephen Lau

Paradoxes of Life

In life, there're many paradoxes due to inadequate and imperfect human understand. That may be a reason why God wants to give humans spiritual wisdom.

A paradox is a statement with two totally “opposite” meanings that may seem contradictory to each other and yet together they not only are true but also make some sense.

The paradox of knowing God

Knowing God has many paradoxes: the Creator becomes a human; the Infinite becomes finite; the Eternal One enters time; and death is the way to life. These are some of the paradoxes expressed in the Holy Bible.

The paradox of God’s Presence

God’s Presence is another hard-to-explain paradox. Indeed, sometimes we see God’s love, mercy, and justice, but there’re also times we see only His indifference, condemnation, and even injustice. In fact, there're many times humans are prone to asking the pivotal question: “Where is God?”

The paradox of two-in-one person

You’re a two-in-one person. As a matter of fact, we all are, to a certain extent. Yes, there’re two persons living inside you: one is your ego-self; the other is your spirit. They co-exist: your ego-self is living in the physical or material world, while your spirit is living in a totally different environment with a different dimension. There’s constant and continual contact and interaction between these two personalities.

Your ego-self is assertive, and even aggressive, always telling you that you’re separated from everyone else. Your ego-self wants more of everything in your life, not only to define who you’re but also to separate you from others, making you more special. Your ego-self is judgmental, not only self-evaluating but also assessing others through comparison and contrast with yourself. Your ego-self is constantly shifting and shuffling back and forth between the past and the future, instrumental in improving the ego-self in the past, as well as in enhancing the ego-self projected into the future. 

Your spirit is the other person living inside you. Your spirit, on the other hand, is gentle and submissive in nature, always nudging you to do what is right and to avoid doing what is wrong.

The paradox is that both your ego-self and your spirit co-exist, and that each strives to dominate and influence the other.

The classic illustration of the two-in-one person is Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous story of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” In the story, both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde have a dark side within them, where evil is always lurking underneath and ready to surface anytime. In the end, it turns out that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are actually “one and the same person.” 

Given that the ego-self and the spirit co-exist, and that one can never totally get rid of the other, the reality is that the more control the ego-self has over the spirit, the more difficult it is to understand God’s Presence, not to mention to attain and appreciate His spiritual wisdom. Your belief is your way to unravel the paradox of two-in-one person.

The paradox of moralism

Moralism is a two-way street: people look at others from their own perspectives, while others may also look at themselves from totally different perspectives too. Moralism can drive people away from God because they cannot or are unwilling to change their own behaviors, and thus they somehow feel rejected by God. 

Moralism can also make people become inactive in their religious life because they may believe that they can still be “moral” even outside of the church. Moralism, an important aspect of most religions, can, ironically enough, drivee people away from God. 

The paradox of understanding

Belief begins with understanding. Man is a “rational” being, always demanding an explanation for anything and everything in life. So, understanding is vital to believing. The paradox is that believing first may enhance subsequent understanding.

According to St. Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo (354-430 A.D.), in life there’re certain things we don’t believe unless we understand them, and there’re also other things that we don’t understand unless we believe them first. So, faith is not opposed to understanding, nor is it independent of understanding. St. Augustine’s famous statement “faith seeking understanding” is an act of believing first, without which unbelief closes the door to further understanding. In other words, we must always believe first, and our understanding will then follow. It’s just that simple.

St. Anselm of Canterbury, a well-known Christian philosopher and theologian of the eleventh century, also echoed St. Augustine’s statement in his famous motto: “I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand.”

So, you must believe first so that you may see and understand your belief, which is your faith in God.

Living by faith: Only God can make you "understand" what He wants you to understand. So, ask and it will be given to you.

Stephen Lau

Becoming a Person of Faith

Becoming a person of faith, you’ll also look at living very differently. For example, if your parents asking you to tell a “white lie”, such as saying you “love” some food that you really don’t like, you must say "no" because of God’s truth. Your faith will also stop you from forming the habit of lying in your life.

On the other hand, if your parents or those around you are controlling, dominating, and even abusive, your faith will help you respond positively. God says you should not only “honor your father and mother” (Exodus 20:12), but also “obey” them. Your obedience may not lead to their “love” and “approval” of you, but it will lead to the help of the Holy Spirit in changing them. Remember: God is “a father to the fatherless.” (Psalm 68:5) 

So, surrender your will to God, and let His Holy Spirit  work in your heart throughout your life. The next step to take is forgiving your loved ones for their abuse and wrongdoings and praying for them. Then, let go of any expectation of their immediate change of misbehavior; instead, accept them as who they are with their imperfections, and cultivate your love and compassion for them. So, continue to focus your own relationship with God to experience your own healing. Your faith in Christ gives you salvation and hope not just for yourself but also for the repentance of your loved ones. Yes, as a believer, you could be the light that leads your unsaved or wayward loved ones to their own repentance and salvation. God can do anything and everything in your life. With God’s love, just wait and be patient.

Without God’s love, an unbeliever could become so obsessed and preoccupied with the thing loved that would lead to an irrational act. 

An Illustration

 A 10-year-old boy shot and killed his mother on November 21, 2022. The boy allegedly claimed that he took the gun from his mother’s bedroom down to the basement, where his mother was doing her laundry. Initially, he claimed that he was twirling the gun around his fingers when it went off and “accidentally” killed his mother.

But, according to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the boy later confessed that he carried out the heinous act out of his irrational anger after his mother refused to buy him a VR headset. Members of his family further revealed the 10-year-old boy’s many previous episodes of erratic anger and rage issues, such as setting fire at home and causing explosion when his demands were rejected by his mother.

Living by faith: Believe in God who can do anything and everything for you in your everyday life and living. This is your "trust" in God. 

Stephen Lau

Following God's Instructions

Living by faith is following God's Word in the Bible, which has God’s Word, the Bible, has 66 books (according to Protestants) and 77 books (according to Catholics); 39 of them are in the Old Testament, and 27 of them are in the New Testament.

THE OLD TESTAMENT

Genesis is about the genes and genetics of Adam and Eve, and Noah. God teaches you about your “new beginning” with Him.

Exodus is about God’s deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Likewise, you’ve many of your own unsolved problems holding you in bo·       age. God teaches you about relying on Him to solve all your unsolved problems and giving you freedom from that bondage.

Leviticus is about understanding God’s holiness. God teaches you about how Jesus can bring you to God the Father, and how the Holy Spirit can help you avoid sins while living on earth.

Numbers is about the Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years in exile because of their disobedience and lack of faith. God teaches you about trusting God’s unchanging Promises to you.

Deuteronomy is about Moses’ warning against idolatry, honoring the Ten Commandments, and sharing God’s truths with the generations to come. God teaches you about finding ways to share the Word of God with people you know.

Joshua is about Joshua, after the death of Moses, leading the Israelites to the land promised by God. God teaches you about serving God to claim His Promises while living in a world of many gods, many philosophies, and many temptations.

Judges is about the lack of national leaders after the death of Joshua, followed by sins and evils of His chosen people. God teaches you about overcoming lapses in your faith with the power of your repentance and revival.

Ruth is about how God turned the sufferings of Naomi and Ruth into blessings. God teaches you about trusting in God to redeem your hardships in the past, to bless you in the now, and to provide you with hope  in the future.

I Samuel is about the stories of three leaders: Samuel, Saul, and David. God teaches you about not judging by first impressions, and not jumping to conclusions.

II Samuel is about David’s forty-year reign over Israel and Judah. God teaches you that God’s mercy will lead you, like King David, to your contrition, your repentance, and to your restoration.

I Kings is about King Solomon’s wisdom, and the kings that followed. God teaches you about asking God for wisdom in times of peril as well as in times of prosperity to live by faith.

II Kings is about the history of the Jews after King Solomon, including how God saved Elijah and Elisha with no fear. God teaches you to walk with God with no fear.

I Chronicles is about how God led and blessed David as the King of Israel. God teaches you about His having work for you that you may not even know or understand; just do the work without fear until it is finished.

II Chronicles is about King Solomon building the temple to glorify God. God teaches you about keeping your body and your spirit as healthy as possible and use them as wisely as you can.

Ezra is about exiles from Babylon who wanted to rebuild the temple and to restore Jerusalem. God teaches you ·       about rebuilding your broken life with a new beginning, which is living by faith.

Nehemiah is about Nehemiah, a gifted builder in rebuilding Jerusalem “with the good hand of my God upon me” (Nehemiah 2:8) God teaches you about giving you a vision of what He wants you to do, that is, what He has destined for you.

Esther is about Esther who delivered the Jews from a massacre. God teaches you about your firm faith in His providence of solutions in all your daily troubles.

Job is about Job, a righteous and wealthy man who suffered tragedies despite his obedience to God. God teaches you to be obedient when you’re suffering, because He is sovereign over your life and your future.

Psalms is about songs covering almost every life condition. God teaches you about using songs to remember the Lord for your emotional and spiritual health.

Proverbs is about words of wisdom from Solomon for existence and survival. God teaches you about the importance of spiritual wisdom in commands in your life and in your living.

Ecclesiastes is about the philosophy of life of King Solomon—learning valuable lessons from futility of life. God teaches you about fulfilment of life not in riches or possessions but in trusting God in the now and in the future. 

Song of Solomon is King Solomon’s song about love between husband and wife. God teaches you about joy in a marriage despite the imperfections in the couple.

Isaiah is about the prophet Isaiah facing the challenge of a military invasion, as well as his prediction of the coming of the Messiah. God teaches about strengthening your faith in the promised Messiah who has already come and is now in your heart.

Jeremiah is about the prophet Jeremiah, whose messages were rejected by many. God teaches you to prevail and to persevere because He is the shepherd and you are His sheep, and you must do according to what He says.

Lamentation is about Jeremiah’s lamenting his sorrow and suffering, but with hope, God gave him mercy and compassion. God teaches you about not giving up hope and trusting in God’s mercy and compassion.

Ezekiel is about God’s prophet to the exiles in Babylon in the final days of the nation Judah, and about the destruction of Jerusalem, with the promise of the return of Jerusalem and the coming of the Messiah. God teaches you about believing in the Word of God, giving you hope in the days to come.

Daniel is about Daniel, one of the first inhabitants of Jerusalem occupied by Babylonians, who was faithful and steadfast to the Lord while living in adversities. God teaches you about always serving God faithfully.

Hosea is about Hosea’s difficult marriage and Israel’s spiritual adultery. The Lord told Hosea not to harden his heart and to plant seeds of righteousness. God teaches you about tending to your habits of your personal holiness in all that you do.

Joel is about the prophet Joel who said that the locust invasion in his day was a divine judgment and only repentance would bring blessings from the Lord. God teaches you about turning to God for forgiveness, and repentance for His blessings.

Amos is about farmer Amos, whose faith resulted in good deeds, kindness, charity, and justice. God teaches you about treating others with integrity and compassion.

Obadiah is about Obadiah who condemned the nation of Edom for the sin of attitudes—gloating over the misfortunes of others and showing no compassion for them. God teaches you about your compassion for others to please Him.

Jonah is about God’s punishment of Jonah who disobeyed Him. God teaches you about your faithfulness and obedience to God without hesitation or vacillation.

Micah is about judgment, sin, and restoration. God teaches you about living justly, showing mercy, and walking humbly with Him. 

Nahum is about prophet Nahum who said God always protected His people from storms, and humans should never focus on vengeance. God teaches you about not avenging yourself to rectify any wrong done to you.

Habakkuk is about Habakkuk who told God that he was frustrated by his troubles, and God told him to live by faith. God teaches you about living by faith, not by sight, and fully trusting God in all your troubles.

Zephaniah is about Zephaniah warning urgency of repentance of sins because “the great day of the Lord is near.” God teaches you about repentance because the end of the world is getting closer.

Haggai is about prophet Haggai rebuking the exiles who returned to Jerusalem to build their own houses, instead of reestablishing the city and rebuilding the temple. God teaches you about being strong with no discouragement because God is with you.

Zechariah is about prophet Zechariah encouraging the Jewish exiles to finish rebuilding the temple for the coming Messiah. God teaches you about not to be discourage by your slow and small work, for God’s spirit can make it great and powerful.

Malachi is about the final prophet Malachi rejecting apathy and its subsequent discouragement. God teaches you about discovering how little is much when God is in it.

THE NEW TESTAMENT 

Matthew is about the birth of Jesus, His teachings, His death, and His resurrection. God teaches you about baptizing in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Mark is about the urgency to know Christ, given that many passed into eternity without knowing Christ. God teaches you about your urgency to serve others and to share His Good News.

Luke is about Luke, a physician, with a merciful heart and a head of truths and knowledge, spreading the teachings of Christ. God teaches you about being merciful and compassionate to spread the Good News to others.

John is about Jesus doing the will of His Father and finishing His work on earth. God teaches you about finding your way of salvation to be born again.

Acts is about apostle Peter spreading the Gospel. God teaches you about your calling in this life to share Jesus with others.

Romans is about reigning in life through Jesus Christ, as well as through the implications of His life, death, and resurrection. God teaches you about reigning in life through God’s grace.

I Corinthians is about apostle Paul’s grief over church disagreement. God teaches you about selfless love and unity within the church.

II Corinthians is about the personal journey of apostle Paul. God teaches you about not giving up your personal struggle in your belief journey.

Galatians is about apostle Paul’s letters to the early churches to walk in the Spirit, instead of fulfilling the lust of the flesh. God teaches you about walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

Ephesians is about spiritually rich, instead of materially wealthy. God teaches you about walking as “children of light” in the earthly rich world.

Philippians is about uplifting in spirit—written by apostle Paul in prison with the motto “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” God teaches you about walking in love and trusting in God’s love and provision.

Colossians is about apostle Paul addressing some of the false teachings of the church in Colossae. God teaches you about setting your heart on things above, given that you have been raised with Christ.

I Thessalonians is about apostle Paul addressing Thessalonians with encouragement about the coming of Jesus. God teaches you about living faithfully and expectantly.

II Thessalonians is about apostle Paul’s second letter to Thessalonians about action and sanctification in the Lord’s Second Coming. God teaches you about what a believer should do before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

I Timothy is about heading up the work of churches to fight for the Gospel in a hostile culture. God teaches you about ·       living a holy life as a testament to the holy truth of God’s Word.

II Timothy is about Paul’s final letter to Timothy about being strong and fearless in preaching God’s Word. God teaches you about discipling the younger generation to spread the Gospel.

Titus is about Paul and Titus preaching God’s Word to the next generation. God teaches you about teaching sound doctrine and living a godly life.

Philemon is about a young slave in Philemon, who came to Christ after stealing some money. God teaches you about receiving, respecting, and refreshing others in Christ.

Hebrews is about Hebrew Christians facing pressure against their faith in the first century. God teaches you about your perseverance in your faith in any circumstance.

James is about James and Jude, who grew up with Jesus. God teaches you about being a doer of the Word by doing a good deed today and every day.

I Peter is about Peter showing how Jesus was a role model for endurance in suffering. God teaches you about sharing your faith unashamedly with others.

II Peter is about growing in faith and looking to the return of Christ. God teaches you about your faith in anticipating the Lord’s coming with hope and peace.

I John is about elderly apostle John, who would die for others just as God sent His Son to die for humans. God teaches you about laying down your life for your brothers and sisters.

II John is about false messages offered in the world of deceit and deception. God teaches you about praying for your discernment against false teachings.

III John is about offering an open door to God’s grace for those needing it. God teaches you about your generosity and hospitality for those in need.

Jude is about “contending earnestly for the faith” and “living in the love of God.” God teaches you about faith, prayer through the Holy Spirit, and anticipated mercy in the Lord’s coming.

Revelation is about God making you think about the future—His new heavens, His new earth, and His new Jerusalem. God teaches you about opening your mind to receive His spiritual wisdom to understand your life and living. 

Living by faith: Start reading God's Word is a daunting task. With the Helper, the Holy Spirit, you'll know where to begin and how to continue.