As I was sharing with you recently about my experience at Bedok reservior, I had a "rolling" good time. Half way through the roll, I stopped as I felt giddy. Almost vomited. But, it does have been a good experience and definitely eye-opening for me. For the benefit of the rest, let's take a look at the video below once more.
Interestingly, most of the practitioners are old folks and some were acquired with sicknesses (mostly tumor or cancel). Apparently, they found healing by going through such practices. They termed such illness as "qi" in the body and could be released by purging out through "qi gong".
What caught my attention is that when I was there, a few regulars came to me and shared with me their thoughts . One of them taught me to remain "relax" or "let go" when going through the process. Sounds familiar? "Relax", "rest" or "let go"? I am sure such mindset is necessary to help us to cope in this fast-pacing society, let alone it can remove illnesses from our body.
If the world can understand that "relax" and "rest" is the way to healthy lifestyle, how much more we as Christian whose trust are in the Lord! Amen! We have the heaven's best, Jesus! We "rest" in His finished work at the cross... we "let go" of taking control of our problems and let God take charge.. Amen!
Let go and let God! This week we will examine a story that emphasized on this phrase. This has to do with the story of Abraham and Sarah. In short, God told Abraham that he will be "father of many nations". Due to their old age, Sarah arranged her maid, Hagar to sleep with Abraham so that the maid could give birth to Abraham (a picture of self-effort). But that was not God's idea. God's intention was to bless Abraham and Sarah with Isaac even though they had passed beyond child-bearing age (that's grace)! God's way is always beyond human reasoning and understanding. Amen!
Now, this story is from Genesis 15 to 17 of Old Testament. Let's look at how Apostle Paul interpret this story in the New Testament.. He was speaking to the Galatians and this is what he said. in Galatians 4
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
<<The bondwoman here refer to his maid, Hagar while the freewoman refer to Sarah.>>
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic.
<<Ishmael, son of bondwoman, Hagar was born according to self-effort. Isaac, son of freewoman, Sarah was born through God's promise to Abraham>>
For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
<<Here, Paul relate the story of Abraham & Sarah to the covenants of God. Hagar, being the covenant given at Mount Sinai vis a vis bondage. Exactly what covenant was given at Mount Sinai? Ten Commandments; Paul, the apostle of Grace, cited this Law as bondage.>>
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
<< Paul said that we are "Isaac". In other words, we are children of promise; We belong to the New covenant. And yet, we are persecuted by Law of Mount Sinai (Old Covenant)>>
30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”[f]31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
<<Paul said cast out the bondwoman and her son. What does that mean? Remove, get rid of "Law"! The Law focus on man's effort " You shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not..." Stop focusing on what we need to do to get right with God.
Paul continued that bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of freewoman. What does that mean? What is heir? Heir mean a person's inheritance of another. In this case, Law shall not inherit what the son of freewoman inherit (in other words, promise of God).>>
5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
<<The promise of God of is granted to us when Christ shouted "It is finished" at the cross. Jesus took all our infirmities which He did not deserve so that we can receive all the good which He deserved. Divine Exchange. Hallelujah!>>
The Law emphasized on the outward behavioral modification through self effort. But, Paul said that when we try to justified ourselves by law, we have fallen from grace. Look at Verse 4 in amplified version
4 If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have fallen away from grace (from God’s gracious favor and unmerited blessing).
2 Cor 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Every time when we look to Jesus and His finished work, we are esteeming Him and His work at the cross; we value what He has done for us. Nothing we do can add an inch to His perfect sacrifice. Amen! Therefore, let's not look at what we should do or not do (let go), but look to the Lamb of God, our Lord - the Author and Finisher of our faith (let God). Hallelujah!
Grace and peace be with you, always.
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