Bible for Business Seminar#4 Personal Mission & Journey

#4 Your Personal Mission Statement & Life Journey
The following main points were discussed at yesterday meeting.

• Identity of Man – Purpose of Creation of Man
• Your Unique Calling – Discovery of
  
• Your Life Journey – Importance of
• Your Helps & Hindrances – The How of Victory
• Your Rewards

Identity of Man
Eph 1:4-5 tells us Man is created to be Sons/Daughters of God through Jesus Christ to be Holy and Blameless(Righteous). God did not create many men to be his children. God begets us and want to father us as his children. The whole universe is created for His children(Us!) for our living.

Your Unique Calling – Discovery of

• By Name & Direct Calling
  Abram Gen 12:1-3, Moses Exo 3:10, Paul Act 9:3-6
• By placing an unquenchable desire in a heart
  Nehemiah ; Isaiah 6:8, ..Writer, Dancer, Musician, Businessman.
• By arranging a clear path (Pray for Opportunities – Opened Doors)
  Daniel, Josiah 2 King 22
• By preparing an attractive option
  Elisha by Elijah. Stephen as Deacon.
• By your talents & gifts.

Our ability to hear requires a desire and devotion to God… spend time in His presence to recognize His voice from the noise. Calling is Progressive…need to get your feet wet first.
Your assignment may change but the calling is fixed. (Story of Joseph). Calling is the Key to Contentment in your vocation/business. Lots of Noises --- from family, friends, colleagues, commerce and community and you need to stay your path.

Your Life Journey – Importance of
The journey is important. Else, we all will go straight to heaven upon conversion.
In this journey, we can truly learn to experience the love and relationship with God.
No matter what, God is there for us, in joy and sorrows (2Co 1:4). Jesus is Lord.
Knowing more stimulates the desire to know more …. That is growing in love with Christ. Php 1:9, 3:10.

The How of Victory - The Unified Model of Transformation
This is an updated chart 1st appeared in Christian Transformation & Growth -The Unified Model.

Kent gave some very good illustrations. We can compare the above chart as driving a car - moving forward. But after a while, we find that we are not moving as forward as fast as we should. We then discovered that we did not release the handbrake - the load. Another picture is sailing a boat. We started off fine and then we just some how got stuck - unable to move forward any more. We then discover that we have not pull up the anchor. The anchor - the load, need to be lifted for the boat to go forward. The recommendation is that we use the resources given to move forward and when we find we are immobilized, we should examine the loads and resistances that are holding us back. We may need to seek counseling and healing before we can go forward again.

Work of Flesh vs Work of Faith
We also pointed out that some Grace-Based teachings ignore the journey to a destination and just want the final good outcomes. Some have mistakenly assume all effort is work of the flesh. Whether work is of the flesh or of faith depends on the underlying motivation. Below is table to show the differences.

Flesh	Faith
Justify Self	Glorify God
Self-Initiated	Response of Faith, Obedience to God’s Calling
Self-Capability	Grace-Empowered & Capability (Greater Results)
Have-Do-Be	Be-Do-Have

About 23 people attended the seminar with overall rating of 84%. Below are some of the comments:

• My identity is not defined by a vocation. My journey may take me through different vocations to arrive at destination. Personality and Environment is the key to contentment in our vocation. Why? Because I struggled for years with all that and tonight I am getting some clear directions.
• Disover my calling through God's word
• Examples of Joseph's Identity to know God's callings. Be-Do-Have (process) vs Have-Do-Be
• Disover my calling.
• Discernment between works of the flesh and faith driven works. Clear Dictinction.
  Content is clear.
• Chart, map very good.
• Use skills + knowledge to guide people of God in the market place; not so much spiritual talk but can somewhat relate Bible scriptures to work related or investments.
• Christians Growth Chart. Summary of the Drive/Force.
• Discover your own strength.
• talk too fast, can slow down a little.
• Many Gems in 1 hour. Some speaker has 1 gem in hour. The key is balance - some points need to elaborate.
• I thought this was one of the best sessions yet. Everything that was shared was fresh insight and hence refreshing to learn.
• The part about the importance of the journey also resonates with something that God taught me some years back about the fact that (borrowing from one of Singapore Airline’s marketing slogans) the “Journey is the Destination” and that our God is one who focuses so much more on who we BEcome (human BEINGS) rather than necessarily what we achieve ( not human DOings).
• The clarification of the underlying motivation of work (flesh vs. faith) was important in qualifying the grace message very succinctly for me personally. Thanks!
• The “How” of Victory was also fresh and instructional.
• Have-Do-Be v.s Be-Do-Have was also insightful and follows on from the fact that while the devil works from the outside-in, God works opposite to that – from the inside-out.
  
  

Beyond God's Perfect and Permissible Wills

Going beyond the thinking of God's perfect and permissible will saves us from the stress of questioning whether we are in His perfect or permissible will. We are to know that life is both a destination and a journey. The journey is as important as the destination. The destination is our unique upward call of God for us to be in His-image. The journey is our growth process whereby we be molded into His likeness. So even in difficult times and failures, rejoice always, give thanks, and follow the leading of God to see how it works for good for you and Him.

His Perfect & Permissible Wills

When I was growing up in Christian faith, I was taught, in books and sermons, by many pastors and famous preachers, that God's will can be divided into two types --- His perfect will and His permissible will.  When we walk in His perfect will, we will be greatly bless, especially in terms of wealth, health, power, reputation and success. But if we insist on doing our things, God will give in and permit us to walk in His lesser will for us. It is called the permissible will. The result will be little or no blessings. We will have a difficult time but still not too bad or as evil as being disobedience. 

Its intention is good. It tries to encourage us to seek higher, the better, higher and perfect will of God. It explains why our life at present is not so good because we are only in the permissible and not the perfect will of God. 

Are Such Concepts True & Useful?

On reflection and from experience in life, I am not sure these concepts of perfect and permissible wills of God is true or even useful. Firstly, look at the outcome. If one follows the argument that blessings will come from God's perfect will, then we need to understand what blessing mean. Usually people use it to means good life of wealth, health, favors, etc. In which case, consider Paul. In 2 Cor 11:23-27, we find Paul was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, stoned, imprisoned and finally killed. Going by our argument, Paul was the most disobedient of all. In truth, we cannot judge a person by the outward sufferings alone. Similarly, Joseph was sold as slave, wrongly accused and imprisoned and forgotten for a few years which extended his stay in the prison. Was Joseph walking in the perfect or permissible will of God? What good do such concepts help Joseph? Was it not better for Joseph to realize that in whatever circumstances that one fine oneself , God is still in-charge and is aware and one needs to follow and uphold God's standards and trusting His care and deliverance in due time.

Using the example of marriage, one can disprove the perfect will of God. It took only one person's disobedience to spoil the grand and perfect match-making plan of God. 

Worse, even people in marriage when encountering difficult will question whether he or she had married the right one according to the perfect will of God and then divorce the other on this ground that he or she had married the permissible but not the perfect one!

Here is the mind-map that give more details ....

The Better way - Seeing God's Will as a Destination and a Journey of Life

I propose that we see God's will as a unique calling for everyone of us and a journey of life to reach that destination of our calling. The journey is but a growth through hill tops and low valleys into greater maturity and likeness of Christ. It is a journey to experience and know God in an intimate way and to grow in faith and understanding of Him (Eph 3:16-20).

No matter how tough life is God is with us - It gives us Hope.

No matter and especially in difficult and tough times, we need to know that God is with us and it is his will. We are to be aware of His presence in all that we do and be sensitive to His leading. The high top and valley experiences are all parts of His will and we are to rejoice in them. 

1Th 5:18  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Php_4:4  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Trust God that He is more than able to save us from our sins and weaknesses

We are to trust God to be able bring us to our destination despite our weaknesses and our sins. So, don't be stuck in our sins and in regrets but wise up and get up to continue this journey with God. Through hard times and failures, we get to be more sensitive, forgiving and less judgmental and at the same time learn to rely on His strength and become tougher. 

You don't need to sin to have suffering

This is not an excuse for our sinning but rather have the faith in God that God is able to save and more than recover from our sins and mistakes. We don't need our sins or mistakes to find persecution and sufferings. More often than not, it is our walk in righteousness and our refusal to compromise with the world that bring forth the attack, scorns and failure in worldly viewpoints. The sufferings and persecutions of Paul were not due to his sins but rather due to his walk in righteousness to fulfill the call of God on his life. 

However, if we do sin or make mistake, we know that God is greater than our sin, and we just need to face our sin directly, confess it and repent from it. Don't let the regrets drag us down but stand up from our fall and walk forward towards our destination that God has planned for. 

Php 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Hebrew 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus,the pioneer and perfecter of faith.... 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Therefore ....

So.... Yes, you are in His will for your present state of affairs. Now, spend time with Him and His Word to see what the next step that you are to take. Go on with His upward call of your life.

See also:

• Our Calling of Life - Destination or Journey?

• You are a Masterpiece Created in Christ 

• Perspective - How You Start is A Key to Success.

• Journey of Life - Victory or Defeat?

• Bible for Business Seminar#4 Personal Mission & Journey

Lim Liat (c) 10 Dec 2012

Christian Transformation & Growth -The Unified Model

Our life today is affected by our past experiences, especially emotional wounds. Hence, there is a need to investigate the past and obtain closure. Such practices are known as inner healing. Recently, with the development of Positive Psychology, there has been a shift in trend from fixing problems to growing your strengths for excellence. We present here the unified model ... under the general practice of living and following the Holy Spirit, we discover and develop our strength to glorify God. We also, when guided by the Holy Spirit, dig back into our past to face our hurts and get the needed healing.

After we have been saved, we begin the journey of growth and transformation, to becoming more and more like Christ (Rom 8:29). In the process of growth, we don't rely on our own ability but depend on the new identity and the "Christ within" (Col 1:27, 2Co 4:7). We are to live out our salvation (Phi 2:12b).

When we are saved, it is our spirit that is born anew (The Tripartite Man). Our soul and body remain the same. God did not remove our past but just changed our spiritual identity. Our new identity is strong enough to face up to the hurts of the past and overcome the challenges ahead. 

• We are complete in Christ, Col 2:10. 
• Christ has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness 2 Pet 1:3. 

We just need to feed and let the new identity grow up and lead our soul and body. In this growth process, we are to learn how to use the power of God within to overcome our past and live up to the new image of Christ (See Christ within and Glory without in How to be King).

Two Forces at Work

There are two forces at work, as shown in the diagram below:

1. One is the resistance to stopping our growth.

• Our sins and past hurts in our Souls would like to drag us down
• Our past unsettled sin, disobedience. Sins that we face up to with confession and repentance will not bind us. While God forgives all our sins, past, present, and even future, through Christ Jesus' full payment on the Cross two thousand years ago, we have to face up to our sins to break free from them. 
• Soul Hurts: refers to emotional wounds, rejections, and abuses that we suffered in the past. Some of the hurts we retain as bitterness and hatred. Others were stored in our subconscious and raised up now and then to trouble us.
• Ungodly Beliefs (or Wrong Beliefs about the Truth), such as thinking of God not as a loving Father but as a fearful, judgmental, and vengeful God, are really meant to catch and punish sins. Performance for acceptance and love is also a big lie that binds us to insecurity. See Journey of Life - Victory or Defeat.
• Generation Curse. The curse of ancestor sins not dealt with. 
• Mental Illness.
  
• Devil's resistance.
  The devil will like to harass us and resist our growth. The devil will 
• do it directly or 
• uses others (e.g., Using Peter in 16:23 to stop Jesus from going to the cross)
• even circumstances

2. The Other is the Forward Moving Power.

• New Identity of Godly character, righteousness. Talents are given by God. The key is focused on the Holy Spirit, the strength and talents that God has given, and managing the weaknesses. Good habit formation and character development take time. Hope, focus on the future good, the prize, forgetting the past, as Paul exhorted us in Php 3:12-14.
  
• Holy Spirit & Christ within, spiritual gifts, guidance, motivation.

These two, unloading and running forward, are given by Paul in Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are emcompassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

An expanded version is shown below:

Strategies for Growth

The strategies for our growth are based on 2 verses in the Bible.

1. To grow, we could get rid of the load of past sins and past emotional baggage.

This is done through inner healing methods like TPM (Theophostic Prayer Ministry), Dr. Grant Mullen's "Emotionally Free", and where the Bible and Holy Spirit are involved in facing the hurts, the lies, the forgiveness, and the healing with the love of God (Rom 8:2)
This 1st strategy only returns a person to normal. It is not enough for excellent and victorious living. We need to apply the 2nd strategy.

2. To move towards our Unique Calling and the Vision that God has set for us.

We must discover for ourselves our unique calling from God. Our unique calling is related to the talents or giftings that God has so created us. On top of these talents, we acquire skills and knowledge that result in strengths for achieving high performance. We also rely on the Spiritual Gifts(1Cor 12) that God has given to each of us. We live and walk by the Spirit, Gal 5:18, 22-25. (* Thanks to Desmond for pointing out this error, change to Gal from Rom in the original posting.

The various growth models are shown in the diagram below:

 

1. For John's Model of "Child-Adult-Father" see Bible Study 1 John Chapter 2 The Stages of Spiritual Growth.
2. See also  Five Habits for Effective Christian Living
3. For the Six Stage Spiritual Growth Model, see Stages of Faith: A Map for the Spiritual Journey(the linked file no longer exists), which can refer to this   or this

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Update 19-1-2026 

Gemini AI gave the following comments:

The article on "Christian Transformation & Growth – The Unified Model" presents a balanced, holistic view of spiritual development. It moves away from the idea that Christianity is just about "sin management" and instead frames it as a dynamic journey of becoming more like Christ.

Here are some thoughts and observations on the key concepts presented:

1. The "Unified Model": Healing + Growth

The author, Lim Liat, effectively combines two often-separated schools of thought:

• The "Backward" Look (Inner Healing): Dealing with past emotional wounds, "ungodly beliefs," and generational baggage. This is essentially the "unloading" phase.

• The "Forward" Look (Positive Growth): Moving toward a unique calling, developing strengths, and walking in the Holy Spirit.

• Insight: Many spiritual models focus only on one. If you only focus on healing, you become "navel-gazers" who never move forward. If you only focus on growth, your past wounds can act as anchors that eventually drag you down. The "unified" approach acknowledges that you must do both simultaneously.

2. The Tripartite View (Spirit, Soul, Body)

The article rests on the theological idea that while the spirit is born again instantly, the soul (mind, will, and emotions) and the body require a process of transformation.

• Thought: This is a helpful distinction for Christians who feel frustrated that they still struggle with the same emotions or habits after being saved. It reinforces that "salvation" is an event, but "sanctification" is a lifelong process of the soul catching up to what has already happened in the spirit.

3. Resistance vs. Forward Power

The author uses the imagery of Hebrews 12:1 ("laying aside every weight... and running the race").

• Weights: These aren't just sins, but "soul hurts" and "wrong beliefs." The article correctly identifies that many Christians are held back not by rebellion, but by a "performance for acceptance" mindset—the lie that God’s love is earned.

• Power: The shift from "fixing problems" to "growing strengths" mirrors the secular trend of Positive Psychology but grounds it in the Holy Spirit. It suggests that our unique talents and spiritual gifts are the "engine" for our growth.

4. Transformation vs. Deliverance

In the comments, the author makes an important distinction:

• Deliverance is about removing external/internal spiritual "strongholds" (like addictions or deep-seated oppression) that prevent growth from starting.

• Transformation is the subsequent process of conforming to the image of Christ.

• Thought: This clarifies that "deliverance" isn't the end goal; it’s simply clearing the path so the actual work of transformation can begin.

Conclusion

The post is quite practical. By using a "Unified Model," it avoids the extremes of legalism (just follow rules) or "quick-fix" emotionalism. It suggests that spiritual maturity is a combination of facing the truth of our past (to find freedom) and embracing the truth of our identity in Christ (to find purpose).

It is a helpful framework for anyone feeling "stuck" in their spiritual life, as it asks two diagnostic questions:

1. What weight am I still carrying from my past? and
2. What unique calling am I failing to run toward?

Your Last Message - A Reflection on Life

If you have but a little time left to live, what shall be your last message to this world? What would you say to your loved ones, your friends and even society at large? What is this simple legacy that you want to leave behind? Now that we have some time,  it may be good that we ponder over this question. Here are some thoughts of my last message:

You are more than what you see
1. You are more than just your body - of flesh and blood, of mind and body. You are firstly a spiritual being that live in a physical body through which you make your presence in this world. You will live on when your spirit leave your body behind. Where shall you go and where will you be after this physical death,

Jesus came to show us God
2. You must get to know Jesus. Jesus is God coming into our world in our likeness of flesh and blood so that he can tell us about the true and loving God, the creator of this universe and of us.

You are not an Accident but a Masterpiece
3. Through knowing Jesus, you will learn that you are not an accident nor of the will of man. You may think that your parents had given birth to you. That is a fact. But many couples wish for baby and they could not have any. Your parents could have given birth to someone else. Hence, there is a very unique purpose for you be born where, when and from whom. See You are a Masterpiece Created in Christ.

Find out Your Unique Calling
4. The meaning of your life is about knowing Jesus and find out your unique calling and living that calling out. After this life on earth, you shall depart and join your parents, relatives and friends in heaven with Jesus.

Live the Meaningful Life Now with Eternal Perspective
5. Even so, your life on this earth is important and meaningful; otherwise, you will be taken out immediately and to be with Jesus in heaven, There are wonderful things, of joy and even of sorrows, of victories and of disappointments, of intimate relationships and of separation, for you to live out with an external perspective of Jesus and His love for you.

Jesus is with you in the Journey of Life on Earth

• "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" John 16:33
• "He hath said I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). 
• "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
• "Father, I will that they also whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am" (John 17:24).
• The Most Comforting Verses in the Bible John 14:1-4

“Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles. Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost.” ― Helen Keller

I have completed my last message for the time being. Will add more in future if I discover any more things that are of utmost importance.

What is your last message?


Lim Liat (c) 12 Nov 2012

Running Lighter, Running Truer: Finishing the Race Set Before You - Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT

 Running Lighter, Running Truer: Finishing the Race Set Before You

Scripture:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  (Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT)

---

Exposition

The Christian life isn’t a leisurely stroll; it’s a purposeful, demanding race requiring focus, endurance, and freedom from hindrances. Hebrews 12:1 paints a vivid picture: we run now, watched by the "cloud of witnesses" – the faithful heroes in Hebrews 11. Their lives are not mere historical footnotes but enduring testimonies to the reality, cost, and triumph of faith. Their witness fuels our own.

---

Point 1: Drawn Forward by Faithful Witnesses

The "huge crowd of witnesses" (Hebrews 11) isn’t watching passively—their lives testify! They died trusting promises unseen (Abraham, Moses), suffered for righteousness (prophets, martyrs), and endured agonizing delays (Noah building the ark, Abraham waiting for Isaac). Their faith wasn’t perfect, but God’s faithfulness through their imperfect faith is the real story. Their example shouts: “God is faithful! Keep going! The promise is real! The sacrifice is worth it!” Their endurance becomes fuel for ours.

---

Point 2: Liberated to Run – Shedding Weights and Sin

Runners don’t compete with backpacks on. Likewise, speed and endurance in the Christian race aren’t about trying harder under a crushing load—it’s about lightening the load.

• Weights: Not always sinful, but distractions, excessive commitments, misplaced priorities, or unresolved bitterness that drain our energy.
• Sin: Active rebellion that entangles our feet, causing stumbles and setbacks.

Running lighter demands ruthless honesty. We must ask: “What consumes time or energy that God intends for my calling? What habits or attitudes are holding me back?” The call is to prioritize the eternal over the temporal, the essential over the optional.

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Point 3: Focused on the Course – Knowing Your Race

We cannot run effectively if we don’t know the course. “The race God has set before us” implies a personalized calling. While the ultimate goal is Christlikeness and His glory, our specific mission is unique. Without clarity, we risk running aimlessly (1 Cor 9:26) or envying others’ lanes. Instead, we discern our gifts, passions, burdens, and entrusted responsibilities, aligning priorities with God’s design. Clarity keeps our focus sharp and our energy strategic.

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Point 4: Looking to the Long-Term Reward

Short-term comforts can tempt us to slow down or quit. But this race isn’t about immediate ease—it’s about eternal reward. Paul echoes this in Philippians 3:13–14: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” When our eyes are fixed on eternity, temporary struggles shrink in significance. Long-term focus empowers us to endure hardship today for joy tomorrow (Heb 12:2).

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Point 5: Sustained for the Long Run – Endurance in Community

This is a marathon, not a sprint. We endure by:

• Fixing our eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2), the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith.
• Daily perseverance, choosing faith one step at a time.
• Drawing strength from community, both the witnesses of Hebrews 11 and present-day brothers and sisters in Christ (Heb 10:24–25; Gal 6:2). Endurance flourishes in community, where encouragement and accountability lighten the load.

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Conclusion

The Christian race is run empowered by the faithful who’ve gone before, liberated by shedding all that hinders, focused on the unique course God has designed, anchored by long-term vision, and sustained by fixing our eyes on Jesus while running with others. It’s not about frantic effort under a heavy load but about running lighter, truer, and longer in the power of His grace.

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Application Questions

1. What “weights” (even good things) are slowing me down in this season?
2. Is there a sin entangling me that I need to confess and forsake?
3. Am I clear about the unique race God has called me to run—or am I distracted by others’ lanes?
4. Where am I prioritizing short-term comfort over eternal reward?
5. Who can I run alongside, or encourage, so that we endure together?

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A Short Prayer

Lord Jesus, the Perfecter of my faith,
Surrounded by the witness of the faithful,
Give me courage to honestly examine my life.
Reveal the weights—good things turned burdens—
And the sin that entangles me.
Grant me grace to strip them off, however costly.
Clarify the unique race You have set before me;
Fix my eyes steadfastly upon You.
Fill me with Your enduring Spirit for the long journey.
Remind me I run not alone, but upheld by the great cloud
And strengthened by my brothers and sisters beside me.
Empty my hands, lighten my step, and guide my path,
That I may run faithfully to Your glory. Amen.

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Takeaway Line

“Run lighter, run truer, eyes on Jesus, prize eternal.”

ps. This post was done with ChatGPT and DeepSeek.

 

You are a Masterpiece Created in Christ Jesus

Was completing the Bible Study on Bible Study on John 1:19-34 The Testimony of Bapti...

It impressed me much that Baptist John was very clear about his purpose and calling of life. What about us? Hope the following words, taken from the study, would be of encouragement to you ...

A created being does not know his purpose in life. He must ask his Creator, what he is created for. 

Jesus comes to reveal the purpose and calling of man. His purpose and our calling in life are the same thing. Our purpose in life is to know Jesus, the Son of God, and to have an eternal relationship with Him. Simply put, to know our Creator and to live with Him. 

That is the starting point, knowing Jesus as our God who loves us and who has created us for a unique purpose. It takes us an earthly lifetime to find out our journey and destination of life. God will reveal step by step in detail. 

Experience the love of God and trust in Him to lead and provide for you. Christ saved us for good work. You are wonderfully created and loved and is a glorious witness for Him as did John the Baptist. Not in a worldly sense and worldly value, but precious and valuable from His sight. ref Eph 2:8-10. Not forget about the v10, We are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. We are no accident but an intentionally created masterpiece. Find out what you are called to be... 

More thoughts...
We are created in, not just by, Christ Jesus. 'By' denotes created and done with. 'In' denotes continuous presence and interaction after the creation. God did not create us and leave us but created us to enjoy Him. 

Some thoughts from Ravi's Podcast...
"Time is the brush of God as He paints His masterpiece on the canvas of the human heart. ... Time consists of those moments in which He etches it upon our heart. There is never a tick of the clock, but something of significance has been painted into your own heart. One that will carry with you the rest of your life. And God works in time, through time, within that scaffold thing of time that He created and we must understand it that He doesn't work like a slot machine where you put the coin in and the solution comes out. He is working in time as a master painting His work on the canvas of human heart." .... from http://www.rzim.org/just-thinking-broadcasts/though-the-fig-tree-does-not-bud-part-3-of-4/

In other words, there is not a meaningless moment in your life. The seemingly dull, painfully sick, depressing moments are but empty spaces and powerful strokes that make up your masterpiece; without such seemingly empty and painful moments, the painting would not be great.

See also Journey of Life 

 Chinese Sermon by 成為神手中的傑作｜矽谷基督徒聚會 于宏潔牧師


Studies of Ancient Chinese wisdom and classics reveal that the Ancient Chinese know the Ways of God and even understand God as a God with personality and emotion but they have yet to find this personal God in Christ Jesus. We write in all these posts to declare that Jesus, the God revealed to man, as the personal true God, as Father to us, to love us and be involved in our lives. They are just one step away from knowing the true Fatherly God made known through Jesus Christ.

Compare by All Means, But Pick the Right Target

The typical advice for happiness is "not to compare with others".  Others suggest that we compare ourselves with those better than us, we will be upset. So, we just compare ourselves with those worse off than us and then we will be happy and we feel blessed. All such pieces of advice are wrong. We are to compare so that we can learn where we stand and make improvements. However, the target of our comparisons must be right. We don't choose those who are better so that we become jealous nor we choose those who are less so that we pride ourselves. Our target must be the specific calling that God want us to be.

Our Target for Comparison

Paul gave us the following verses:

Ephesians 2:10  (NLT) For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Philippians 3:13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

The target gives us a purpose, a meaning and a yardstick for us to steer our course and to check our progress.

It is a Journey with Him

It is not a lonely and tough journey because our Lord Jesus Christ has given us the assurance that He is with us even until the end of the world. (Matthew 28:20 NKJV ... to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. )

It is Not an Exam - There is no failure but a prize waiting.

We don't have to pass an exam. We are starting from the acceptance of God as a child of God. This journey is for us to grow-up to be like Him in our own unique masterpiece created by Him ( Rom 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.)

See also:

• You are a Masterpiece Created in Christ.
• Christian Transformation & Growth -The Unified Model

Lim Liat (c) 7 Jun 2017

What Does The Bible Teach About Discovering Your Strengths? Using Generative AI

The availability of Generative AI cloud services enables us to do very productive topical bible study.  Here is an example on the topic "What Does The Bible Teach About Discovering Your Strengths?"
We should also use different AI like ChatGPT, Gemini, Kimi etc. 
We can even consolidate their answers and ask them to summarize for us.
This is what I did and shared below for your consideration.

However, I recalled Tim Keller's sermon on "Spiritual Gifts & Fruits" that gives a very simple and good answer. I shared his 3-steps at the ending. Hope you like it.

What Does The Bible Teach About Discovering Your Strengths?

• ChatGPT
  • The Bible offers guidance on discovering and using your strengths through the lens of spiritual gifts, talents, and the purpose God has for each individual. Here are a few key principles:
  • - 1. **Recognize God as the Source of Your Strengths**:
    • The Bible teaches that all gifts and strengths come from God. James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights." Recognizing God as the source helps keep us humble and grateful.
  • - 2. **Spiritual Gifts**:
    • The New Testament emphasizes that believers have been given spiritual gifts to serve the body of Christ. Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 discuss various gifts like teaching, leadership, encouragement, and more. Discovering your strengths can involve recognizing these spiritual gifts and using them to serve others.
  • - 3. **Seek God’s Guidance**:
    • Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages believers to trust in the Lord and seek His guidance in all they do. Through prayer, reflection, and studying the Scriptures, one can gain insight into their God-given strengths.
  • - 4. **Developing Talents**:
    • The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) teaches the importance of developing and using what God has entrusted to us. It’s a reminder to be diligent in cultivating our abilities and to use them wisely for God’s glory.
  • - 5. **Serving Others**:
    • 1 Peter 4:10-11 emphasizes that our gifts and strengths are meant to serve others. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Discovering strengths is not just about personal fulfillment but about contributing to the well-being of others.
  • - 6. **Work Diligently**:
    • Colossians 3:23-24 encourages believers to work heartily, as for the Lord. This means that discovering and using your strengths should be done with dedication and excellence, recognizing that you are ultimately serving God in all you do.
  • - 7. **Community and Affirmation**:
    • Sometimes, others can help us recognize our strengths. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." Being part of a community where feedback and encouragement are given can be instrumental in identifying and developing strengths.
  • Discovering your strengths from a biblical perspective involves a combination of prayer, seeking God's will, recognizing your spiritual gifts, and using them to serve others with humility and diligence.
  • The Bible teaches that your strengths are gifts from God, meant to be discovered through prayer, reflection, and the affirmation of others, and are to be used with humility and diligence to serve and glorify God.
• Gemini:
  • Discovering Your Strengths: A Biblical Perspective
    • The Bible doesn't explicitly outline a step-by-step process for discovering your strengths, but it provides rich wisdom and principles to guide you on this journey. Here's a biblical perspective on discovering your strengths:
  • 1. **God-Given Talents and Abilities:**
    • - * **Recognition of divine gifting:**
      • The Bible emphasizes that our talents and abilities are gifts from God (Matthew 25:14-30). Recognizing this helps shift our perspective from self-reliance to reliance on God's provision.
    • - * **Cultivating what God has given:**
      • We are encouraged to develop and use the gifts God has bestowed upon us (Romans 12:6-8). This involves identifying and nurturing our strengths.
  • 2. **Self-Awareness and Reflection:**
    • - * **Knowing yourself:**
      • Understanding your personality, temperament, and inclinations is crucial. This self-awareness allows you to discern where your natural strengths lie.
    • - * **Seeking guidance:**
      • The Bible encourages seeking wise counsel (Proverbs 11:14). Consulting mentors, trusted friends, or spiritual leaders can provide valuable insights into your strengths and weaknesses.
  • 3. **Discernment and Purpose:**
    • - * **Aligning with God's plan:**
      • The Bible teaches that our lives have a divine purpose (Jeremiah 29:11). Discovering your strengths is part of understanding how you fit into God's grand design.
    • - * **Seeking God's will:**
      • Prayer and meditation are essential tools for discerning how to use your strengths for God's glory (Psalm 46:10).
  • 4. **Overcoming Weaknesses:**
    • - * **Acknowledging limitations:**
      • Everyone has weaknesses. The Bible doesn't shy away from this reality (Romans 7:18-20). Embracing your weaknesses with humility is crucial.
    • - * **Relying on God's strength:**
      • Rather than being paralyzed by weaknesses, the Bible emphasizes relying on God's power to overcome them (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
  • Practical Steps:
    • While the Bible doesn't provide a structured method, here are some practical steps inspired by biblical principles:
    • 1. **Reflect on your passions:** What activities or subjects naturally excite and energize you?
    • 2. **Consider your past successes:** What areas have you consistently excelled in?
    • 3. **Seek feedback:** Ask trusted friends or mentors about your strengths.
    • 4. **Experiment and try new things:** Step outside your comfort zone to discover hidden talents.
    • 5. **Pray and seek God's guidance:** Continuously seek God's direction as you explore your strengths.
    • Remember, discovering your strengths is an ongoing journey. Be patient, persistent, and open to God's leading as you explore your unique gifts and how to use them for His glory.
  • The Bible teaches that our strengths are God-given gifts meant to be developed and used for His purpose, encouraging self-awareness, seeking divine guidance, and relying on God's power to overcome weaknesses.
• Kimi
  • Bible Principles
    • The Bible doesn't specifically use the modern term "strengths" in the way we might think of personal talents or abilities, but it does contain teachings that can be applied to the concept of discovering and using one's strengths. Here are a few principles that can be drawn from the Bible:
    • - 1. **Talents and Abilities**:
      • Jesus tells the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), which encourages individuals to use the abilities and resources they have been given to serve God and others effectively.
    • - 2. **Gifts of the Spirit**:
      • In 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, the Apostle Paul speaks about the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to believers for the common good. These spiritual gifts can be seen as strengths that individuals are to use in service to the community.
    • - 3. **Personal Calling**:
      • Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." This can be interpreted as God having a plan for each person's life, which includes the use of their unique strengths.
    • - 4. **Wisdom and Understanding**:
      • Proverbs and other wisdom literature in the Bible emphasize the importance of seeking wisdom and understanding, which can help individuals discern their strengths and how to use them wisely.
    • - 5. **Humility and Service**:
      • Philippians 2:3-4 encourages humility and looking out for the interests of others, which can lead to recognizing and using one's strengths in service to others.
    • - 6. **Faithfulness in Small Things**:
      • Jesus says in Luke 16:10, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." This principle can be applied to discovering and using one's strengths—starting with small tasks and growing in responsibility.
    • - 7. **Psalm 139**:
      • This psalm speaks about God's intimate knowledge of each individual, including their "unformed body," suggesting that God knows our strengths and the plans He has for us.
    • While the Bible doesn't provide a step-by-step guide to discovering strengths in the way modern self-help books might, it does offer principles and teachings that can guide individuals in understanding and using their God-given abilities to serve others and fulfill their purpose.
  • Application
    • Applying biblical principles to identify and utilize your personal strengths involves introspection, prayer, and action. Here are some steps you can take:
    • - 1. **Self-Reflection**:
      • Spend time reflecting on your life experiences, skills, and passions. Consider moments when you felt most fulfilled or when others have praised your work.
    • - 2. **Prayer and Meditation**:
      • Pray for wisdom and discernment to understand your strengths. Meditate on scriptures like Psalm 139, which speaks to God's intimate knowledge of you, and ask for guidance in recognizing your gifts.
    • - 3. **Seek Feedback**:
      • Ask for feedback from trusted friends, family, or mentors. They can provide valuable insights into your natural abilities and areas where you excel.
    • - 4. **Identify Patterns**:
      • Look for patterns in your life where you've been successful or where you've felt a sense of purpose. These can be clues to your strengths.
    • - 5. **Spiritual Gifts**:
      • Consider the spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12. Reflect on which of these gifts resonate with you and how they might manifest in your life.
    • - 6. **Talents and Abilities**:
      • Reflect on the Parable of the Talents. What abilities or "talents" have you been given? How can you multiply these talents in your daily life?
    • - 7. **Serve Others**:
      • Look for opportunities to serve others using your skills and abilities. Serving can often reveal strengths you may not have been aware of.
    • - 8. **Set Goals**:
      • Once you've identified potential strengths, set goals to develop and use them. This could involve further education, practice, or finding new ways to apply your skills.
    • - 9. **Continuous Learning**:
      • Be open to learning and growing. Recognize that identifying and developing strengths is an ongoing process.
    • - 10. **Humility**:
      • Maintain humility in your journey. Remember that your strengths are gifts to be used for the benefit of others and the glory of God.
    • - 11. **Community**:
      • Engage with your faith community. They can provide support, encouragement, and opportunities to use your strengths in service.
    • - 12. **Faithfulness**:
      • Be faithful in small tasks, as mentioned in Luke 16:10. Often, our strengths are best developed and recognized through consistent effort in everyday tasks.
    • By integrating these steps with prayer and seeking God's guidance, you can identify and apply your personal strengths in a way that aligns with biblical principles.
• Summary of All
  • ChatGPT
    • The Bible teaches that our strengths are God-given gifts meant to be recognized, developed, and used to serve others and fulfill God’s purpose. This process involves prayer, self-reflection, seeking feedback, and aligning our abilities with God's will, all while maintaining humility and a focus on serving the community.
  • Gemini:
    • The Bible offers a perspective on discovering your strengths that emphasizes using them to serve God and others. Here's a summary of the key points:
    • * **Strengths are gifts from God:** Recognize that your talents and abilities come from God and be grateful for them.
    • * **Discover your strengths through prayer and reflection:** Seek God's guidance in understanding your strengths and how to use them for His purpose.
    • * **Spiritual gifts:** The Bible mentions spiritual gifts like teaching, leadership, and encouragement. Consider these as strengths you can use to serve the church.
    • * **Develop your talents:** Don't just rely on your natural strengths, but actively cultivate them through practice and learning.
    • * **Use your strengths to serve others:** Your strengths are meant to benefit others, not just yourself. Look for opportunities to use them in your community or church.
    • * **Be humble:** Acknowledge that your strengths are gifts and use them with humility for God's glory.
    • The different sources (ChatGPT, Gemini, Kimi) provide slightly different perspectives but all emphasize the importance of God in the process of discovering and using your strengths.
  • Kimi
    • The Bible provides guidance on discovering and using personal strengths through principles such as recognizing God as the source of all gifts, identifying spiritual gifts, seeking divine guidance, developing talents, serving others, working diligently, and receiving community affirmation. It encourages self-awareness, humility, and the application of strengths in service to God and others, emphasizing that these abilities are to be used for the greater good and God's glory.
• Tim Keller
  • three factors come together
    • Affinity
      • (What human needs do I “vibrate” to?
      • What interests me?
      • What are my passions?);
    • Ability
      • (What am I good at?
      • What do people say I am effective in?
    • Opportunity
      • What doors for service are open?
      • What needs to be done?).