Proverbs 15:3-4 

³The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. ⁴The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Pork Adobo

When was the first time you tried to cook food? What food did you cook?

I was in college when I explored cooking. One day our landlady asked me, “What are you cooking for dinner?” “Pork adobo,” I answered. “Let me prepare that for you,” the landlady offered. She put all ingredients needed for the “Pork Adodo” and told me to place the pot on the stove to be cooked.

After a while, there was savory smell coming from the kitchen. The Pork Adobo was aromatic. Few minutes later, there was smell of smoke. The Adobo was burned. The landlady did not hide her displeasure, “What happened? You burned the Adobo!” I was very sorry that the flavorful Pork Adobo was burned.

How many times have you burned the food you were cooking? When the food you’re cooking is burned most probably you’re multi-tasking. Sometimes, multitasking can be productive but it is not always a good idea. Learn to discern activities that can be productive while multitasking. Together, let’s reflect on what it advised in Colossians 3:17, ¹⁷Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Her mother asked, “What are you doing?” “I’m resting a bit because I am very tired,” her daughter answered. “Ok! While you’re resting, get the broom and sweep the floor!” her mother instructed. Have you heard that story? Multitasking parents may have learned how to work in the name of the Lord but not everyone. How do we perform and at the same time, we give thanks to God through Christ?

We should not force the issue of service. Instead, we should be prayerful and have love, joy, peace, patience in whatever we do in church setting or private matters. Why? Everything we do for the Lord or for personal favor could possibly be included in the eternal treasure in heaven we store up for ourselves.

Let’s reflect on Matthew 6:20-21, ²⁰Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

When treasure is mentioned, we instantly think about money. Yet we also treasure activities and performances that may benefit us. Instead of doing things just for the sake of accomplishment, we should make things happen in a way that could be added to our eternal treasure. How? We pray for inspiration of the Holy Spirit to have love, joy and peace while working. Why? The Lor0d is watching us.

1.  Watchful

³The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

Why does God attentively watch over us? The Lord records everything we do—anything worthy to be rewarded or punished. What is the basis of the Lord when he rewards or punishes? His commands. If we obey him, we are rewarded.

If we do things on our own volition or instinct, it means that we ignored his commands. If we ignore him, it’s disobedience that cannot expect reward from him. If we follow our natural instinct, we become our own boss; we become the captain of our soul. Together, seriously reflect on what it declares in Luke 17:3-5,

³So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. ⁴Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” ⁵The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

Christ teaches about self-reflection and forgiveness. The apostles asked for increase of faith. They recognized faith as God’s gift. To forgive others even for multiple times is a practice of faith. To seek forgiveness from God is also a practice of faith. Did you know that if we cannot forgive, we commit sin? If we don’t forgive, we disobey the command to forgive. It says in James 4:17, ¹⁷If anyone knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Motorist

A motorist was found guilty of multiple counts of criminal dangerous driving. The driver was distracted while driving. Accordingly, he’s chatting on his cellphone when the car accident happened. Two pedestrians were badly injured. One of the victims hoped that the court’s decision will warn drivers that cellphone use while driving can result in criminal charges and not just simply a traffic ticket.

Traffic laws and other laws of the land were made for good reasons. Yet sometimes, we cannot absolutely follow the law. Nevertheless, we have to be always mindful that God is watching us, not just our deeds but also our language. Can you accept that God will reward good deeds and wholesome language?

2.  Wholesome

 ⁴The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

The term “soothing” presents the idea therapeutic healing that eases the pain. In contrast, the term “perverse” can be translated as crooked or distortion that may have emphasis on cruel viciousness. The idea of viciousness suggests the idea of wild ferocious animal attacking its victims with brutal violence.

Many minorities are reported to have suffered from violent prejudice or racism. You may not be physically attacked but you could be hurt emotionally by perverse and vicious individuals. Emotional pain could not be easily healed, and soothing tongue or counseling can be timely useful to ease the pain. How should we speak to avoid hurting others and bring comfort and consolation instead?

Jacob

Joseph was favorite son of Jacob. Jacob made a beautiful robe for Joseph. His other sons were envious. So, they sold Joseph into slavery. Together, let us reflect on Genesis 37:31-35. ³¹Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. ³²They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.” ³³He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.” ³⁴Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. ³⁵All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him.

Normally, how do you comfort a grieving person? Even experts admit that there is no “one size fits all” advice on how to comfort a grieving person. Maybe, one person is comforted by entertainment. A Christian may prefer to hear biblical messages, but for sure, our presence may speak louder that we truly sympathize and care for them, even without saying anything. What do you suggest?

Sometimes, brokenhearted people are not very much concerned about their physical needs, like food and other necessities. While attending to their physical needs, it is also helpful to pray for them and claim Psalm 34:18, ¹⁸The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

When friends or relatives easily inform you about their concern or struggle, do you remind them that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted? How can we express our compassion that won’t be misunderstood? Certainly, the Lord wants us to minister to the needy. We have to be prayerful and wait for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit himself may speak through us, so that whatever the result could be we won’t be regretful. Again, we have to be prayerful always.

How do you interpret what it declares in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4? ³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Can you agree that the Lord allows troubles to test the level of our faith in him? Can you trust that God uses your circumstances for his mission purposes? As we trust God, he empowers us overcome our struggles, then we are able to comfort and minister to those who have similar trouble that we’ve gone through.

What struggle are you facing right now that you cry to the Lord for comfort?

Matthew 5:4 says, ⁴Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Mourning for the loss of love ones, loss of job, unfulfilled dream or other concerns are difficult circumstances where we can evaluate our faith in the Lord. Can you praise and thank God during challenging times? May God bless you all!

><((‘> .. ><((‘> … ><(((“> tmec\2025 <“)))>< … <‘))>< .. <‘))><