[2] It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. [3] Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. [4] The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 ESV) We live in a culture that is terrified of death, for death represents the utter termination of everything that our carpe diem (seize the day) culture urges us to do. The life of wine and cheese dining, relaxation on white sand beaches, and riveting entertainment at the click of a button has no ability to grapple with death and therefore denies its existence. What we cannot handle, we abstract from our lives to nursing homes and hospices, impoverishing ourselves of biblical wisdom in the process. Death is truly “the end of all mankind,” and we would be fools not to heed God speaking to our hearts through our own mortality. But it is not to say that feasting of any sort is inherently bad. The birth of a child, the marriage of a man and woman, the beginning of a new year of life—these are all causes for celebration! Our Lord himself made wine at Cana and ate with tax collectors and sinners (Matt 11:19). There is a time and place for the festivals of God’s people, for indeed there is a time for every matter under heaven (Ecc 3:1). There is also a time to die, and greater wisdom to be gained at the graveside. The joy of a wedding feast lasts only a moment, but sober reflections at the funeral of a dying saint who has run their race well for the Lord has the silent ability to preach with overwhelming compulsion to those who would never listen to a living voice. The reason that the sadness of a funeral can gladden the Christian heart is because the sorrow of the grave frees the heart from the daily chains of worldly cares. When faced with death, we are reminded that our days are not our own, but written for us in His book. When we see the final rest of a valiant saint who has fought the good fight, we are reminded of the brevity of life and that we should cast our daily burdens upon the Lord who cares for us! And if we are to live a God-honoring life in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for us (Phil 1:22). In the house of feasting, we delight in hearing the laughter of the voices of others. But in the house of mourning, we delight in hearing the voice of God who alone can comfort us in our pain, and reminds us that to live is Christ and to die gain. Therefore, the heart is gladdened in the house of mourning not by ignoring death but by gaining a heavenly perspective. Believer, do you realize that because of your Christ the sting of death has been swallowed up in victory? Do you think daily about how you are running your Christian race? Is your life characterized by a striving to do God’s will each day from the moment you rise in the morning? Is it your joy to pour out your very life as a drink offering in service to your Master? Do you fear death? Or, when you are faced with the end that comes to all mankind, do you hear the voice of Jesus who speaks wisdom to your heart about how to redeem the time, knowing that the days are evil? No runner can run well to win the prize without studying where the finish line is. And no Christian can run well to win the ultimate prize without studying the finish line of death. In the words of C.T. Studd, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” “Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way; Bringing conviction to my heart, and from my mind would not depart; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last. Only one life, yes only one, soon will its fleeting hours be done; Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, and stand before His Judgment seat; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last. …Only one life, yes only one, now let me say, “Thy will be done”; And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”; Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” C.T. Studd (1860-1931)

My Life is but a weaving Between my Lord and me; I cannot choose the colors He worketh steadily. Oft times He weaveth sorrow And I, in foolish pride, Forget He sees the upper, And I the under side. Not til the loom is silent And the shuttles cease to fly, Shall God unroll the canvas And explain the reason why. The dark threads are as needful In the Weaver's skillful hand, As the threads of gold and silver In the pattern He has planned. He knows, He loves, He cares, Nothing this truth can dim. He gives His very best to those Who chose to walk with Him. -- Grant Tullar (1869-1950)

This past weekend we celebrated the greatest story ever, the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. This story has it all: love, betrayal, loyalty, jealousy, violence, grief, sorrow, courage, sacrifice, suspense, injustice, confusion, anger, despair, fear, and glorious joy. These feelings are on display in the lives of those who are in the story. None are innocent except for One. Some characters fumble their way through their parts as best they can. Others move forward with evil intent, with murder in their hearts. Some are drawn into it quite apart from their own intention. Others are there to do a job, while still others are there to watch the spectacle. The central character though, Jesus, is the One who gives movement to the story. Without him there is no story. He says little but does the most. He alone is innocent. He suffers the most, he loves the most, he forgives the most, and he glorifies God the most. And in doing so he accomplishes the most. This is no ordinary story for it is cosmic and eternal in its scope and has the power to change all other stories. As followers of Jesus, we are witnesses to the power of Jesus’ story to change our lives and our future. We know what it was like to live lives that were empty of meaning, of having little purpose, of even doubting our own worth. At some point in our own story, we encountered Jesus, heard his story, and by grace and faith have been written into it. And now we have been given supporting roles. Jesus still remains the primary character of this story and it is he that moves the story ahead but now he has given us the privilege of sharing his story with others. Many have yet to hear the story of Jesus. Sure, they know about Christmas and Easter, but they have not heard from one who is actually a witness of God’s power to bring salvation to a life that has been ruined by sin, and thereby robbed of true life. In these days of an enduring pandemic, people need to hear good news. We have that good news, and it is found in Jesus’ story. Too often we remain silent about how Jesus’ story changed us and brought us into the greatest story ever. The Easter celebration is over for another year, but you can know the joy of telling that story all year long. And you can do it in response to the One who said, “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.” The only question that remains is, “To whom will you be a witness to the greatest story ever?” Article by: Hamish Buntain

…knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Pet 1:18-19 ESV) The temptation to worship and serve the god of silver and gold is a strong one. The god of money whispers into our ears, “Serve me, and I will give you the mansion of your dreams. Serve me and you will have the best doctors to care for you. Serve me and you will drink from the fountain of the finest pleasures in this world.” Yet, we all know, that there are things all the silver and gold in the world cannot buy. Money can buy a house, but not a home. Money can buy friends, but not love. Money can buy a church building and food for ten thousand orphans… but one thing it cannot buy, is peace with God—the forgiveness of our sins! A billion dollars in your bank account to spend over 80 years of life is absolutely worthless if it can do nothing to save your soul from the eternal fires of hell. But not so with the blood of Christ! The blood of Christ cannot buy you a house, a meal, nor even a jacket to protect you from the cold. Yet, the blood of Christ is infinitely more valuable than all the money in the world! For it ALONE—nothing else—can pay for our sins and give us everlasting peace with God! The Israelites whom God called out of Egypt into the wilderness understood the absolute necessity of having peace with God. The thick veil and cloth curtains of the tabernacle served as a daily reminder that though God lived in their midst, he was holy. And without this separation from their sinfulness, every single one of them would be dead. Numbers 28 tell us just how vividly the people were constantly reminded of the horrific nature of their terminal disease of sin. Every single day, a lamb was slaughtered and burned in the morning and another again in the evening. God’s people could never forget that whether they were awake or asleep, that they only lived because another had died in their place. Perhaps walking by the tabernacle, you would hear the little lamb crying, “Baa, baa,” only to have its voice instantly cut off as the priest’s knife slashed through its throat. And as the severed artery spurted out blood into its windpipe, the little creature would gasp and gurgle as it drowned in its own blood—and died. And you would think to yourself, “Little lamb. You did not die because you were an evil creature or because you had sinned. You were spotless and innocent. Little lamb, you died to remind me of the infinite offense of my own sin against a holy God whose eyes are too pure to look on evil!” Now, every day two lambs were slaughtered. Every Sabbath, two additional lambs were slaughtered. On the first day of every month, seven additional lambs were slaughtered, and so on. In total, 1,084 lambs were slaughtered publicly every year—not including all the lambs that were killed to atone for the individual sins of the people. Never was there a year, month, week or even a SINGLE DAY, when the people of God did not have a reminder of their need to be cleansed of their sins. There must be blood! For without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. How dreadful is sin! So vile, so monstrous, so horrid, despicable that it cannot be washed away with the strongest chemicals on the planet—only, the blood of Christ. How precious then is the blood of Christ! More valuable than the blood of a thousand lambs or goats and bulls that can never take away sins. Yet, our Jesus, by his death on the cross offered once and for all, a single sacrifice for sins, and then sat down at the right hand of God! It is FINISHED! It is FINISHED! Christ has paid for all my sins! Hallelujah, death is vanquished, Jesus blood has pardoned me! Christian, do you remember your horror at sin when God opened your eyes to see the immense magnitude of your crimes against him? Do you identify with the old hymns that says, “Behold the man upon a cross, my sin—MY SIN—upon his shoulders. Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, call out among the scoffers. It was my sin—MY SIN—sin that held him there, not nails, until God’s plan to redeem was accomplished. His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished.” How precious is the blood of Christ that brings us peace with God! I am no longer a slave to sin. I am no longer a criminal sitting on eternal Death Row. The precious blood of Christ covers me so completely that the destroying angel of the Exodus will look at me and say, “I see no enemy here deserving of death. Only a child of God, purchased by the blood of God’s one and only Son.” I am child of the king. I have a palace waiting for me in heaven. I have a future in the King’s shining land where I will eat with saints from all the ages forever. I have an eternity of perfect happiness and bliss in the New Garden of Eden, where I will walk with my Lord and Savior day by day in the cool of his garden. And there, I will sing his praises forever, with unending joy in my heart, even as I hold the nail-scarred hands that paid my ransom. Brothers and sisters, a fountain of our own tears of regret for our own sins cannot save us. The greatest sacrificial acts of love done for others cannot save us. The best sermons preached in the name of God in this world cannot save us. The only thing that can save us, is the precious blood of Jesus Christ. And for his shed blood on Calvary’s cross, we give him the highest praise. Article by: Samuel Chua

"The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the pinions and plumage of love? 14 For she leaves her eggs to the earth and lets them be warmed on the ground, 15 forgetting that a foot may crush them and that the wild beast may trample them. 16 She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers; though her labour be in vain, yet she has no fear, 17 because God has made her forget wisdom and given her no share in understanding. 18 When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and his rider. (Job 39:13 ESV) When God created the world, he declared that everything that he made was very good. From the lush emerald greens of the tropical jungles, to the massive leviathans of the deep that swim the untamed oceans, to the mighty herds of four-legged creatures that roam the sun-warmed lands of the African savanna—our Creator crafted the entirety of this world with his matchless brilliance and wisdom  ex nihilo (out of nothing) to display his glory. God’s genius in creation speaks so magnificently to his divine wisdom that when Job complains to God about his seemingly unjust and pointless sufferings, God does not attempt to convince Job with argumentation or reason, but simply points him to the staggering complexity and sheer awesomeness of the created order. God is the one who loads the storm clouds with moisture so that they shower the earth with rain (37:11). God is the one who forbids the waves of the raging ocean to surge an inch beyond the stops he has placed for them on the seashore (38:11). God is the one who feeds the ravens in the sky with the food that they need each day (38:41). And God is the one who crafted the arid plains of the inhabitable desert into a home for the wild donkey (39:5). But the spectacular wisdom of God is not just to be seen in the mighty works of nature that awe us with their absolute immensity or raw power. The wisdom of God is even more brilliantly displayed in the seemingly foolish, weak, and insignificant things of the world that are possessed with hidden qualities that their Master has placed in them. The ostrich is indeed a strange creature in this world. It has a tiny head attached to a long neck that is coupled to its plump football-shaped body. It has wings, yet it cannot fly. It is a bird, yet it lives on the ground. Unlike other airborne fowls, the ostrich makes its nest not in the safety of a tree’s lofty branches, but in the vulnerable, unsafe environment of the ground where a heavy foot might stomp on its eggs or a wild beast might trample them (39:15). If one could give the ostrich marks for parental skill, the ostrich would earn a failing grade in the art of baby-proofing her home. But the reason for this lack of intelligence is stunning to us. For, the ostrich is dumb, because God made her dumb and given her “no share in understanding.” (Job 39:17) Now one might be tempted to think that such a “dumb” creature is a mistake, a blight on God’s brilliance, yet nothing could be farther from the truth! For despite the ostrich’s silly demeanor, awkward proportions, and lack of parental wisdom, her twin legs can propel her to such incredible speeds that she can leave the fastest horse and rider trying to hunt her in the dust. So quick is this “dumb” creature that she veritably laughs at the feeble attempts of any pursuer to catch her! In short, God shows his brilliance and ingenuity in designing a foolish creature that defies our expectations and shames the wisest human hunters and their nimble steeds. Brothers and sisters, is this not a perfect illustration of the wisdom of God displayed in the work and person of Jesus Christ? Does not the apostle write that the word of the cross is foolishness to the perishing world (1 Cor 1:18)? Is not the wisdom of the world utterly insufficient when it comes to knowing God (1 Cor 1:21)? Who could have imagined that the masterplan of God was to consign all of mankind to disobedience so that he might pour out his matchless grace and kindness on all of us through the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom 11:32)? What human science is capable of plumbing the very depths of the infinite wisdom of God? There is none. The greatness of God’s wisdom is not ultimately found in things that appear glorious and wise to us. The greatness of God’s wisdom is found in the stunning significance of things that seem inconsequential and even dumb to us, whether this involves sickness, suffering or even the sword. For our God’s glory shines not just in the things that we deem to be honorable and worthy in this world, but in the lowly, dishonorable, yet surprising things. Perhaps your life’s griefs and sufferings are as inexplicable as that of godly Job’s. Perhaps you find yourself in a precarious position at work with close relationships around you that seems utterly foolish to you and you are at a complete loss to see how any good might come out of your circumstances. Perhaps you are simply stressed out by the enormity of the tasks that God has heaped on you and you lack the wisdom to know what to do. But when you are tempted to grumble and complain, remember the ostrich. Remember that God made the ostrich dumb to display his glory. And if his glory can shine so brilliantly through such a silly creature, what can he do through you, O you of little faith? Article by: Samuel Chua

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Pet 3:11-13 ESV)   The Day of the Lord will be the most terrible, yet awesome and unforgettable day that the world has ever seen. The Lord God himself will descend from the heavens, surrounded by legions of shining angelic warriors, ready to make war against those who defy their Master. His arrival will be sounded by a deafening trumpet blast in the vault of the heavens that will echo in every corner of the earth—from the deepest jungles of the Amazonian rainforest to the skyscrapers of the densest metropolises of the world. The clarion call will seize the attention of every single human being, from the mighty president of a country who sits in his official residence to the common worker in the field (Matt 24:29-31). The very earth itself will not be unaware of his coming and will tremble violently in the presence of the matchless, unbridled power of our immortal Lord. His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives and at his slight touch, the entire mountain will be torn in two as the creation itself bows in humble deference to its Creator. In that day, the nations of the world will find themselves in a battle that they have absolutely no hope of winning and will wail at the coming of the Son of Man.  But at the same time, that very day of abject horror for many, will be a joyous day for all who have longed for the appearing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For the Lord himself will gather his elect, his precious bride, the church, to be with him in the heavenly mansions that he has gone to prepare for us in his Father’s land. The swords of the angels will bathe themselves in the blood of God’s enemies, but they will not harm a hair on the heads of the people of God. The dead in Christ will rise at the sound of our Master’s voice and those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness will have their mourning turned into joy as their Savior comes to relieve their sufferings.   But that day which is known to God and has been fixed by him (Acts 17:31) is not a day that we are to passively wait for. Though God’s sovereignty has decreed the very day on which he shall return, his sovereignty does not exclude our responsibility to live holy lives that model the Gospel of Jesus Christ and “hasten” the day of the Lord. How remarkable this is! To think that God has determined that the holiness and godliness of his people would seize the very hands of the divine, heavenly clock and push them towards that final day—the day on which our Lord Jesus returns! Is this not what the Bible teaches? Did not Christ command us to pray, “Your kingdom come?” Did not Christ teach us that the “gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matt 24:14)? Did our resurrected Lord not command us to go into the world and make disciples of all nations?   Brothers and sisters, we must never think that our daily actions are insignificant. For every soul that is saved for Christ, brings us one soul closer to the grand total of the redeemed who will one day stand before the throne of God dressed in white robes and waving palm branches in their hands shouting, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb" (Rev 7:10)! Our actions matter! For God has ordained that the godly actions of his people would accelerate the heavenly timetable and hasten the coming of that day when our precious Saviour will stand at our side. So, if Christ is our treasure and ultimate joy, let us expend ourselves fully as ambassadors for Christ and hasten the day of our Saviour’s return. Let us be diligent about our Master’s work and declare the Gospel to this world and complete the unfinished task! And when our work is done, we will receive our life’s greatest reward—the ultimate joy of seeing Him whom our soul loves.  Come Lord Jesus, come!  Article by: Samuel Chua

“Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18 ESV)   Despair and loneliness are merciless fraternal twins who have chased God’s faithful—great and small—for thousands of years. Even the great prophets and mighty kings of old were not spared from their relentless onslaughts and assaults. Elijah was used by God to bring about a great victory against the prophets of Baal as the Lord God answered his pleas and sent fire from heaven on his offering on Mount Carmel. Subsequently, four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal were executed by the people of Israel and rain miraculously fell from the heavens after three and a half years of drought. But despite these powerful victories and the very visible manifestations of the unmatched power of God, the mighty prophet trembled at Jezebel’s threats against his life and ran away into the desert. Though he was a firsthand witness to the awesome hand of God at work through him, he found himself despairing of life itself. Brother and sisters, is this not our human condition? Too often we think to ourselves when we are pursuing the things of God with zeal, “Lord, the godly have perished from the face of the earth (Micah 7:2)! God, I am the only one left!” We look around us and can see only those who seek to lay snares for our lives while our closest friends stand far off (Ps 38:11-12). And even though God has worked for us such a great salvation by delivering us from slavery in the Egypt of our sin, we are prone to grumble when we are walking through wildernesses of life. We forget the power that parted the Red Sea and we long to return to slavery. But how grateful we are that our God is a gracious and powerful God! For when the prophet was at his lowest, the still small voice spoke the truth with the gentleness of a father speaking to his young child. There on the mountain, God dealt kindly with his discouraged heart and reminded him he was not alone. For God had preserved for himself a remnant, chosen by grace, of 7,000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal (Rom 11:5). Christian, do you feel alone? Do you feel despair in your home, or at your workplace, or even in your church, because you think that you are alone in your struggle to be a faithful follower of God? Do you find yourself so overwhelmed by the trials of your daily life that when you look to the horizon, you see only unending days of lonely work and despair? Take heart, Christian! Though we might feel alone in our sufferings, let us remember that the Lord God sees us in our afflictions. Though it may seem like his church is on the defensive or disappearing where we live, he has promised us that the gates of hell would not prevail against his church. When we are unable to lift our heads and perceive ourselves to be alone in the midst of our enemies, let us remember that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself. Though the Philistine giants of despair and loneliness might beat you with their brutal clubs, they are no match for the keen edge of the sword of the Spirit—that is the Word of God. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us, and he has purchased for us a family of co-labourers and co-sufferers. We are not alone. God always has his 7,000. And nothing in all creation can ever rob us of the immeasurable joy that we have in Christ Jesus who died on the cross for our sins so that we might live in relationship and joy with him—forever, and together. Article by: Samuel Chua

And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." (John 12:23-25 ESV) An immeasurable blessing of the Christian faith is that were not just given words to follow, but an example to follow in our precious Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The Christian’s desire to sacrifice one’s own life does not come from any power within ourselves, but from our Lord and his example that defies the logic and values of this world. In his kingdom, the last shall be first. In his kingdom, the humble will be exalted. In his kingdom, losing your life is the means by which you gain it. Here, Jesus speaks about the counterintuitive nature of his own upcoming death and resurrection. It is only through dying that much fruit will come. If the Son of Man chooses to take up the sword and destroy his enemies, he would destroy the very ones he came to save because they would still be lost in their sins. However, if the Son of Man allows the sword of God’s wrath to fall on his own neck, his own people will be saved. This is the secret of the Christian church. We win souls for Christ not through making others suffer but rather by allowing ourselves to suffer for the sake of others. It is marvelous to watch a great leader exercise his authority and enact justice in his land. But it is awe-inspiring beyond words to see a mighty, eternal king give up his power and sacrifice himself for the good of those whom he loves. And because of his humility, God has exalted him to the highest place and our Lord Jesus Christ now rules from his throne forever and ever. Oh, the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! Who has known his mind or who can offer him counsel? Brothers and sisters, as we approach this Easter season, let us celebrate the king who came in humility rather than power. On Palm Sunday, he rode a donkey not a warhorse so that we might become his children and not his defeated foes. As we think of the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter, let us be attentive to how the Lord would have us lay down our lives in humility, so that by our dying to self, others might find true life. Article by: Samuel Chua

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Pet 1:17-19 ESV)   For some in this world, the thought of their own father brings back memories of joy and profound admiration. They remember strong but tender men who loved their spouses and children and laboured diligently to provide for them, all the while steering them towards godliness amidst the storms of life. Such fathers are an immense blessing and when the Lord calls them from this earth we do not grieve as those who have no hope—but oh! How we still grieve! For others, however, the thought of their father evokes only bitter resentment, anger, or unbearable pain. They have little to celebrate of their father who was perhaps absent, neglectful, or in the most horrific cases, an abuser of those whom he was charged to defend and protect. And though these dishonorable men might leave this earth when death calls for them, their legacy of pain continues to echo in the lives of those who suffered the most at their hands.    But, despite all of this, there is soul-satisfying hope for those who have been touched by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The beauty of the Gospel is that though we may be physically orphaned by fathers we loved and wished were still with us, or emotionally scarred by fathers who should never have fathered children—God will NEVER fail us as a merciful, all-powerful, loving Father. To those who us who have saved by the blood of Christ, we are freed from the mortal limitations and prisons created by our earthly fathers, and free to revel in the unparalleled majesty and intimacy of our heavenly Father! See here how the apostle Peter speaks about our great Father!  Our heavenly Father is perfectly just in his treatment of all mankind because he plays no favorites, but judges all on the face of the earth impartially according to their deeds. Never does he treat one sibling better than an another or misjudge harshly because of his inadequate perception of the situation. In every and every circumstance, his children may rest assured that they will always receive that which is perfect and ultimately just—if not now, then in eternity.  Our heavenly Father is supremely merciful in that when we were utterly, spiritually bankrupt and unable to pay for the price of our own sins, he himself stepped in and covered our infinite debt. Though the wages of our sin was eternal death, our Father did not hesitate to pay our blood-debt in full without a penny drawn from the account of our own works. The Son of God hung on the cross until every last drop of liquid redemption fell to the ground before he shouted, “It is finished!”   Our heavenly Father is magnificently redemptive in that though we were slaves to repeat the worst mistakes of our parents and ancestors, he seized us from walking the broad way that leads to destruction and placed us on the narrow Way that leads to life. Furthermore, he does not just save condemned convicts from the spiritual gallows but educates them in the school of Christ and sanctifies them so that they might bear the royal image of the Prince of heaven and not the disgraceful criminal lineage of their rebel parents.   Our heavenly Father is incomparably loving in that he lavishes upon poor, wretched sinners like us matchless grace by sending his one and only beloved Son, Jesus Christ to die in our place! The ledger of our crimes was so black that no amount of blood could ever have blotted it out. Yet, our God, in his overflowing love, did not spare his very own Son, but chose to punish the guiltless in place of the guilty to make us his own beloved children. This, brothers and sisters is true love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his very own Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins!   Believer, whether you weep because you have lost a father that you held dear or you grieve in pain because you never had a father that you could hold dear, never forget that you always have a heavenly Father whose perfect justice, love, mercy and redemption is enough to satisfy any sorrowing heart. Honor your father whose DNA gave you your life, but honor and worship the heavenly Father whose imperishable Word gave you your eternal life. And one day, when your time of exile here on earth is done, you will see the face of the One your soul loves. In your Father’s presence there is fullness of joy, and at your Father’s right hand, are pleasures forevermore.  Article by: Samuel Chua

“For by grace given me I say to everyone of you; do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” Romans 12:3 Humility is often discussed among Christians but many struggle to be of a humble disposition. C.S. Lewis said ‘’True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less’’. Dwelling too much on one’s self is directly opposed to the goals of humility. The greatest example of humility is seen in the life or our Lord Jesus. In Mark10:45 it is written ‘’For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many’’. He humbled Himself to serve us. According to the world’s view it is better to be masters than to be servants. But as followers of the Lord Jesus we are to be humble. We recall the story of James and John in Mark 10:32-45 how they approached Jesus with a request. They wanted to know if the Lord would allow them to sit either side of Him in His Kingdom. What did this request reveal? It revealed a selfish and personal ambition to be rulers with Jesus in His Kingdom. The Lord was gracious to them and did not rebuke them but explained their lack of understanding in their request. Their request was wrong because they wanted the Lord to fit into their plans instead of how they could fit into His. The Lord had just finished telling them of His final and detailed prediction of His trial, suffering, death and resurrection. This was the third time that He predicted His death. The second time He predicted His death an argument ensued as to who was the greatest. The Lord replied ‘’Whoever wants to be first shall be last of all and servant of all.” James and John had selective hearing. His words did not fit with their dreams and what they would realize when they reached Jerusalem. They expected to be given positions of power, prestige and authority. So their request was inappropriate and insensitive. But were the other disciples any different? No. They also wanted places of honour so they felt cheated. Humility is one important virtue we should all have. We should possess it in a way that glorifies God. We should do nothing out of pride or to get the praise of men. Neither should we look to our own interests but to the interests of others first. It is good for us to put on the mind of Christ. In light of these truths how can we best serve one another for God’s glory? Article by: Mike Parsons

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” -- Mark 1:35 In Mark 1:21 Jesus gives himself away to others all day long. He teaches, casts out a demon, and heals people until after the sun has set. It must have been a physically exhausting day. We might expect Jesus to sleep in the next day, but the Bible tells us that, “very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. Luke 5:16 tells us that Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Jesus found solitude in gardens and on mountaintops and in the wilderness and by the sea. Jesus prepared for the start of his ministry in the wilderness. He prepared to finish it by praying alone in a garden. Jesus sought out solitude and silence; this was His custom. Could it be true that we too need to seek out times of solitude and silence? If we are to hear from God, if we are come to know his still small voice speaking into our lives, would it not help us to follow in his steps and devote some time to the practice of getting alone with God and being still before him? Jesus challenges His disciples to pray in a closet. That may be the only place in your life where you can find some peace and solitude and be silent before God. But it is not just Jesus who practiced these disciplines. Some of the most significant events in Jacob’s life, defining moments, take place when he is alone before God. Moses was not called to lead God’s people out of Egypt until he had been trained by 40 years of living life in the wilderness. God uses a wilderness experience to renew Elijah’s life. Paul after encountering God on the road to Damascus is placed in solitude for 3 days and then after an initial introduction to the Christians there spends a number of years in the desert with God. God used that desert to transform Paul’s life. God will use the desert or the closet or whatever defines your times of silence and solitude to speak to you. The noise of this world will deafen you to God’s voice unless you act to create corridors of solitude and silence to hear from him. So, take the initiative and do not allow fear, or weariness, or busyness crowd out those times of silence and solitude before the Lord. Do not worry if silence and solitude seem unproductive. Leave that to God. The point of the wilderness is not for you to be productive but rather to be still enough to hear from God. Our spiritual training this month will help you find ways to get before God in stillness and silence. Check out the spiritual practices part of our newsletter for ideas that will help you embrace this essential practice. Article by: Hamish Buntain

“Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” (Gen 5:24 ESV) The scriptures do not tell us much about Enoch. He performed no miracles, led no armies to victory, and wrote no books of the Bible. Yet, the writer of Hebrews wrote that by faith he was taken up into the presence of God and that he had pleased God. What an incredible statement this is! Of all those early men who lived over 900 years, Enoch made it to only 365 (Gen 5:23). His earthly days ended early—not because he was killed or struck down for wickedness, but because God was delighted in him. And God’s pleasure with him was such that he was ushered straight into his presence. What immense satisfaction God must have had in this man for him to have done such a remarkable thing! In the genealogy of Genesis 5, every other individual has the years of their life listed and then a note that “he died.” But Enoch alone has the unique privilege of being the only individual in that list to have be “taken” by God. We must never think that righteous living by faith in this world goes unnoticed by the Lord. As the world around him descended into greater and greater sin, Enoch lived by faith in the God who had made all things. Enoch’s life was not characterized by scattered acts of righteousness here and there, but rather of one living so well before the Lord that it is written of him, “he walked with God.” How comforting to our hearts to know that God looks at his children with pleasure when they live according to his rules! And when our days are complete, it will be the Father’s good pleasure to welcome his good and faithful servants into the joy—the JOY, not indifference—of their Master. No one longs to run into the arms of one who is indifferent towards them. But there is no joy that is comparable to running into our great Father’s loving arms. The ultimate joy of the Christian is to be able to walk with God in the cool of his garden, to see his face, to speak with him, and to enjoy the richness of fellowship and his presence for all eternity. Nothing else in this world is as sweet. If Jesus Christ should delay his coming, we will not walk the road of Enoch, but the road of Adam and pass through death’s waters. But because of Jesus Christ, we have no need to fear death. Death has lost its sting and we are victors because of our Lord’s work on the cross! So then, let us take our eyes off what is temporal and lift our gaze to heaven, knowing that our Father watches us with keen interest even as we run now. And when our lives are complete and the Lord calls us home, may our lives too be summarized just like Enoch’s. “He walked with God and was not, for God took him.” And let us say as the Psalmist said, “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.” (Ps 17:15). Article by: Samuel Chua