A lady was almost ready to convert to Christianity after an outreach service. She asked if becoming a Christian meant giving up her existing faith. The answer was ‘yes’. This stopped her in her tracks and her conversion was delayed. When she did become a Christian her testimony was clear. She cited the first commandment (You shall have no other gods besides me) and has never looked back or looked elsewhere.
God calls people to love him. All else flows from that. Our services of worship, our acts of obedience and our giving of time, talent and treasure are all expressions of that underlying love. The call to love God was powerfully stated well before Jesus and also by him (eg Dt 6:4-5; Mrk 12:28-30).
Note, however, that it is not enough just to love God. He wants us to love him with all of all that we are.
We are to love God with all that we are. Thus Deuteronomy speaks of loving God with heart, soul and strength. Jesus adds ‘mind’, thus clarifying the meaning to people with a Greek background. The point here is that the whole person is involved in love of God. It is not just an inward matter to love God (heart, soul, mind) nor a purely outward matter (strength). God made us as whole and unified people and every aspect of our being is called to love him.
Further, we are to love God with all of all that we are. All our heart, soul, mind and strength is to be devoted to God. And this is why God insists that we have no other gods before or even besides him (Ex 20:3). In this sense, a choice for the Lord becomes a choice against every other deity, whether the gods of other faiths or the secular gods of family, possessions, pleasure, ambition and such like.
Of course we all have other loves besides the Lord. Family is an obvious one. However, the point is that these other loves are to be within and subordinate to our love for the Lord. If he is not loved before all else, he is not loved at all.
Those who are not yet believers need to be like the lady mentioned above. The Lord is not to be loved alongside other gods but in place of them. Those of us who are believers need to regularly examine ourselves to ensure that no other loves threaten our devotion to the Lord.
Finally, note that loving the Lord with all of all we are, is nothing more than a response to his great love (Ex 20:2; 1 Jn 4:10). Our love to him is but an echo of his love for us in the Lord Jesus.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Fast Food
Fast food surrounds us in the form of instant mee, curry puffs, kaya toast, pau and such like. It gives a quick ‘fix’ but it rarely satisfies and much of it is nutritional junk. When we rearrange the letters ‘fast’ food becomes ‘fats’ food!
There’s another fast food and it is good for us. That’s the fast where we don’t eat at all. It’s a deliberate choice to do without something for spiritual purposes.
Fasting is an established devotional practice in many religions and certainly in Christianity. We may fast for a fixed period of time (eg, for the whole day before our birthday) or on a periodic basis (eg, skipping one meal every week.)
Before Jesus, fasting was prescribed on certain occasions (eg Lev 16:29-31; Zech 8:18). It was done voluntarily at other times (eg Jon 3:5-8). Jesus assumes that his followers will fast as routinely as we also pray and give charitably (eg Mat 6:1-18). He gives a twist to fasting in his own example of choosing to miss lunch in order to do God’s work (Jn 4:32-34). Can we skip a meal sometimes to talk with someone in God’s name, help a needy person, or immerse ourselves in preparations to serve?
Christians have fasted through the centuries in order to dedicate themselves to seeking God’s presence, guidance or provision for their needs. Fasting is often accompanied by intense prayer, meditation and Bible reading. It is a way of detaching from the temporal and material to attach the spiritual and eternal.
Fasting has its dangers. We may fast in a way that draws attention to ourselves with a smug attitude of superiority. Jesus counters this by saying that our fast is to be kept between us and the Lord and deliberately concealed from others (Mat 6:16-18). Another danger is to think that the act of fasting alone pleases God. Isaiah points out that fasting must be matched with a life that pleases God (Is 58:2-10). Fasting is not a means to become God’s people or to gain his favour. Rather it is a response to being his people and receiving his favour. Thus John Calvin speaks of how our whole life should be a fast.
There is a godly pleasure in enjoying the food that we eat (Ps 104:14-15; 1 Tim 4:1-5). We need no encouragement to this in Singapore! However, can we consider fasting as a complement to this pleasure? It’s a way of reminding ourselves that life is more that what we eat and it’s a way of showing God that we treasure the ‘food’ of his word, will and presence.
Let’s enjoy eating the food that comes from God. Let’s also enjoy the fast food that takes us to him.
There’s another fast food and it is good for us. That’s the fast where we don’t eat at all. It’s a deliberate choice to do without something for spiritual purposes.
Fasting is an established devotional practice in many religions and certainly in Christianity. We may fast for a fixed period of time (eg, for the whole day before our birthday) or on a periodic basis (eg, skipping one meal every week.)
Before Jesus, fasting was prescribed on certain occasions (eg Lev 16:29-31; Zech 8:18). It was done voluntarily at other times (eg Jon 3:5-8). Jesus assumes that his followers will fast as routinely as we also pray and give charitably (eg Mat 6:1-18). He gives a twist to fasting in his own example of choosing to miss lunch in order to do God’s work (Jn 4:32-34). Can we skip a meal sometimes to talk with someone in God’s name, help a needy person, or immerse ourselves in preparations to serve?
Christians have fasted through the centuries in order to dedicate themselves to seeking God’s presence, guidance or provision for their needs. Fasting is often accompanied by intense prayer, meditation and Bible reading. It is a way of detaching from the temporal and material to attach the spiritual and eternal.
Fasting has its dangers. We may fast in a way that draws attention to ourselves with a smug attitude of superiority. Jesus counters this by saying that our fast is to be kept between us and the Lord and deliberately concealed from others (Mat 6:16-18). Another danger is to think that the act of fasting alone pleases God. Isaiah points out that fasting must be matched with a life that pleases God (Is 58:2-10). Fasting is not a means to become God’s people or to gain his favour. Rather it is a response to being his people and receiving his favour. Thus John Calvin speaks of how our whole life should be a fast.
There is a godly pleasure in enjoying the food that we eat (Ps 104:14-15; 1 Tim 4:1-5). We need no encouragement to this in Singapore! However, can we consider fasting as a complement to this pleasure? It’s a way of reminding ourselves that life is more that what we eat and it’s a way of showing God that we treasure the ‘food’ of his word, will and presence.
Let’s enjoy eating the food that comes from God. Let’s also enjoy the fast food that takes us to him.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
What will you eat today?
It’s sometimes said that eating is our national hobby. Most of us enjoy choosing and consuming food, know restaurant ratings well and are delighted to give or accept invitations to dine.
The Bible has a similarly positive appreciation of food. An initial vegetarian diet was soon replaced by freedom to eat just about everything (Gen 9:3). After Jesus, the Old Testament food laws were relaxed and we can again eat almost anything with thanksgiving (Acts 10:9-15; 15:28-29; 1 Tim 4:3-4).
Food is listed as one of God’s gifts (eg Ps 104:14-15) and a bountiful ‘table’ is a powerful image of God’s best blessings (eg Ps 23:5; Matt 22:1). This is all good news: we thank God for our food and can enjoy the food that he gives us.
However, there are some food traps. Unwise eating can damage our health, especially if we have a low-exercise sedentary lifestyle. More seriously, discontentment can lead to a terrible state where enough is never enough and our stomach becomes our god (1 Tim 4:6-7; Phil 3:19). On a social level, a failure to share food with the hungry is indicative of a life that does not belong to God (Matt 25:35&42).
Thus, food has its place, but it is not first place. As Jesus says: is not life more than food? (Matt 6:25). He warns that preoccupation with physical food can keep us from seeing our need and the source of food for the soul (Jn 6:26-27,35). Our soul-food is found by connecting to God through faith in Jesus, devouring his word, letting it become part of us and drawing energy form it to live a vigorous life with and for the Lord.
What will we eat today?
Many of us plan our eating for the day, set aside time to dine and make a restaurant booking. And we do the same tomorrow and for tomorrow’s tomorrow. But, what about our soul food? It’s often a casual affair with the odd snack on God’s word, missed spiritual meals and super-light portions. Indeed, some of our spiritual diet may be like junk food. This is the kind of spiritual ‘eating’ that gives a rush of energy but which fails to build us up and may even damage our spiritual health. The Bible encourages Christian adults away from an infant’s diet of spiritual milk and points us to spiritual solids. (Heb 5:12-14). These solids are the further truths about Jesus that will inform and sustain our faith in him through tough times. Attention to our spiritual diet is key to an enjoyable, energetic and healthy life with God.
Bon appétit!
The Bible has a similarly positive appreciation of food. An initial vegetarian diet was soon replaced by freedom to eat just about everything (Gen 9:3). After Jesus, the Old Testament food laws were relaxed and we can again eat almost anything with thanksgiving (Acts 10:9-15; 15:28-29; 1 Tim 4:3-4).
Food is listed as one of God’s gifts (eg Ps 104:14-15) and a bountiful ‘table’ is a powerful image of God’s best blessings (eg Ps 23:5; Matt 22:1). This is all good news: we thank God for our food and can enjoy the food that he gives us.
However, there are some food traps. Unwise eating can damage our health, especially if we have a low-exercise sedentary lifestyle. More seriously, discontentment can lead to a terrible state where enough is never enough and our stomach becomes our god (1 Tim 4:6-7; Phil 3:19). On a social level, a failure to share food with the hungry is indicative of a life that does not belong to God (Matt 25:35&42).
Thus, food has its place, but it is not first place. As Jesus says: is not life more than food? (Matt 6:25). He warns that preoccupation with physical food can keep us from seeing our need and the source of food for the soul (Jn 6:26-27,35). Our soul-food is found by connecting to God through faith in Jesus, devouring his word, letting it become part of us and drawing energy form it to live a vigorous life with and for the Lord.
What will we eat today?
Many of us plan our eating for the day, set aside time to dine and make a restaurant booking. And we do the same tomorrow and for tomorrow’s tomorrow. But, what about our soul food? It’s often a casual affair with the odd snack on God’s word, missed spiritual meals and super-light portions. Indeed, some of our spiritual diet may be like junk food. This is the kind of spiritual ‘eating’ that gives a rush of energy but which fails to build us up and may even damage our spiritual health. The Bible encourages Christian adults away from an infant’s diet of spiritual milk and points us to spiritual solids. (Heb 5:12-14). These solids are the further truths about Jesus that will inform and sustain our faith in him through tough times. Attention to our spiritual diet is key to an enjoyable, energetic and healthy life with God.
Bon appétit!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Jacob's Journey
Many of our adult members are the first generation in their families to be Christian. An increasing number of our rising generation were born into a Christian family. They were taught the faith at home and have grown through our various Christian education ministries for infants, children and youth.
It’s a wonderful privilege to be raised in a Christian home. However it raises some questions. These were well-put in a question at our recent youth camp: Many of us were baptised as infants and raised as Christians. At what point do we become Christians and how do we know if we are Christian?
The Old Testament helps us. Jacob was Abraham’s grandson. We can assume that he was circumcised in infancy (the old equivalent to infant baptism - Gen 17:9-14) and raised within the faith of the Lord. However, his behaviour in lying to his father and cheating his brother suggests that the faith was not yet his own (Gen 27). Jacob went on a journey to find a wife but the Lord had another journey in mind (Gen 28). The Lord met him in a dream, introduced himself as the God of his grandfather and father and promised big blessings. Jacob awoke from his spiritual slumber and promised that: the Lord will be my God (Gen 28:21).
This is a familiar pattern. We have our children baptised as a mark of their belonging to the Lord and should help them to know and do God’s will (Deut 6:4-9). We should also pray that they will grow in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. This was the pattern of Jesus’ childhood (Lke 2:52) and can be considered as the norm for children of Christian parents.
However, our children need to make Jacob’s journey. The faith of their parents needs to become their faith and their parent’s God needs to become my God. Some may follow Jacob and be reconnected to God after a period of rebellion. Others may have a quieter process which is barely noticed. What matters here is not the process but the outcome: that, one way or another, our children confirm the Lord as 'my God' and live it out.
This presents a challenge to parents and the church. One of our roles is to help children know the difference between going along with their parents’ faith and following the Lord for themselves. It’s unhelpful if they and we simply assume that children are Christians because they are raised in Christian homes and have grown through the Christian education ministries of the church.
Let’s help our children to know this difference and to make Jacob’s journey.
It’s a wonderful privilege to be raised in a Christian home. However it raises some questions. These were well-put in a question at our recent youth camp: Many of us were baptised as infants and raised as Christians. At what point do we become Christians and how do we know if we are Christian?
The Old Testament helps us. Jacob was Abraham’s grandson. We can assume that he was circumcised in infancy (the old equivalent to infant baptism - Gen 17:9-14) and raised within the faith of the Lord. However, his behaviour in lying to his father and cheating his brother suggests that the faith was not yet his own (Gen 27). Jacob went on a journey to find a wife but the Lord had another journey in mind (Gen 28). The Lord met him in a dream, introduced himself as the God of his grandfather and father and promised big blessings. Jacob awoke from his spiritual slumber and promised that: the Lord will be my God (Gen 28:21).
This is a familiar pattern. We have our children baptised as a mark of their belonging to the Lord and should help them to know and do God’s will (Deut 6:4-9). We should also pray that they will grow in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. This was the pattern of Jesus’ childhood (Lke 2:52) and can be considered as the norm for children of Christian parents.
However, our children need to make Jacob’s journey. The faith of their parents needs to become their faith and their parent’s God needs to become my God. Some may follow Jacob and be reconnected to God after a period of rebellion. Others may have a quieter process which is barely noticed. What matters here is not the process but the outcome: that, one way or another, our children confirm the Lord as 'my God' and live it out.
This presents a challenge to parents and the church. One of our roles is to help children know the difference between going along with their parents’ faith and following the Lord for themselves. It’s unhelpful if they and we simply assume that children are Christians because they are raised in Christian homes and have grown through the Christian education ministries of the church.
Let’s help our children to know this difference and to make Jacob’s journey.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
The Christmas Bridge
The Chinese government has started work on a bridge to link Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau with a 50 klm six-lane roadway. It will be the longest bridge ever.
Bridges make connections.
God’s action in sending his Son Jesus into the world can be seen as the greatest act of bridge–building ever undertaken. The result is a connection between heaven and earth - an infinite spiritual distance.
The Bible puts it in the language of Jesus being a mediator or middleman: For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim 1:5). A mediator reconciles parties who were estranged from each other and that is what Jesus does. He is the one who made peace by his blood and thus reconciled former enemies (Col 1:20-22).
Brides need connections.
Bridges make connections but also depend on them. For this reason the Christian church has long followed the Bible to insist that Jesus is both God and man (eg 1 Jn 4:1-3, 9). In the early centuries, theologians had to insist on the full humanity of Jesus to counter view that he lacked a connection side on the human side of the bridge. In later days, the divinity of Jesus had to be defended to establish the God-ward side of the connection.
Bridges have builders
The bridge was built from heaven to earth and not from both sides. God sent his son. We did not ask for him and even rejected him when he came (Lke 20:1-15). God does not help those who help themselves. Instead he helps those who reject his help and are unable to help themselves. God built the bridge.
Bridges cost plenty.
The new Chinese bridge will cost about RMB73 billion. Hopefully, it will be built without loss of life in workplace accidents. The bridge from heaven to earth was built at the immense cost of the one and only Son of God being sent to die as a necessary part of the construction process (Jn 12:23-27).
Bridges are there to be used.
It will be amazing if the new Chinese bridge is built then remains empty. It’s there to enable people and goods to connect from one side to another.
Likewise with Jesus. God chose to save, who to save and how to save. He then gives us a very real human responsibility. Jesus commands us to repent and believe the gospel (Mrk 1:15).When we do this, he is our bridge to life. Let’s do that and cross to the other side.
Bridges make connections.
God’s action in sending his Son Jesus into the world can be seen as the greatest act of bridge–building ever undertaken. The result is a connection between heaven and earth - an infinite spiritual distance.
The Bible puts it in the language of Jesus being a mediator or middleman: For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim 1:5). A mediator reconciles parties who were estranged from each other and that is what Jesus does. He is the one who made peace by his blood and thus reconciled former enemies (Col 1:20-22).
Brides need connections.
Bridges make connections but also depend on them. For this reason the Christian church has long followed the Bible to insist that Jesus is both God and man (eg 1 Jn 4:1-3, 9). In the early centuries, theologians had to insist on the full humanity of Jesus to counter view that he lacked a connection side on the human side of the bridge. In later days, the divinity of Jesus had to be defended to establish the God-ward side of the connection.
Bridges have builders
The bridge was built from heaven to earth and not from both sides. God sent his son. We did not ask for him and even rejected him when he came (Lke 20:1-15). God does not help those who help themselves. Instead he helps those who reject his help and are unable to help themselves. God built the bridge.
Bridges cost plenty.
The new Chinese bridge will cost about RMB73 billion. Hopefully, it will be built without loss of life in workplace accidents. The bridge from heaven to earth was built at the immense cost of the one and only Son of God being sent to die as a necessary part of the construction process (Jn 12:23-27).
Bridges are there to be used.
It will be amazing if the new Chinese bridge is built then remains empty. It’s there to enable people and goods to connect from one side to another.
Likewise with Jesus. God chose to save, who to save and how to save. He then gives us a very real human responsibility. Jesus commands us to repent and believe the gospel (Mrk 1:15).When we do this, he is our bridge to life. Let’s do that and cross to the other side.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Mary Christmas
Christmas can be irritating. If you are travelling or live overseas, it can mean separation from family and loved ones. If you are working or serving in church, it means being busy while others relax. And then there’s the ceaseless pressure to work through ‘to do’ and ‘to buy’ lists. Meanwhile, the seasonal Bible readings and carols can fade to a meaningless drone with our contempt for the familiar.
Amidst all this, yet another call to have a ‘Merry Christmas’ can make us fume. Perhaps we need a ‘Mary Christmas’.
Mary had every reason to be irritated. First there was the troublesome journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem for census purposes – and surely a census-based tax would follow. Then there was the baby. Misconceptions surrounded the pregnancy and now there was the delivery. A barn was no substitute for a delivery suite at KK Hospital and noisy animals were no substitute for caring nurses. And then they were on the move again – fleeing to Egypt in the middle of the night. Would she ever get home to show the boy to her folks?
Despite all this, Mary rejoiced at Christmas.
Her joy was expressed in a song that we call the Magnificat, from its opening words in Latin (Lke 1:46-55). It draws on another mother’s song (Hannah in 1 Sam 2:1-10) and puts the birth of Jesus in a big frame. Mary is an able theologian as she interprets her son’s birth through the lens of God’s power, mercy and covenant promises. Every baby is special, but this one was more special than most.
Notice where Mary’s focus is. It’s not on herself, apart from to confess her humble state. Nor is it on the passing circumstances of what we could call Christmas trivia. Rather, her eye is on God and his big deeds. She sees God acting on her behalf to be her saviour and is glad – very glad. That’s an interesting twist. Parents can resent being overshadowed by their children, but Mary welcomes it. Her son will be her saviour!
Let’s take time to have a Mary Christmas this year. Maybe we can say ‘no’ to a few invitations in order to spend deep moments with God. This can be time for a meditative reading of the nativity accounts, perhaps with Handel’s Messiah or a well chosen version of the Magnificat spiralling our thoughts and prayers heavenward like incense.
Whatever we do this Christmas, let’s join Mary and rejoice in the Lord. Then maybe Christmas won’t be so irritating after all.
Amidst all this, yet another call to have a ‘Merry Christmas’ can make us fume. Perhaps we need a ‘Mary Christmas’.
Mary had every reason to be irritated. First there was the troublesome journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem for census purposes – and surely a census-based tax would follow. Then there was the baby. Misconceptions surrounded the pregnancy and now there was the delivery. A barn was no substitute for a delivery suite at KK Hospital and noisy animals were no substitute for caring nurses. And then they were on the move again – fleeing to Egypt in the middle of the night. Would she ever get home to show the boy to her folks?
Despite all this, Mary rejoiced at Christmas.
Her joy was expressed in a song that we call the Magnificat, from its opening words in Latin (Lke 1:46-55). It draws on another mother’s song (Hannah in 1 Sam 2:1-10) and puts the birth of Jesus in a big frame. Mary is an able theologian as she interprets her son’s birth through the lens of God’s power, mercy and covenant promises. Every baby is special, but this one was more special than most.
Notice where Mary’s focus is. It’s not on herself, apart from to confess her humble state. Nor is it on the passing circumstances of what we could call Christmas trivia. Rather, her eye is on God and his big deeds. She sees God acting on her behalf to be her saviour and is glad – very glad. That’s an interesting twist. Parents can resent being overshadowed by their children, but Mary welcomes it. Her son will be her saviour!
Let’s take time to have a Mary Christmas this year. Maybe we can say ‘no’ to a few invitations in order to spend deep moments with God. This can be time for a meditative reading of the nativity accounts, perhaps with Handel’s Messiah or a well chosen version of the Magnificat spiralling our thoughts and prayers heavenward like incense.
Whatever we do this Christmas, let’s join Mary and rejoice in the Lord. Then maybe Christmas won’t be so irritating after all.
Resting or Restless?
People sometimes have a passive idea of what it is to be a Christian. Thus faith is seen as a static resting on Christ for salvation and then just plain resting. Likewise, baptism can be seen as the end of a journey, rather than a mid-point on a journey that ends with our death.
The Bible shows us active followers of Jesus. Mary went on to follow her Son from the cradle to the Cross and the shepherds spread the word about what they had seen. It was likewise in the adult ministry of Jesus. His characteristic message was announce the coming of the kingdom and call people to follow him. Lives changed as the fishermen left their nets and Matthew left his revenue table (eg Mat 4:18-20; 9:9). Their following was active.
This pattern continued after the ascension – and it was intensified as the energising and equipping ministry of the Holy Spirit empowered believers and thrust them into being restless for Christ. Baptism was a ticket to a Christ-centered activism of learning all they could. They met for prayer, fellowship and worship; and bustled about in community involvement (eg Acts 2:38-47). The chosen people were not the frozen people, but were hot for Jesus.
There are challenges for all of us here.
Today’s new members will pledge themselves; … to serve faithfully the Church and society, that God's holy name may be glorified in me. In keeping with this they have all been presented with the opportunities and challenges of service within our various ministries and many of them are already active.
What about those of us who have been Christians for longer periods? Are we resting or are we restlessly active to serve Christ, his church and his world? There is no shortage of places where all of us can use the God-given abilities that have been developed and matured
A tired leader recently asked when the busyness of ministry will end. The answer is simple: when the Lord returns to us or we return to him. Thus John Piper prays Lord, spare me this curse with respect to ‘retirement’ from Christian service. He also tells how the first Christian missionary to the Islamic world was a monk in his mid 80s!
Let us indeed rest on Christ in saving faith and let us take those moments of restfulness in him that we need to catch our breath and replenish our soul. But let us also resolve to be restless for him while ever we draw breath.
The Bible shows us active followers of Jesus. Mary went on to follow her Son from the cradle to the Cross and the shepherds spread the word about what they had seen. It was likewise in the adult ministry of Jesus. His characteristic message was announce the coming of the kingdom and call people to follow him. Lives changed as the fishermen left their nets and Matthew left his revenue table (eg Mat 4:18-20; 9:9). Their following was active.
This pattern continued after the ascension – and it was intensified as the energising and equipping ministry of the Holy Spirit empowered believers and thrust them into being restless for Christ. Baptism was a ticket to a Christ-centered activism of learning all they could. They met for prayer, fellowship and worship; and bustled about in community involvement (eg Acts 2:38-47). The chosen people were not the frozen people, but were hot for Jesus.
There are challenges for all of us here.
Today’s new members will pledge themselves; … to serve faithfully the Church and society, that God's holy name may be glorified in me. In keeping with this they have all been presented with the opportunities and challenges of service within our various ministries and many of them are already active.
What about those of us who have been Christians for longer periods? Are we resting or are we restlessly active to serve Christ, his church and his world? There is no shortage of places where all of us can use the God-given abilities that have been developed and matured
A tired leader recently asked when the busyness of ministry will end. The answer is simple: when the Lord returns to us or we return to him. Thus John Piper prays Lord, spare me this curse with respect to ‘retirement’ from Christian service. He also tells how the first Christian missionary to the Islamic world was a monk in his mid 80s!
Let us indeed rest on Christ in saving faith and let us take those moments of restfulness in him that we need to catch our breath and replenish our soul. But let us also resolve to be restless for him while ever we draw breath.
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