That We May Be Known As Christians

There were 142 of us in the group touring Israel, led by the Armenian priest, Samuel Doctorian.  All but one was Christian.  My sis was the only non-Christian, then, in that group.  She commented to me:  “I have never seen Singaporeans like these; there’s no rushing to be first in line even with such a large group.”  That was more than ten years ago.

I had a sense of déjà vu during the recent short-term missions trip to Northern Thailand in Dec 2012.  My uncle, who was in the missions team though he was not a Christian, commented to me:  “These people (referring to the Christians in the missions team) are very polite to one another.”  A non-Christian friend in the same missions team was impressed by the team unity.  On the last day of the missions trip as we made our way down the winding mountain roads to Cheng Mai, a young lady sacrificially went to sit at the back of the van even though she had vomited on the way up the mountains; she vomited again on the way down, notwithstanding the anti-motion pills.

So what are Christians like?

Jesus teaches us:

 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it:  Love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Matthew 22:37-39)

“A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  (John 13:34-35)

And so the distinguishing mark of a Christian is love – for God, for our neighbor, for one another.

Is love shown only to or among Christians?  Not so.  The Apostle Paul urges Christians “to do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers”.  (Galatians 6:10)  Yes, we do good to fellow believers; we also do good to those who have yet to believe.  

The mobile medical clinic during our missions trip served all who were sick, whether Christian or non-Christian.  Even after the clinic was closed for the day, a late-comer who brought his sick child was promptly attended to.  In the words of our pastor-doctor who led the medical clinic:  “This is what we come here to do – to serve and show love to the community.”  This love was even extended to that which was dear to a patient – his ailing chicken.  And our pastor-doctor calmly and carefully examined his chicken to allay the patient’s anxiety.  This, then, is love – God’s love to all. 

As Christians, we show our faith by our deeds (James 2:14-26).  We do not become Christians by doing good deeds; we become Christians because of the love and grace of God, because of our faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.  Good deeds come later, after we accepted and received the love of God and Jesus Christ.  It is because of the love that God gives us, that Christians have the love to do good deeds.      

And so we sing in the chorus of the song, ‘We are One in the Spirit’:  “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.  Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

We Are One In The Spirit (Worship Song)

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored.

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land.

We will work with each other, we will work side by side,

We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride.

All praise to the Father, from whom all things come,

And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son,
And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one.

What would Jesus do? What would you do?

I read the book “In His Steps” by Charles Sheldon in two days.  I could have read it in one day or even one afternoon, but gone are the days when I could immerse myself totally in a book.  There are just too many distractions these days  - principally the many Korean dramas available online and the DVDs that I bought from Amazon.   

Still, the book engaged me as before when I read it for the first time years ago.   It tells in story-form the pledge made by a group of Christians to do everything in their daily lives after asking the question,  “What Jesus would do?”, regardless of the result to them.   What would a newspaper editor do when he considers the loss of revenue from ceasing advertisements on liquor and tobacco?  What would a rich heiress do to help the needy with her wealth when she considers her family opposition and societal gossip?  What would a railroad superintendent do with the discovery of a commercial breach of law when he considers the loss of his job after whistle-blowing?  ….. 

The situations faced by the Christians in the book are fictional.  The book was written more than a hundred years ago in 1896; the situations depicted may not even be relevant in our modern world today.  Yet, each of us remains challenged in our daily lives – What would Jesus do?  What would we do? 

 

As I ponder over these questions, I recall what 3 young girls did recently in Dec 2012.  They were part of the short-term missions team to Northern Thailand.  They are modern, fashionable, accustomed to urban conveniences ….. unexpected volunteers to rough it out in the tribal villages up in the mountains.  They most likely did not consider the question, “What would Jesus do?”, when they made the decision to go.  But what they did in Maetoh – showing love to the orphans and school children - demonstrated what Jesus did in His earthly life. 

 

The girls’ love for the Maetoh children reflects Jesus’ love for us, for the children of the world. 

“We love because he first loved us.  If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar.  For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  And he has given this command:  Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”  (1 John 4:19-21)

These 3 young girls have committed to go to Maetoh again in 2013.  They see the children’s need for love; they are not deterred by the unappetizing food, the murky water in the bath water, the winding mountain roads and bumpy dirt tracks which send some into dizzy spells, nausea and vomiting despite the anti-motion pills, …….  It’s as if they have asked themselves the questions : “What would Jesus do?”  “What would they do?”

 

And what would I do?  That’s another story …..

The Perfect Gift

The Perfect Gift : Message for Bethel Bi-lingual Service’s Christmas Celebration

By Preacher William Heng on 25^th Dec 2012

(Message is slightly abridged, with the permission of Pr Wiliiam, for this blog.)

Christmas is a time of giving. Do you find buying a perfect gift for someone difficult? Especially someone who is special in your life?

Finding the right gift for the right person is a big challenge. For example, you have to know what are his/her likes and dislikes, character, style, taste and even color.  In short, to find and buy the right gift for the person, you need to know who you are giving to.

What makes it even tougher is the ability to find the right gift, from the right outlet and with the right price, and according to your budget.

Are you aware that a gift usually conveys 3 core messages.

1.      It conveys a message about the giver’s economic, social status plus moral value in life. For example, an expensive gift generally gives the perception that the giver is rich. If a gift has religious bearing, we often think that the giver is a pious person.

2.      While a gift may not tell the true worth of the recipient, it conveys the importance of the recipient to the giver. For example, the gifts of the Magi convey their recognition of Jesus’ significance. The gift of gold symbolizes that Jesus is king. The gift of incense symbolizes that Jesus is God. And the gift of myrrh symbolizes that Jesus is our Redeemer.

3.      Gifts are also given to strengthen relationships or to mend a broken one.  A gift is a symbol of good will. The story of Jacob and Esau illustrates this point very clearly. In Genesis 32: 13-21, we find Jacob selecting precious gifts to be given to his brother to pacify his anger and ultimately restore their broken relationship.

The question is “What Makes a Gift the Right Gift?”

1.      Different persons have different ways of evaluating the rightness of the gift. Some people believe that the right gift must be expensive. The more valuable the gift is, the closer it is in the category of being right.

2.      Others believe that the gift is right if it meets the particular need of the recipient. Hence, the most expensive gift may not be the right gift at all, if it does not meet the need of the recipient. Every so often, the most inexpensive gift may be the right gift if it meets the need of the recipient.

3.      A gift is considered right if it is wrapped with pure, unadulterated motive in the heart of the giver. For instance, you can give an enormous diamond but it may not be the right gift because of the motive and the reason.

So, what makes a gift the right one? Is it the right price? To some extent, yes!  The right solution to a particular need? Of course! But the right motive is most important! Sometimes, it may not measure up to the material expectations, but the love that it bears is most important.

As human beings, we tend to focus on the financial value of the gift rather than on the spiritual aspect of it.

Hence, the need that this gift meets is often those at the surface rather than what is deep inside. Even our motives at times are deceptive, often with grains of selfishness if not outright boasting. We give because we have to and not because we love to.

The Perfect Gift of God

This, however, does not leave us without the right gift. The birth and life of Jesus offers us the perfect gift.

If we apply the three evaluation questions that we have discussed earlier about what makes a perfect gift, we will find that the gift of God surpasses our human expectations.

1. The gift of Jesus is, in fact, all the treasures of heaven given to the whole human race.

2. God’s gift is the perfect gift that offers the right solution to our sin problem. Romans 6:23 reminds us of our human condition. “For the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life.”

1 John 5:11 declares to us that this eternal life is only found in Jesus.

As you see, regardless of the price tag, everything that we give is temporary. They don’t last for a long time. If today I gave you a new car, that car will break down a few years from now. The clothes that you receive will eventually wear out. Everything will pass in time. But the Bible tells us that God’s gift lasts forever. His gift through Jesus is eternal.

3. God’s gift is given not out of compulsion but out of love. Jesus himself said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).

4. It is a gift given to restore our broken relationships not only with our loved ones, not only with our friends, but most important of all, with God.

Let me conclude this message with a story:

Long ago, there was a wise and good king ruling in Persia. He loved his people. He wanted to know how they lived. He wanted to know about their hardships. Often, he would dress in the clothes of a working man or a beggar, and went to the homes of the poor. No one whom he visited knew that he was their ruler.

One time, he visited a very poor man who lived in a hut. He ate the food the poor man ate. He spoke cheerful and kind words to him. After that, he left.

A few days later, he visited the poor man again and disclosed his identity. The king thought the man would surely ask for some gifts or favour, but he did not. Instead he said, “You left your palace and your glory to visit me in this dark and dirty place. You ate the food I ate. All these that you did brought gladness to my heart!  To others you might have given your rich gifts. To me you have given yourself!”

Brother and sister, let me ask you a question: Do you want to receive this perfect gift that God has prepared for you?  Do youwant to receive Jesus Christ? God is offering Jesus to you, His perfect gift, the best gift heaven can offer. God is offering this precious gift to you because He loves you. Will you receive this gift? This gift is special; no one can receive this gift on your behalf. You have to receive it personally.

How will you respond to such a precious gift?

All you have to do is ask. Come to him in prayer; confess your sins, ask for His forgiveness, ask Him to come into your heart. That’s all you have to do.

This Is My Father's World (Part 2)

The Is My Father's World

Call My Name

When I was reading Patrick Rothfuss' fantasy novel "The Name of the Wind" last week, snatches of the melody and some words (".... call your name ....") of a hymn kept up a refrain in my mind. Hmmm ..... was this hymn one of the worship songs led by Pastor Carol during Sunday service a while ago?

A search of the internet yields the following lyrics of the hymn "I heard the Lord call my name":

(1st stanza) I heard the Lord call my name,
listen close you'll hear the same.
I heard the Lord call my name,
listen close you'll hear the same.
I heard the Lord call my name,
listen close you'll hear the same.
Take His hand we are glory bound.

(2nd stanza) His word is Love, Love's His word,
that's the message that I heard .....

(3rd stanza)I felt His love from above
settle on me like a dove .....

(4th stanza)And to the Father all your dayswith the Son and Spirit praise .....
(Interlude) Put your hand in His and you will know
He will show you where to go .....

The Lord Jesus calls us by our name. He is our Shepherd and we are His sheep. In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells the parable of the shepherd and his sheep (John 10:1-18). The shepherd calls his own sheep by name and the sheep listen to his voice. He leads his sheep out of the sheep pen, going ahead of them. His sheep follow him because they know his voice. The good shepherd owns and loves the sheep, guards and protects them, and lays down his life for them.

Jesus is the good Shepherd who has laid down His life for us, His sheep. He lays down His life so that we can have life eternally and abundantly. When we believe that Jesus has laid down His life for us and calls on His name, we are saved (Rom 10:13) and our "names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20), in the "book of life" (Phil 4:3, Rev 20:12).

Psalm 23 captures beautifully all that our Lord, the Good Shepherd, does for us:

- He gives us green pastures and quiet waters, restoring our soul.
- He guides us in our journey through life and death, protecting and comforting our body and mind.
- He anoints us with goodness and love all the days of our life as we dwell in His house, blessing and uplifting our spirit.

Thanks be to the Lord Jesus, our good Shepherd who calls us to be His own; all glory and honour to Him!

Speaker for the Living

Orson Scott Card's book "Speaker for the Dead" is the sequel to his award-winning sci-fi "Enders' Game". Wikipedia says, "Whereas the previous novel was hard science fiction with armies and space warfare, Speaker for the Dead is philosophical in nature, although it still advances a xenology for the planetary setting unique in Science Fiction."

Ender Wiggin is the speaker revealing the secrets and hard truths in the life stories of those for whom he is called to speak. As Ender speaks for Marcao, a wife-abusing father and for Libo, a murdered xenologer (what Wikipedia calls "alien anthropology"), he unravels the guilt, deception and love behind the adultery of Macao's wife with Libo and the sacrificial death of Libo at the hands of the "piggies" (a native species on a colony in space). This speaking is very different from the eulogies (praises) that we hear at funerals.

Wikipedia gives this explanation on the meaning of the term "Speaker for the Dead":

"Any citizen has the legal right to summon a Speaker (or a priest of any faith, which Speakers are legally considered) to mark the death of a family member. Speakers research the dead person's life and give a speech that attempts to speak for them, describing the person's life as he or she tried to live it. This speech is not given in order to persuade the audience to condemn or forgive the deceased, but rather a way to understand the person as a whole, including any flaws or misdeeds."

As I read Card's book, I was struck by the happy thought - we do not have a speaker for the dead; better still, we have the speaker for the living, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:5).
Christ is our intercessor (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25).
Christ is our advocate (1 John 2:1).

How does Jesus speak or intercede for us?

First, through Jesus' death on the cross, He took our sins upon Himself and made us righteous before our Father God (Romans 3:21-26).

Second, after Jesus was raised from the dead, He sits at the right hand of God and becomes our advocate and mediator before our Father God (1 John 2:1, Hebrews 9:24). He pleads our case, that He has already paid for our sins, and secures our continued pardon.

Third, when we face temptation, Jesus provides a way out so that we can stand up under it (1 Cor 10:13, Hebrews 2:18)

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)