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The book of Proverbs has very relevant and helpful counsels for parents concerning inculcating good disciplines in their children. In fact, many passages in Proverbs are written in the form of fatherly or motherly admonition for children, constituting a vast array of wise counsels for diverse situations that parents would face in bringing up their children. So, I advise all Christian parents to take heed of the counsels of Proverbs for the proper upbringing of their children. In this article, I would like to point you to what Proverbs has to say about inculcating godly discipline in our children.

Parental Responsibility

The actual responsibility of inculcating good virtues in our children lies with the parents. Though many parents know this truth, sadly they have been pushing their responsibility to others so that they pursue their ambitions for a luxurious living. The book of Proverbs has this grave warning to parents who forsake their Godgiven responsibility to provide appropriate instruction and discipline when it matters the most – “but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Proverbs 29:15). So it advises every parent, “Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.” Proverbs 13:24 says, “he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” Parents must promptly give instruction and correction to their children. Missing out on relevant instruction and correction when it should be administered is a sure recipe for much sorrow

Methods of Discipline

The word “discipline” in Hebrew (musar) implies both instruction and chastisement. In other words, discipline has to be administered through teaching, rebuke and correction, even the rod of correction. If a child disobeys the parents after being instructed of proper attitude and conduct, steps must be taken to reinforce proper discipline in him through corrective measures, such as rebuke and the use of the rod (cf. Proverbs 4:2, 12; 15:32; 13:24; 22:15). In Proverbs 29:15, we are told that “The rod and reproof give wisdom”. So “withhold not correction from the child” (Proverbs 23:13).

Areas of Discipline

The wisdom that God provides in Proverbs calls out to every parent to “Train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6). The parental duty of nurturing their children also means that they know the right path that their children should go, and be committed to not only pointing them to the right way, but also training them to travel in it.

Proverbs has much to say about what the right path (that the children should go) entails. The following counsels are some pertinent areas of training and discipline that parents should give to the children.

1. Teach children to fear the Lord
   “My son, fear thou the LORD…” (Proverbs 24:21). “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).
2. Teach children to honour the Lord in worship
   In a setting of fatherly instruction, Proverbs admonishes, “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10). We must admonish our children to give glory to God for all His blessings just as He prescribes in the Bible.
3. Teach children to obey parents
   “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother” (Proverbs 1:8). It must always be insisted that parents’ instructions are to be followed. Hence, it is very important that parents make sure their instructions are biblical.
4. Teach children to respect authorities
   “My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change” (Proverbs 24:21). Our children should be instructed on how to show respect for rulers of the land, government officials, teachers, etc.
5. Teach children to love neighbours
   “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee” (Proverbs 3:27-29). Instil love and respect for neighbours, especially for those who are needy.
6. Teach children how to select friends
   “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not” (Proverbs 1:10).

   “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20). Friendship that our children develop would either help them in the right way or seduce them into moral and social evils. So, it is important that we guide them with much diligence regarding who they should choose as their friends.

7. Teach children to guard their minds
   “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. . . . Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:20-23). Teach them not to say or do anything without proper evaluation as to whether it pleases God. Exhort them to regard divine counsels above their own ideas, imaginations and likes
8. Teach children to control lust of the flesh
   “And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray” (Proverbs 5:20-23; cf. 5:1-11; 6:20-28). Teenagers and youths must be warned against the allurement of sexual sins, and immoral persons. Say “No” to watching movies which are sensual in content or reading salacious novels with sexually explicit content. Such entertainment will fan the flame of lust in our children.
9. Teach children to hate gluttony, drunkenness and debauchery
   “Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags” (Proverbs 23:19-21; cf. 31:1-6).
10. Teach your children to watch their words
    “Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee” (Proverbs 4:24). Parents must demand pure language from their children. Honourable and gracious speech is a grand peculiarity of godly children.
11. Teach your children to work diligently
    “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-8; cf. 10:5). We must not allow laziness and procrastination in our children. Insist on diligence and instil an industrious spirit in them.
12. Teach your children to choose a good spouse
    “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil” (Proverbs 31:10-11). These words are from a mother to her son. Parents’ mutual love and commitment, together with their instruction, must aid children to choose godly lifepartners with whom they can raise a godly generation.

But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child. Jeremiah 1:7

The LORD is teaching Jeremiah, the young preacher, to overcome his timidity, sense of inadequacy and reluctance to enter the ministry to which he had been called. His response to the LORD’s call was: “Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child” (Jeremiah 1:6). Jeremiah feared that his inexperience and lack of knowledge would render him ineffectual in the ministry.

Such a situation is common even today in the church. The sense of unworthiness has caused some to dread the duties and responsibilities of the ministry. They become timorous and unwilling to accept any duty in the church. The feeling of incompetency has compelled many to decline responsibilities in the Lord’s work.

However, we notice that the LORD’s word to Jeremiah (who feared the call of duty) was: “Say not, I am a child”. The LORD would not let Jeremiah sink into despondency and remain unfruitful in the ministry. The LORD graciously addressed his fear and prevented him from further sliding into his sense of inadequacy.

God’s word to the prophet – “Say not, I am a child” – implies that Jeremiah should not linger any more. He must ignore his own feelings and get into action, just as the LORD had spoken to him. He must believe that the LORD would be able to supply him with wisdom and strength fully equal to the task he had been commissioned to do.

The LORD is able to take a timid man, such as Jeremiah, and equip him for His work so that the glory may be His. By calling and empowering such “ill-adapted tools” for the accomplishment of His purposes, the LORD manifests His great wisdom and power. When God takes a man, who is plagued by a debilitating sense of utter inadequacy, and accomplishes His design through him, all human reasoning shall be thrashed and the magnificence of His wisdom and power shall be exalted.

Many children and young people have been called by the LORD to accomplish His purposes. Samuel, David, Jeremiah, Daniel, Timothy, and many more had been called and separated by the LORD from their childhood or youth, in order to accomplish His great purposes which far surpassed their stature. No one is too small that God cannot use him.

Testimony of Calling to Full-time Ministry

Juvy Lynn Anaviso

Iwant to thank God for leading me to Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church. I also want to give thanks to God for the way He had used Pastor Koshy and Preacher Dennis in my life. Through their preaching, the Lord ministered to me. The Lord now fills my heart with the burden to fear, love and serve Him. I am very happy that now I know God’s will for my life.

It was never my plan to come to Singapore to work. The Lord knows and has a different plan for me. It was in Gethsemane that the Lord restored me from my backsliding four years ago. I also believe He placed the burden and desire to surrender my all to Him that I may serve Him. I then approached Preacher Dennis and shared with him my desire and burden to serve God. When he asked me if the Lord was calling me to serve Him full-time, I did not know how to answer him. As a young believer with little knowledge of the Bible, I really did not know what “calling” means at that time. I replied that I didn’t know, although in my heart and mind I knew very well that the Lord wants me to surrender my life to Him. Preacher Dennis explained to me and emphasised the importance of being called before one should consider entering the full-time ministry. He encouraged me to seek Him in prayer and live a godly life. From then onwards, I started to pray that God would make clear what I should do with my life. The burden and desire to serve God continue to increase as the years go by; however, the Lord was “silent” about my calling.

After three years of waiting, the Lord gave me an opportunity to join the mission trip last year to Manila and Pangasinan, where I had the joy to teach the children in Manila and be an assistant teacher in the DVBS held in Pangasinan. This led me to pray again for God’s leading in my life.

After our return from the mission trip, my heart was stirred when the hymn “Go Labour On” was sung during one of the prayer meetings. The first stanza goes as follows,

“Go labour on; spend, and be spent, Thy joy to do the Father’s will; It is the way the Master went; Should not the servant tread it still?”

I was blessed by the hymn and I was convicted in my heart that serving the Lord is the best thing that I can do with my life. However, the question whether God is calling me to the ministry has yet to be answered. During the church camp in June 2016 (a month after the mission trip), the Lord convicted my heart from James 4:14, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” This verse made me realise that I was just wasting my time, strength and life by pursuing my earthly ambitions, and not really giving my all to God.

After the camp, it was still not clear to me whether God is calling me to the full-time ministry. I decided to approach Sis Carolyn Koshy to hear from her how she came to know of God’s calling for her life. She shared with me of her experiences and advised me to really seek the Lord, even to fast and pray, which I did. On June 12, 2016, Pastor Koshy preached about “Christ’s Tenets for the Ministry” from Matthew 10:7, “And as ye go, preach saying. The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” I believe God used that sermon to speak to me. After the service, I was rejoicing in the Lord with tears, praising God for His mercies in my life, even calling me, an unprofitable servant, into His sacred ministry! Praise the Lord!

Being very sure of what God wants me to do, I believe the Lord has graciously called me to teach children about God’s kingdom. And as I make this step to obey His call, my prayer is that God may enable me to fight a good fight of faith and serve the Master faithfully until I see Him face to face. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, please uphold me in your prayers and remember me before the throne of grace. I cannot do this on my own. May all glory be to God.

With one voice, we must praise our God this day for the twenty-nine years of His gracious blessings upon Gethsemane B-P Church. Our unity in the Gospel, our worship of Him in one accord, our co-labouring in His kingdom, our solidarity in the defence of His truth, our mutual love and harmony are precious gifts of His Spirit that worketh among us. “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21- 22). Let us be thankful and continue to “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).

A Heavenly, Pleasant Unity

By the grace of God, Gethsemane has enjoyed a heavenly unity in her congregation, though made up of people of different races, languages, nations, social standings, educational backgrounds, etc. I call it “a heavenly unity” because the unity of our church is a foreshadow of the future gathering together of all the redeemed from all nations, races and languages around the throne of God to offer praise and worship. In Revelation 7:9-10, we read, “... Lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”

Being the pastor of Gethsemane, I have been most blessed by our oneness in Christ. It was not a dormant, passive kind of oneness, but truly a very genuine, vibrant one. Having tasted the sweet blessings of a united congregation of very diverse backgrounds, I cannot be silent about it. I must testify of this joyous experience that the Spirit of God has graciously wrought in our church. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).

Blessings of Our Unity

Scripture not only urges churches to be united but also assures churches of the many blessings that will come to them when they are united in Christ for His glory. Many of those blessings are already seen in Gethsemane’s ministry, and they have made my pastoral ministry a very rich and exciting spiritual undertaking. The following are some of the major blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon Gethsemane as we serve Him in one spirit and with one mind:

• There has been unity of faith (doctrinal unity) in the church, just as Paul has written in Ephesians 4:4-6, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Church unity is non-existent when her members quarrel over biblical doctrines. The Lord has blessed our church with doctrinal unity. We have stood together during the period of testing of our confidence in God’s Word. We have affirmed that the Bible is inerrant and infallible forever, because it is inspired and preserved by God. We have one Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ; we have one faith (the Bible); and we function as His body, being strengthened and guided by His blessed Spirit.
• The doctrinal unity that holds us together in Christ also helps us grow unto greater maturity through the learning and practice of His Word. This blessing is mentioned in Ephesians 4:13, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”.
• Our unity has led the church members to mutual ministering through the exercise of their spiritual gifts. This has resulted in brethren being loved, mutually helped and strengthened. This is yet another blessing of a united church mentioned in Ephesians 4:16, “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
• Oneness in Christ has kept us together, beyond all our dissimilarities and diversities that could have made for a disunited people. 1 Corinthians 12:12- 14 speak of this blessing: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.”
• Finally, the spiritual unity of our church helps us to turn our diversity into opportunity to spread the Gospel of Christ. Our ministries towards the exdrug addicts, Chinese ministry, Filipino ministry, Malayalam fellowship, foreign missions, etc. are the fruits of our unity that helped us to take advantage of the diverse backgrounds of our people. This is a true reflection of what Paul says in Philippians 1:27, “ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”.

Caution about the Spirit of Disunity

Before I end this pastoral exhortation, I would like to caution all of us against the ploys of our adversary, the devil, who would certainly attempt to sow the seeds of discord to stop us advancing the glory of Christ through our unity. Let there be no bitterness and animosity that would disrupt our loving relationships. Let us be quick to forgive and restore one another if any offences occur among us.

“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God” (Romans 15:5-7).

The patriarch Abraham’s life was a life of great faith; hence he was regarded as a hero of faith. His faith has been the subject of scrutiny of believers of all ages, and even today he continues to be a pattern for all of us who are in this journey of faith. I would like to consider an elucidation of Abraham’s faith, which the Spirit of God recorded in Hebrews 6:15 – “And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” It is a concise commentary on Abraham’s long wait for the fulfilment of God’s promise, “Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee” (Hebrews 6:14).

Have you noticed that Abraham’s remarkable faith is succinctly explained with a short phrase of just two words “patiently endured”? This phrase is the translation of one Greek word, makrothumeo, which is made up of two words – makros (meaning “long” or “far”) and thumeo (meaning “agitated”, “be angry”, etc.) So, the word means “bearing up under provocation”, “have long patience”, “bear long”, “suffer long”, “be longsuffering”, “patiently endure”, etc. The word depicts a man persevering patiently and bravely in the midst of difficulties and troubles. It also demonstrates patience in bearing the offences and injuries of others. So Abraham, the man of faith, was characterised by two essential virtues – patience and endurance. Let us now briefly consider those remarkable natures of heroic faith.

Patience

This word emphasises the longsuffering nature of faith. It is not a passive response to challenges and sufferings that come against one’s pursuit, but an active effort to bear with the difficulties while pressing on to the final destiny

Patience does not allow the man of faith to run out of enthusiasm and determination. Though it accepts pains and failures, it rebounds to keep the whole being in pursuit of the ultimate goal. In its attempts to rejuvenate the already battered and weary soul, it also has to bear additional pains and stress. O how important it is that our faith is willing to suffer long that we may not give up our faith and its final victory!

Normally, the journey of faith is long and arduous. The end may be nowhere in sight. Doubts from within then may rise to mock his own readiness. Soon others’ doubts may also hinder his progress. But by faith in the One who called him, he will bear all these and more. He is ready to suffer long as he eagerly awaits the fulfilment of God’s promises. As Romans 8:25 says, “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” His attitude is: “Well, I have suffered much and I am ready to suffer more if need be.” He will not allow his journey of faith to halt. He refuses to quit. This kind of patience that faith produces is a powerful active force that also generates “endurance”, the second essential element of faith.

Endurance

It gives “legs” to patience. It brings about progress in what God has called him to do. It refuses to stay down. It fights off dejection, pushes off sluggishness and walks over disappointments. Nothing stands in its way. If anything persists in stopping him, his endurance will sure to make him an overcomer.

ride to the end nor an easy grab of the ultimate. Instead, the enduring faith is all about an arduous and long effort in accomplishing all that God has set before us. In its pursuit, there is no hastiness. In its persistence, there is no murmuring. In its patience, there is no quitting.

The man of faith endures everything in his journey to make progress in the will of God. He endures in submission to God’s sovereignty. He endures in the hope of God’s good providence. He endures until he obtains the promise of God.

Patiently Endured

What do you get when these two amazing virtues are put together? A strong faith! A victorious faith! A heroic faith! A faith that conquers! As Abraham patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Abraham was 75 years old when he departed from Haran (Genesis 12:4). When he was 100 years old, he still did not have a child. Genesis 17:17 records: “Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?” Yet, his faith rises above doubts and difficulties. He waited for the fulfilment of God’s promise. Abraham’s faith of having a child at such an advanced age of 100 was not a fancy of his own mind. He did not believe in the imagination or ideas of his own mind, but in what God has promised. It was not easy for Abraham to have confidence in what a human mind thinks is an impossibility.

We are mindful of Abraham’s failure when he listened to the counsel of his impatient wife Sarah. He took Hagar to bring forth a child. It was not to be the child of promise. God is so merciful to forgive Abraham and to renew his covenant again (Genesis 17). In this New Testament commendation of Abraham, God says nothing of His servant’s shortcoming. What a merciful God! Praise the Lord!

Now, think of the other aspect of God’s promise to Abraham – the land. When he was told to go to a far country, he had to overcome many hindrances from his father and relatives. Every time when a struggle emerges, he would ultimately get to the path which God has outlined. He exhibited attitudes and actions which endured delay and pressure.

Finally, Isaac was born. Then, Jacob. Then, Christ – the Seed by whom we all became Abraham’s children. Has he seen all that coming to pass? No! Nonetheless, Abraham did not faint, neither his faith waned! He saw Isaac, and he knew the rest of the truths of God’s covenant will unfold in His time. Abraham remained steadfast in faith.

He also “patiently endured” his journeying in this world until the age of 175 (Genesis 25:7). “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:9-10). Abraham’s faith looked beyond the physical aspects of God’s covenant with him. From the earthly promised land, he looked intently for a heavenly land.

It is this exercise of hope unto the end which Scripture is calling all of us to emulate. They who professed to be Abraham’s children, let them manifest Abraham’s enduring faith.

“He obtained the promise” by instalments!

Having set out from among the heathen in accordance to God’s call, Abraham was blessed by the Lord with guidance, protection, promises, etc. God blessed his soul with special times of communion with Him, as well as peace, joy and victory. His eyes saw a son born of Sarah, according to God’s promise. But by faith, he saw Christ’s day, and was glad. Jesus testified, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56). Having also reached the land of the Canaan and living there under God’s special providence, he yet again looked beyond to a heavenly city (cf. Hebrews 11:10). All these were an earnest or down payment of better things to come. Finally, he received a more complete blessing of God when he left this world of sin and sorrow, and departed to be with Christ, which is “far better” (Philippians 1:23). Abraham had now entered into the peace and joy of Paradise, having obtained the Heavenly Country (Hebrews 11:16).

Introduction

Fear can grip our hearts anytime. It can develop within us due to tragic circumstances, such as failures, sickness, urgent financial needs, the death of a dear one, etc. It can also emerge due to overwhelming responsibilities, anxiety over the future, etc. Whatever be the cause of fear, if we do not appropriately deal with our feelings of fear, it can cause considerable damage to our lives. Fear is a tyrant – who subdues our senses, emotions and even numbs our mind and body. Worst of all, it can cause us to act dishonourably and defiantly before the Lord. So, Scripture urges us to act decisively to expel fear from within us.

Our modern world, with all its immense research and medical advancement, has not been able to cure people of their phobias. There is a very long list of phobias that people suffer from. Modern society is a world of phobia and panic attacks. People are looking for cures, but to little avail. Many survive on anti-depressant pills and suchlike, but in the process becoming addicted to them!

We, Christians, have a great resource of wisdom in the Scriptures that can help us to deal with the fears of our hearts. We also have the gracious ministry of the Holy Spirit, the Divine Comforter, in our hearts. He would aid us with His wisdom and power if we yield to Him in faith and obedience.

Hence, Scripture exhorts us to overcome fear by yielding in faith to divine counsel of His Word, prayer and obedience. Let us therefore, with thanksgiving to God, meditate on the divine solutions that God’s Word offers us. Unusual troubles may encompass us, but we can overcome our sense of helplessness by trusting and obeying the counsels of God’s Word.

When Fear Grips You, Go to His Word

Many believers, who have experienced disturbing and heart-wrenching crises, found strength and joy in God’s Word to overcome their fears. The Bible provides us with wonderful promises of God to strengthen us to face our trials with a joyful and resolute spirit. Consider a few of those promises mentioned below:

“The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace” (Psalm 29:11). “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31).

“He would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16).

Having found such wonderful promises of God’s empowerment to face life’s troubles and burdens, let us pray like the psalmist: “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word” (Psalm 119:28). Just like the psalmist, we too must be deeply moved by God’s promises to pray with faith that God would strengthen us to face our deeply troubling circumstances and challenges.

When being opposed and ridiculed, the servant of the Lord waxed strong in God’s promises and prayed earnestly: “Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever” (Psalm 119:41-44). God’s Word was his answer to his enemies. He did not rely on his personal wisdom, scholarship, eloquence or riches to ward off the reproaches of men. The Word of God was his only and best weapon of defence and strength. He testified, “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me” (Psalm 119:50).

Proverbs 3:21-26 tell us how we can overcome fear by having the right attitude towards God’s Word. “My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”

When Fear Grips You, Yield to the Spirit of God

The natural thing to do when fear comes is to yield to all kinds of thoughts and emotions that arise in our hearts. But it is important to the child of God that he should not obey his own heart, but the voice of the Spirit of God who is within him. Scripture reminds all true believers that “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Fear comes into Christians’ hearts when they fail to be filled with the Spirit. In other words, it is when we listen to our own sinful lusts or feelings (doubts, anxieties, envy, jealousy, anger, bitterness, etc.) more than the assurances of the Spirit that we become fearful. Timothy was a child of God who has the Spirit of God within him. But when he allowed the intimidations and persecutions around him to affect his thoughts, he became timid and ashamed of the Christian witness. So, Paul reminded him that such a fearful approach to life and ministry is not of God, because God has made available to His children His power, love, and sound mind through His Spirit.

In Romans 8:15-16, Paul reminds us concerning the ministry of the Spirit within us: “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God”. The Spirit of God will grant us understanding and assurances concerning our special relationship with God as His children. Like a frightened child is comforted and strengthened by the presence of his father, the Christian too is greatly encouraged by the ministry of the Spirit that sheds abroad God’s fatherly love in our hearts. We must then yield to the assuring voice and leading of the Spirit within us.

When the apostle Paul felt the fear about preaching the Gospel before men of intellect, he yielded to the Spirit of God. He says, “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:3-4). Like Paul, we need to deal with our fears in the demands of the ministry by yielding to the power of the Spirit that works in us.

When Fear Grips You, Trust Him Even More

Like the psalmist, we too must confess in prayer, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Psalm 56:3). When we are afraid, we must exchange fear with prayer of faith. When fear grips us, let us remember that the time has come to prove how genuinely and firmly we trust the Lord.

If we do not deal with fear, we may waste a lot of time worrying. It will drive us to senseless behaviours and actions. So, do not let fear remain. As soon as fear arises, you must exercise faith in God by communing with Him in prayer and taking hold of His promises.

Fearful times come to all. But how blessed it is that we can rejoice in God’s love and promises. So brethren, let us transform the moments of fear into times of faith, prayer and obedient actions.

(A lesson based on the life of Job)

Introduction

To know that someone loves us is a joyous matter. It is a tremendous pleasure to know that someone is really happy about us. When parents, relatives, teachers, bosses or friends commend our efforts, we know our labours have not been in vain.

However, very often people forget or neglect our real efforts. Worse still, some people repay our efforts with false allegations, slander and even persecution. Very often, the labours of God’s people have gone unnoticed and unrewarded. This is even true in churches. But the Lord whom we worship and serve is a great rewarder of our service for Him.

The Lord Jesus said, "And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward" (Matthew 10:42). The Lord looks upon every faithful, upright child of His with great pleasure. He will commend them. He is eager to talk about them before His Father and the holy angels. In Luke 12:8, we read Jesus as saying, "Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God."

Saints are the Lord’s chief delight

The Lord’s remark about Job in Job 1:7-8 shows that He would acknowledge His servant not only before the Father and the holy angels but even before His arch-enemy, the devil. "And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" (Job 1:7-8).

The above remarks of the Lord remind me of the truth that the psalmist wrote about a happy father who delights in his children before his enemies: "Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate" (Psalm 127:5).

The devil is a false accuser and a destroyer of the testimonies of God’s children. So, God holds up his faithful child, Job, as a trophy of His victory over Satan. The Lord delights to lift up the testimony of His servant Job for His own glory, and to the shame of His wicked foe.

Take note that God’s praise of Job is very open and lavish. He is unrestrained in His commendation of His child. If the devil dared to question Job’s integrity at this point of time, he would not be just challenging Job, but the LORD God Himself and His perfect integrity. So the devil did not put up an argument about the truthfulness of God’s statement concerning Job.

We must also note that here the Lord was not defending Job, but commending him. The righteousness of the child of God was His arrow against the devil. Again, my mind goes back to Psalm 127:4, 5 - "As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."

I certainly believe that the Lord will be very pleased to take glory through the sanctified lives of His people. O saints of God, how do you feel in your heart today to know that your Lord is very proud of you and that you are His prime subject of His boast before His arch-enemy?

How to be God’s pure delight?

Be like Job. Well, I am not suggesting that you must be rich as Job. The world may appreciate you if you are rich. But notice that the Lord had not boasted to Satan about Job’s wealth! Rather, the Lord’s praise of Job was all about his spiritual virtues. In verse 8, we read, "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?"

This truth is brought to our attention by the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 9:24, "But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD."

The Lord delights in lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things He delights. So, those who are His saints must know what will please their Lord, and go about fulfilling His pleasure and be His delight:

• Honesty and truthfulness in His children make the Lord greatly delighted - "Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight" (Proverbs 12:22).
• Righteousness of His children makes the Lord greatly delighted - "They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight" (Proverbs 11:20).
• Prayer of His children makes the Lord greatly delighted - "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight" (Proverbs 15:8).

I am sure some of you might be thinking how you can ever be a delight to Him, knowing that sin will not make the Lord happy with you and that there are sins that easily beset you? Are you wondering, “Can I ever be His delight?”

Dear brethren, this is the time when we must look to the Lord. To be the delight of the Lord, we must trust in our Redeemer all the time, that we may be cleansed and sanctified. Job 19:25 says, "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth". (Cf. Job 33:26 - "He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.")

Today, Christians at large “entertain” themselves by watching others break all of the Ten Commandments. It seems that for many, God’s eternal standards do not apply to their modern artistic and media entertainment. This problem is especially acute for Christian youths who find that their friends (Christian and non- Christian) attend nearly all of the innumerable movies targeted at their generation.

While it is true that it is very difficult to produce a list of dos and don'ts, it is totally wrong to assume that as long as an activity pleases one’s heart, it should be alright to engage in it. The natural thoughts, imaginations and desires of human hearts are always evil. “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). But through the law of God, we can know and fulfil God’s righteousness and truth. As the psalmist wrote, "Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth" (Psalm 119:142).

In what follows, we will consider the principles taught in the Ten Commandments to discover their relationship to the entertainment pursuits of those who would follow Jesus Christ.

1. I am the LORD thy God…Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Entertainment is one of the biggest industries worldwide. Christians are also lured into working in the secular entertainment sector. Jesus cautions us, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21). Therefore, Christians must be wary of anything that would cause them to forget the priority of a relationship with God. Every Christian’s focus should be to put God first in his life. When it comes to entertainment, we must ask: Does this honour God as first in my life?

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. Idolatry is not just a problem confined to some past pagan culture. Today, there is as much energy given to the worship of created things as ever before in history. We are not surprised to hear of those who "idolise" popular media celebrities. In fact, the cultural images we identify with are almost certainly the key indicators of the inclinations of the heart. Jesus warned that "no man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other" (Matthew 6:24). When it comes to entertainment, we must ask: Does this help me to keep my focus on God?

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain. Misuse of the name of God appears to be an integral part of contemporary entertainment. Yet Jesus said, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name" (Matthew 6:9). Would we really sit quietly in a movie where the name of our father, mother, brother or sister is being used in vain? When it comes to entertainment, we must ask: Does it give due honour to God’s name and character?

4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Jesus said that "the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath" (Luke 6:5). We must not spend our time on the Lord’s Day for worldly entertainments, but for the worship of Christ and the mutual edification of our souls. Christians not only have to live a holy life on the Lord’s Day, but also every day of the week. When it comes to entertainment, we must ask: Does what I choose on Friday agree with what I do on "holydays"?

5. Honour thy father and thy mother. Today, traditional family values are minimised, forgotten or even mocked by what is called modern entertainment. Though there is great value in entertainment that affirms relationships bound by mutual honour, parental honour seems the least-valued ideal of family relationships. When it comes to entertainment, we must ask: Does this build up and give honour to loving relationships in the family?

6. Thou shalt not kill. One of the two main pillars of media power is the unreal presentation of violence. The emotions of this generation are exploited for money. Jesus said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you… that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:44, 45). When it comes to entertainment, we must ask: Does this cause me to view others as potential children of God?

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. The other pillar of media power is the unreal presentation of sex. With all the difficulties of growing up in an oversexed culture, we can no longer stand idly by while the passions of this generation are being exploited for money. Further, we must all guard against seeing people as objects of pleasure. Jesus said, "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). When it comes to entertainment, we must ask: Does this cause me to view sex as a matter of faithfulness in marriage?

8. Thou shalt not steal. Stealing is wrong. In fact, the modern myth of "stealing from the rich to give to the poor" is largely advanced by the entertainmentobsessed media elite. When it was demanded of Jesus to redistribute a certain man’s inheritance, He responded by saying, "Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? … Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:14, 15). When it comes to entertainment, we must ask: Does this cause me to think of my possessions with thanksgiving to God?

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Too often, emotional stories are used as a way to get around discernment. Just because we are told that a "story is based on the truth", we have no guarantee of the truthfulness of the story. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). When it comes to entertainment, we must ask: Does this cause me to see the truth of Christ?

10. Thou shalt not covet. Lust is the excessive desire for something that we cannot or should not have. Too often, we are tempted to entertain ourselves with what we know is wrong on the excuse that we are morally "strong enough" to withstand the temptation. Jesus said, "Out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man" (Mark 7:21-23). When it comes to entertainment, we must ask: Does this cause me to desire only the good that God has given for my pleasure?

From the above application of God’s commandments, it should be clear that modern entertainment is often a gross violation of God’s holy laws. The question we need to ask is: Does this form of entertainment provide a proper avenue to honour God’s law? We need to constantly check whether our choices of entertainment reflect on our current relationship with God, who has given us His law to protect and provide for our lives.

Therefore, when we see those who are discerning in their choice of entertainment, do not discount their lifestyle as "legalistic". Rather, a commitment to God’s precepts will require one to abstain from many of the modern entertainments. The Christian, when challenged by those who ask: "Is this entertainment really that bad?", should simply respond: "Does it really honour His holy laws?"

Colossians 4:5 exhorts us that we “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” Christians are instructed here concerning their conduct “toward them that are without” the church.

Relating to people outside the household of faith poses peculiar challenges to the Christians. Unbelieving family members, colleagues at work, fellow students, neighbours and other associates – all have principles or philosophies of life and conduct that are contrary to the biblical counsels that God has given for believers to live by. Many things that are lawful in this world are unlawful according to God’s Word. For example, while there exist legalised gambling and prostitution in our societies, Scripture prohibits them completely. While many think that participating in different religious worship ceremonies / activities is good, such conduct is condemned in the Bible as abomination. Christians cannot join those who practise things that are prohibited in the Bible.

So, Christians are admonished to “walk in wisdom toward them that are without”. Our lives must be guided by the highest wisdom of God’s Word. God has said in Deuteronomy 4:6, “Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” In the same manner, Psalm 111:10 instructs His people, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” By living wisely according to His Word, we seek not the honour and praise that cometh from man, but from God (cf. John 5:44; 12:43). The praiseworthy conduct of a Christian is that he walks in the wisdom of God’s Word.

In Romans 16:19, the apostle Paul commended the Roman Christians who walked in obedience to God’s Word as wise. He said, “For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.” Christians’ conduct must always be a testimony to the righteousness and goodness of their Lord and His counsels.

We also should not give opportunity to the unbelieving to malign our faith because of our unwise conduct. But we must “buy up” (“redeem”) every opportunity to bear a good testimony for the Lord. Let us not just wait for opportunity to fall into our lap. Let us arise and shine for Christ!

Christians’ Speech Among Non-Christians

Colossians 4:6 exhorts us, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

A Christian’s speech, as much as his conduct, must befit his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our speech must not be like that of the unregenerate people. Our speech should never be channels of boasting, arrogance, lies, deceit, lust, profanity, hatred, curse, intimidation, violence, vanity, flattery, foolishness, idle talk, swearing, slander, gossip, or false teaching.

Our Lord’s speech was impeccable. There was never an imperfect or condemnable word that had proceeded from His mouth. In Luke 4:22, we have a record concerning Christ’s speech: “And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.” Yet, His enemies were “laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him” (Luke 11:54; cf. Matthew 22:15; Mark 12:13). In the end, they could not find anything wrong with His speech, and resorted to engaging false accusers against Him. Our conformity to Christ demands our conformity to His speech; hence the divine imperative: “Let your speech be alway with grace”. This is an exhortation to cultivate speech that is spiritually wholesome, fitting, truthful, loving, kind, sensitive, encouraging and gracious as well. Our speech must demonstrate the grace of God that is operative in our hearts.

At all times, we must maintain gracious speech. Gracious speech must be a habitual characteristic in our interactions with fellow men. In all circumstances of life, we must learn to maintain gracious speech. Whether it be a casual conversation with family members or friends, a stressful situation at home or work, a time of provocation and persecution, a time of Bible Study, a time of giving counsel, or a time of play, let us be careful to maintain gracious speech. Our speech should never be abrasive, rash, vitriolic or nasty.

Now, this does not mean that our speech must be “dripping” with undue words of niceties. But as Paul adds, it must be “seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man”. Our speech ought to be not only gracious, but also effective like the seasoning effect of salt. As salt penetrates the meat to give it taste and prevent decay, so must our speech be reproving, correcting and instructing. We must speak wisely, with spiritual discernment, in order to answer every man appropriately.

Examples and Consequences of Unpreparedness

If one has a petition to make before a king, one will be mindful to prepare oneself before an audience with the king. One would think through very carefully what to say, what clothes to adorn for the occasion, and the proper conduct to behave before royalties. It would be audacious to rush into the king’s palace without proper preparation. Similarly, it is inappropriate for Christians to demand God’s attention without proper preparation.

The Most High God has graciously provided ways to interact with Him. He has not saved us to leave us alone, but wants us to involve Him in all aspects of our life. We can sing praises to Him in hymns, psalms and spiritual songs, pray to Him and intercede on others’ behalf, and go before Him in worship and devotion. Preparing to seek God prepares us for the intimate interaction between God and us. Scripture is full of instances of godly saints who sought God not at the spur of the moment, but by making due preparations.

be almost impossible to prepare due to our critical, urgent circumstances. When Peter was drowning in the boisterous sea, he was utterly helpless and could only cry out, “Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30). If we are suddenly caught in a similar manner, the Lord will be very gracious to receive us just as how Jesus reached out to Peter as He “stretched forth his hand, and caught him” (v. 31) out of the boisterous sea. Nonetheless, under normal circumstances, the failure to prepare oneself to seek God will lead to dire consequences and may lead one to do evil.

For instance, it was recorded that King Rehoboam of the Old Testament did evil because he did not prepare himself to seek God. “And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord” (2 Chronicles 12:14). God attributes Rehoboam’s evil doing to his lack of preparation to seek Him. Rather than being drawn to God, a Christian who is not prepared to be drawn close to God will be drawn to evil. The inclination to do evil starts with an ill-prepared heart to seek God. Also, during King Jehoshaphat’s reign, the people of Judah were unrepentant of their sins and remained in their evil ways because they had not prepared their hearts unto God. Regardless of King Jehoshaphat being a godly king (2 Chronicles 20:32), the heart condition of the people was not set aright. “Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers” (2 Chronicles 20:33). The Israelites did not remove the idolatrous places of worship because they did not prepare their hearts unto God, showing an unrepentant heart that is not willing to let go of harboured sins. In God’s sight, Christians who do not prepare and set the hearts aright are deemed as being “stubborn and rebellious” (Psalm 78:8). Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to make preparation to seek God. How can we do that?

Meaning of the Word “Prepare

How to prepare one’s heart can be gleaned from the meaning of the Hebrew word often translated as “prepare”. It gives the idea of setting up something so as to make it firm and established. It means to make something unmoveable like the foundation of a house. It speaks of a resolve and determination to do something. Seeking God begins with an unmoveable and undeterred resolve to go before Him. No circumstances and feelings will stop a Christian who is resolved to seek God. The affairs of life must not be excuses for one not to go before God. Psalm 57:7 reflects David’s determination to seek God. The verse says, “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” David did not let any difficult circumstances stop him from singing unto and praising God. Even when David’s enemies “have prepared a net” for his steps and “have digged a pit before” him (Psalm 57:6), David was resolved even in life-threatening situations to give glory unto God by singing and praising Him. In all circumstances, we must be determined to praise God rather than let situations dictate how we act.

To further reinforce the idea of preparedness, we shall look at the various examples in the Bible of people who prepared before they sought God.

Biblical Examples of Preparation

Priests washed their hands and feet in the laver of brass
The priests of the Old Testament were commanded by God to wash their hands and feet in a laver of brass filled with water before they went into the Tabernacle of the congregation or before they approached the altar of sacrifice (Exodus 30:17-21). It was mandatory for priests to have their hands and feet washed before they went into the Tabernacle, which symbolised the very presence of God. They must also wash their hands and feet before they offered animal sacrifices on the altar.

Therefore, Christians must be prepared to be cleansed of their sins when they approach God in prayer or do any of God’s work. No one should come before God or be engaged in any service unto God with any idea of keeping some secret sins. God will only accept one who has “clean hands, and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:4) to “ascend into the hill of the Lord” (Psalm 24:3).

God has an extremely high view of the manner His people approach Him or do His work. Any priest during Moses’ days who failed to wash his hands or feet before they went into the Tabernacle or burnt offerings would die (Exodus 30:20). It is thus of utmost importance that Christians come before God in full consecration unto holiness.

Sacrifice of Isaac
God commanded the patriarch Abraham to offer Isaac, his son, as a sacrifice to Him on Mount Moriah. It was a test designed by God for Abraham to see if he would obey God or not. It was the way that God dictated Abraham to approach Him. Despite the extreme difficulty in performing this sacrifice, Abraham made ample preparation to the best of his ability to fulfil what God required. “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him (Genesis 22:3).” Abraham woke up early to make the three-day journey from Beersheba to Mount Moriah. Abraham was undeterred from making the long journey to where God wanted him to perform the sacrifice. He also prepared two young men to carry the wood for the sacrifice. Abraham wanted to make sure that the sacrifice would be carried out without any hindrances.

It is quite unlikely that any of us is required by God to go through the exact same test that Abraham went through. But we can learn from the way in which he overcame all obstacles in order to approach God. Similarly, Christians are to expect obstacles when we seek God. In spite of hindrances, let us all duly overcome them so that we may approach God.

Jesus rose up early in the morning
Himself to pray. He woke up very early in the morning and retreated to places where He could pray. Luke 1:35 says, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Waking up early and withdrawing ourselves are ways in which we can prepare ourselves to seek God. In a typical day, a person will be busy and occupied with his daily tasks. He has to handle many different issues that come his way. Rising up early sets a time apart that will free up a person to seek God. Likewise, Job had this godly resolve to rise up early and offer burnt offerings for his children (Job 1:5). Rising up early and setting oneself apart is a godly habit to adopt.

Conclusion

In the issues of life, we would often make preparations for what is to come. We will plan meticulously and prepare in anticipation of the future. We try to be as diligent as we can to prepare ourselves for what might come our way. All the more in your spiritual life, will you ready yourself to seek God?

"Ye cannot serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:19) – that was exactly what Joshua asserted to the Israelites who had said, “therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God” (v. 18). It must have been a crushing statement to a people who expressed their zeal to serve the LORD. But why such a staggering admonition? Why would Joshua tell them that they cannot serve the LORD?

John Calvin commented that such a harsh mode of rebuke was necessary “in order to rouse a sluggish people, rendered more lethargic by security… Joshua does not deter them from serving God, but only explains how refractory and disobedient they are, in order that they may learn to change their temper.”

Serving God is not what we do when and however we like. It demands absolute surrender to God’s will. At His bidding, we must set out to do all that He says with faithfulness and zeal. We cannot decide when and how we would serve Him, for it is God’s sole prerogative as the Sovereign One.

Serving God begins with an acknowledgment that we are incapable of serving Him on our own. It is what the theologians have called the doctrine of “moral inability”. Our impure hearts and unclean hands are an abomination to the most Holy God. This is what Joshua meant when he said to the people, “Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins” (v. 19). Offering something to God or doing something in the LORD’s name would not be regarded as a service, if those who render them do not repent and put away their sins.

So Joshua warned them earlier, “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD” (Joshua 24:14). Service demands absolute consecration to God.

If God be served at all, He must be served alone. Nothing and no one should be allowed to take first place in our hearts, except the LORD. No other claimant can be our God. This was also Jesus’ admonition when He said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

Today, in the church, many come to serve God, but their hearts hanker after the gods of our time – wealth, luxury, carnal pleasure, headknowledge, fame, etc. How can God ever be pleased with their service? Jesus warned, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8-9).

If God be served at all, He must be served in sincerity and truth. God will search through and through every form of service offered to Him, and hence it must be sincere and “clean every whit”, or it will not be acceptable to Him. Every service rendered to God must be born out of obedience to His Word. The service to our holy God must be rendered with humility and resolve of heart (cf. Acts 20:19), with faith and prayer (Hebrews 11:6), with all our strength and might (Ecclesiastes 9:10; Romans 12:11), and with gladness and thanksgiving (Psalm 95:2; 100:2; Colossians 3:23).

Testimony of God’s Mercies

Dear Pastor,

I am writing a personal testimony about how God has been gracious and merciful towards me over the past 9 years ever since I was diagnosed with psoriasis. In a nutshell, psoriasis is an auto-immune skin condition whereby the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, causing inflammation on the skin and potentially on the joints as well. On the inflamed parts of the skin, the skin cells are on an overdrive, reproducing at a much faster rate than normal. Because of this rapid build-up of skin, the top layer of the skin will turn flaky and fall off. Currently, nobody knows the exact cause or has found a definite cure for this skin problem.

Living with psoriasis can be a little inconvenient. Sometimes, the affected area on the skin can get itchy and will bleed easily when scratched. I will sometimes wake up the next morning to find small bloodstains on the bed sheet. If I do not clean the room regularly, the floor will be littered with flaky skin.

I want to praise God for His hand of grace towards me, for helping me to accept my skin condition as it is and to learn how to live with it. At times, I would feel depressed thinking about my skin condition and become more self-conscious about my own appearance. However, the Lord quickly reminds me of His words to the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Secondly, I also want to thank God that my skin condition serves as a reminder of the ugliness of sin and the need to always lead a life that is holy in God’s sight. Thirdly, I want to thank God for the brethren in the church who are concerned about me and have offered me advice and supplements to help me improve my skin condition.

Should it be the Lord’s will that I should live with this condition for the rest of my life, I pray for the Lord’s grace to continue to strengthen my faith. I pray also that I will think less about my earthly body which is prone to infirmities and corruption, and look forward to the glory and joy of Christ’s presence in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:52-54).

All glory be to God!

Best regards,
Ernest Lim