Overcoming Evil

Sunday 26Apr09
Text: Romans 12: 14 - 21 RSV

A Sermon which I delivered to the congregation of Ipoh Garden Baptist Church, English Section.
Also available at http://pengyou.webvertices.com/Fisherman/OvercomingEvil.html

Introduction

The epitome of today's passage can be found in the very last verse:

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with Good.

What is this thing called good? How can it be used to overcome evil around us? How can we use this thing called Good to overcome that thing called evil? Can good overcome evil after all? Isn't it a lost cause, in the first place, if we try to do good in response to others doing evil?

This morning, I'd like to talk about three aspects of Good that the apostle Paul describes here, and I'll try to explain how these three aspects of Good can be employed to address evil around us.

(1) Overcome evil with Good Hearts (verses 14 and 15)

A Heart of Blessings

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. v14

The Gospel of Matthew records for us the occasion when the Pharisees accused the Lord of casting out demons by power of Beelzebub, the Prince of Demon. The Lord Jesus knew what was in their hearts, and in response to this malicious slanderous accusation, the Lord gave a long sermon that included the well-known verse, "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." Matt. 12:34

Similarly, we are warned by the apostle James, in James 3: 9ff, that the tongue we use to praise our Lord and Father should not and be used at all to curse men. James used the illustration of a spring of water which cannot give both fresh water as well as salt water, and that of fig trees which cannot bear olives, nor can grapevines bear figs.

Likewise, dear Christians, it is with a good heart, full of God's blessings that we can bless those who hate us and persecute us.

A Heart of Compassion

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. v15

In the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, the Lord Jesus is often described as having compassion on people around him. For example, in Matt 9:36, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Also, in Mark 8: 34, he told his disciples, "“I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat." And in Luke 7:13, at the gates of a town called Nain, the Lord came across the funeral of the only son of a widowed woman, "And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”" The NIV uses the words, "his heart went out to her".

Likewise, the apostles in the NT teach us also to be compassionate people. Like our Lord Jesus, our hearts are to be full of compassion, and should go out to others, rejoice with them and weep with them. Paul wrote in Colossians 3: 12, "Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience . . ." Similarly, the Hebrew Christians were commended in Heb 10:34, "For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one."

Thus, in this morning's scripture passage, it is clear to us that the first step to overcome evil around us is by having Good Hearts in us, hearts full of Blessings, and hearts full of Compassion. As our Lord has taught, it is out of the fullness of our hearts that our mouth can speak. A heart full of blessing will result in lips full of blessing. And like our Lord, we can reach out and weep with those who weep, rejoice with those who rejoice, when we have hearts of compassion.

(2) Overcome evil with Good Minds (verses 16 - 20)

We make up our minds to be Humble.

. . . do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly, never be conceited. v16

One of the most common connotations of the word "humble" in NT Greek is that of being lower than others. For example, in Philippians 2: 3, the apostle Paul wrote, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves". One of the Greek words used to describe humility in the NT is, "tapeinophrosune" which literally means, "a low mind".

In verse 16 this morning, the apostle Paul reminds us of such humility, that Christians must be willing to befriend humble people, the lowly, those who have little to show off, people who have nothing to be proud of.

Old Chinese saying, "The Properous staying in deep in the jungles have visitors from afar, but the Poor who stay by the road-side are not even noticed."

Recently, a long lost Christian brother, Leonard, got in touch with me by email.

• stayed in Greenwich, London - wahh, expensive city!
• illustrious career - set up the first airport internet cafe in the world, back in the 90s
• help a friend in Virginia USA set up cybercafe, restaurant - in eleven months, it was listed among top 100 cafes in that part of the country.
• lately, he is project manager in charge of implementing the IT systems in LMI - a worldwide charity based in Middlesex, UK, including setting up their internet and intranet servers.
• And he asked me if I could give him some advice on some of the work he's doing!
• -- I felt very low, in comparison.

Brothers and Sisters, today I commend to you an effective way of dealing with the evil pride. It is to adopt a humble mind. A mind that is low. Within our Christian community, we make up our minds to be humble, to consider others always better than ourselves.

We make up our minds to be Restrained.

Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble . . . v17
If possible . . . live peaceably with all v18

Incident of neighbour's grandson who fought back when a much taller boy angered him - he punched the tall boy so hard on the chin that the tall boy cried!

It seemed to me that day, that repaying evil for evil was in-born in that child. That neighbour's grandson was born with it. He didn't have to be taught how to do it. He didn't attend lectures on Retaliation 101. He just did it naturally. He was on auto-pilot.

I think we grow up with this autopilot in our minds. We'd like to repay evil for evil, if we're given a chance. But Romans 12: 17 and 18 this morning tells us to restrain ourselves. Let's stop using that autopilot, and switch over to manual control. Let's make up our mind to be restrained in the face of evil.

We make up our minds to wait Patiently.

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; v19
Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord . . . v20 (Deut 32:35)

Another old Chinese saying, "A gentleman's revenge can come in eight or ten years".

There is only one isolated record in the NT when the apostle Paul mentioned in his writings about an enemy who harmed him badly. This person was Alexander the metalworker. In 2 Tim 4:14, the apostle alerted Timothy about Alexander. He said that Alexander had done him a great deal of harm and that Timothy should be on guard against him, because he strongly opposed their preaching of the gospel of Christ. Yet the apostle Paul did not plot any revenge against Alexander.

Instead, Paul wrote, "The Lord will repay him for what he has done". This same apostle Paul today is telling us, not to avenge ourselves, not even after 8 or 10 years, but to leave it to the Lord's wrath. "The Lord will repay" must be our maxim in life when dealing with people like Alexander the metal worker.

(3) Overcome evil with Good Deeds (verse 21)

if your enemy is hungry, feed him; v20
you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you. (Proverbs 25:22)

OK then, we say, We shall somehow convince ourselves, against all our natural instincts, to overcome evil by inculcating good heart and good minds. We shall learn not to be proud. We shall restrain ourselves from our autopilot of retaliation. And, with some determination, we shall even give up the idea of sweet revenge!

But if one day, if one chance in ten thousand, that day should come when I see my enemy suffer, if that evil person were to be so badly inflicted that he should despair for food and water. "Ha, Ha! What satisfaction", we would like to say to ourselves, "Heavens have eyes!", the traditional Chinese would say. And we're tempted to rejoice at our enemy's suffering, to savour the delight of his downfall! After all, we did nothing to make him suffer. Ah it must be the wrath of God!

Indeed, it is always easier to hurt our enemies than to help our enemies. But, I'm afraid that I must end this morning's message on yet one more demanding teaching of the apostle, "Help your enemy", he seems to be telling us here. Feed him if he's hungry. Give him water. Don't let him die.

Verse 20, quoting from Proverbs 25:22, tells us that by doing so, We are actually heaping coals of fire on the head of our enemy. Most bible scholars would interpret this expression, "coals of fire" to refer to the painful regret of a guilty conscience. A bible commentary which I read many years ago, interprets it to mean a feeling of being greatly ashamed of oneself. (Another disappointment for us again? How we wish it were really literally coals of fire burning that rascal's head . . .)

And the Lord will reward you.

Better life? Better than life

Thu 16Apr09    Psalm 63: 1 - 11  KJV

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. v3

Recently, a number of my colleagues have resigned.  Some of them, with post-graduate degrees, have gone over to a new university nearby to teach.  Others have moved on to other types of work, saying that they are tired of teaching. There were a few who have not found another job yet, and they are relying on their savings, financial investments, private tuition etc for the time being.

All of them have left for one common reason: dissatisfaction with life at their current place of work, arising from a perceived "badness" of working conditions and management practices.  They have all gone for a better life.

I have not been spared from similar unhappiness too. In fact, I've been outspoken in raising some issues where many of my ex-colleagues have preferred to remain silent over the eleven years I've worked here.   I would also like to move on to a better life.

This morning, I am reminded of Psalm 63. The opening verse is a passionate, nay, even desperate plea to God. It appears to be written by someone who is thirsty, who is dissatisfied in life.

O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee;

my soul thirsteth for thee,

my flesh longeth for thee

in a dry and thirsty land,

where no water is;  v.1

There is a difference though, between the Psalmist and many of us. He is not thirsting for a better life. He is not yearning for better working conditions, or a higher standard of living. Instead he is thirsting for something better than life.  He is thirsting for God, and for His love. In verse 3 he says that God's loving kindness is the better choice. 

Dear Christians, have we been lost in seeking a better life?  Let us seek God instead. The world around us is like a dry and thirsty land, without any water.  Let us rise up early each day to seek God, to thirst for Him in our souls, and to long for him in our flesh.  And together with the Psalmist, we can lift up our hands in His name and bless Him with our lips.

God's loving kindness - it's better than life.

Rejoice and weep

14Apr09   Romans 12: 15, 16 NKJV

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  v15

This afternoon I had long conversation with a faithful Christian brother. He has an impressive Chinese name which, when translated loosely, literally means "the strong hero". Let me call him Brother H in this post.

Brother H is a humble man. He rarely, if ever, boasts of his abilities or accomplishments. Nor does this strong hero despise others who are weaker than him. Talking to him brings me no anxiety at all, for I don't have to be worried about what he would think about my failures.

So, I was able to share with Brother H some of the burdens in my heart. He was both attentive and understanding in listening to my long-winded complaints about difficulties recently encountered at work and some other frustrations in life.  At the same time, Brother H also shared my joy when I told him how I managed to get in touch with several dear long-lost brothers and sisters with whom I fellowshipped in the Lord almost thirty years ago.

As much as he was willing to listen, Brother H was also willing to share his burdens with me.  Recently, he has been facing some nagging difficulties with a family member at home and he was feeling exasperated over this person's reluctance to listen to his reasoning.  He also felt annoyed at times when church members behave rather selfishly, not showing the kind of Christian love for God that he wished they would. I could offer him no comfort save to listen with some empathy.

"Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble . . ." v 16

All in all, this afternoon's was a pleasant and fulfilling time of humble Christian fellowship. Brother H and I could rejoice with each other's joys and weep with each other's sorrows. There was no proud talking at all.  For me, it was a long refreshing conversation with a humble brother who does not set his mind on "high things".

In his own way, Brother H has indeed become a strong hero for God.

Peace like a river

13Apr09   Isaiah 48: 17 - 22

Oh that you had heeded my commandments!

Then your peace would have been like a river . . . v 18

One of the first Christian songs that I learned to sing in my early Christian days in school was a simple Negro spiritual that goes, "I've got peace like a river (3x), in my soul." Back in the 70s we often sang it during Wednesday Chapel Services and at our Friday CF meetings in MBSKL. And we'd always sing very heartily indeed. 

In those days, Christian young people were very keen on experiences of peace, joy and love that God gives to every one who sincerely turns to Christ in his heart. Testimonies of new Christians would invariably include at least a mention of how peace came into their hearts after they believed on the Lord Jesus and opened the door of their heart to Him.

And so, with the accompaniment of an old guitar, we'd sing "Peace like a river" together, loudly and cheerfully. 

Today, I had the opportunity to turn aside from my work and ask myself - what had happened to this river of peace which my Christian school-mates and I used to talk so much about in those good old MBS days?  Thirty years have passed, and it appears that all the hard knocks in life, and the hectic pace of both work and family, have hardened my heart somewhat.

Instead of making melody in my heart about having peace like a river from God, I am occupied with struggling upstream to gain profits offered by the world. In this OT passage, as the prophet Isaiah rebukes the unfaithfulness of Israel, he speaks forth the word of the LORD:

"I am the LORD your God,

  Who teaches you to profit,

  Who leads you by the way you should go." v17

Brothers and Sisters, it's time to let God teach us to profit - His way, the way that we should go.  It is time to go back to our good old days, to take heed of God's commandments, and to sing "I've got peace like a river in my soul" with gusto again.

An act of God

12Apr09 Acts 10: 34 - 43 NKJV

Him God raised up on the third day . . . v.40

This morning as the cool morning sun gradually emerged from the hill-tops overlooking Pearl Garden, I was sitting among the congregation attending our annual Easter sunrise service. I listened quietly when one of our members read the passage about Peter testifying as a first-hand witness of the Lord's resurrection to the household of Cornelius in Caesarea.

It occurred to me that Peter's testimony was full of references to the acts of God in the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It was God who anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power (v 38).

God was with Him (v 38b).

After he was killed, God raised him up on the third day (v 39).

It was God who showed the resurrected Lord Jesus openly to selected witnesses (v 41), witnesses whom God had chosen, so that they could even eat and drink with Him.

Finally, it was God who ordained the Lord to be judge of the living and the dead (v 42).

In other words, everything that leads up to Easter, and thereafter, is an act of God. This Easter, I am persuaded that we are not commemorating nor celebrating any human act, nor any man-made event. Instead, as we sat there under the cloudy morning skies, as the sun began to peek over the top of the eastern hills, as the reading of this passage from Acts chapter 10 was clearly heard, it was an act of God.

Doing great things

11Apr09   John 14: 11-14 NIV

He will do even greater things than these . . .

Last night a mild mannered elderly brother came all the way from Sandakan to share his testimony and sing to us at our Good Friday service.  His name is Dannis.  He is 55 years old and he has just retired from work.  He told us that, in contrast to many people who have entered retirement,  his real work is just beginning. 

With a simple acoustic guitar strapped to his shoulder, Dannis gave a sincere and touching testimony of his life.  As a young boy, he followed his elder sister to church and grew up among the Christian community, getting acquainted with many lessons about Jesus Christ. He was active in music and singing.  He also took Bible Knowledge in his Form Five exams. However, he didn't read the Bible very much for himself.

Subsequently, as a young working adult Dannis drifted away from his Christian beliefs and fell into depression.  At the persuasion of a colleague, he joined a syncretistic religious group that appeared to involve themselves in occult practices.  He went around wearing some kind of amulet around his neck.  After some time, Dannis began to fall strangely ill. He developed a growth on the left side of his neck, below the jaw. Strange rashes began to appear on his skin. He didn't know what was going wrong.

The last straw came, when the leaders in this group began to teach that Jesus did not die on the cross. Although Dannis didn't read the Bible very much, his years of having been brought up in the Church meant there was this part of his belief that he could never compromise - that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world. He could not agree with them.

So Dannis left this strange occultic group. With the help of a Christian sister, he began to read about how God healed his children of severe illness. He attended meetings where the preachers prayed for his healing. He was advised to discard the amulet that he continued to wear around his neck, and to renounce all the occultic practices that he had involved himself in.  However, in spite of going from one healing meeting to another, feeling somewhat embarassed that he appeared to be going forward so many times for prayers, Dannis was not cured of the lump on his neck.

It was late in the year 1986, and one day a doctor friend who returned from the UK brought Dannis to see a specialist who diagnosed the lump on his neck as goitre. The growth was so large that it was pressing on his wind-pipe, making it difficult for him to speak and sing. An operation was scheduled several weeks later but Dannis was apprehensive about the prospect of having to go under the knife.  Eventually, he defaulted.

One day in early 1987, while dressing up for an occasion, Dannis was surprised to notice that he could button up his shirt collar when putting on his necktie. He had not done that for a long time, not with the goitre on his neck. On taking a closer look at the mirror, he discovered that the growth has disappeared! Dannis did not have that painful lump under his jaw anymore. How marvellous.  The specialist who examined Dannis earlier was called to have another look at him again.

"It has completely gone away.  I don't know how it happens.  It's a miracle . . .", the specialist remarked.

Today, by the grace of God, Dannis goes around the country, being invited by churches to share his testimony about his miraculous healing. He has also been blessed with a new gift from the Spirit: the gift of composing songs of praise for the Lord.  He told us that when the inspiration came, sometimes he would only take five minutes to compose a song.  

And last night Dannis sang to us a beautiful song that he had composed about the love of Christ and his sacrifice for us, in a sweet voice, accompanied with the cheerful strumming on his acoustic guitar.  In his mild and simple manner, Dannis is bringing edification to many Christians in churches all over the country.

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."  v 12

Dannis has begun doing great things for the Lord.

Be imitators of God: walk in love

Fri 10Apr09   Ephesians 5: 1-2 NKJV

Therefore be imitators of God . . . 

Having just returned from Good Friday Service in church, I'm pondering over the message, the songs, the drama and the video that were presented there, reminding us of the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus. Besides having been led through an hour of meditation on the passion of Christ, this year's Good Friday prompts me to go a step further: that is to think of living the rest of the Christian year in practising the love of our Lord.

"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet smelling aroma" v.2

Over the recent years, there has been much emphasis on adopting contemporary practices in our church, so that young people will find it relevant to their lifestyles.  A difficulty encountered in attempting to do so is that young people's tastes and trends do not remain very long.  They keep changing.

Contemporary tastes are largely based on imitations by young people, of well-known artistes and their forms of music, hair-styles and dressing, being spread around the world by today's highly efficient and pervasive media.  What used to be hip and trendy among Christian youth back in my MYF days thirty years ago is laughably "out" today. The imitators of Beatles and Elvis of the 60s, the bell-bottom pants of the 70s, the baggy look of the 90's etc all look comically anachronous today.

In short, the trouble with being contemporary is that it is temporary. 

Tonight, on Good Friday, I am persuaded that my life must adopt a type of unchanging contemporary practice, that is, to imitate God. There is one part of my life that must not be subject to the changing trends of young peoples life-styles: it is by walking in the love of Christ.  It remains the same every year. 

The trend set by our Lord Jesus is that we should walk (live) like he did: in sacrificial love. Just as he loved us. Just as he has given himself for us. Just as he has offered himself as a sweet aromatic sacrifice to God. We must imitate this love in our church. 

It is contemporary with God.

Salt: flavour or fidelity?

Thu 09Apr09   Matthew 5: 13 NKJV

You are the salt of the earth . . .

As young Christian students back in the 70s, we were often reminded by our seniors in the Christian Fellowship, and occasionally by preachers in Church on Sundays, to endeavour to bring flavour to the world around us. We were to live our lives as salt of the earth. We pondered over how to be "tasty" Christians among our school-mates, in our predominantly non-Christian asian traditional families and in our neighbourhoods.  Salt was invariably linked to flavour.

Last year, when preparing a sermon that required me to talk about OT sacrifices, my attention was caught by another, perhaps more fundamental, dimension of salt:

" . . . every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.  Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavour, how will you season it?  Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another." Mark 9:49, 50

Salt is unchanging. In chemistry, we say that it is a highly stable ionic compound. It does not decompose easily. Salt remains as salt, through boiling and frying, in water and in sauce, under baking and roasting. It stays the same under all circumstances, for a long, long time. In other words, salt has high fidelity. In Old testament sacrifices, salt symbolises God's unchanging covenant with his people.

"All the heave offerings of the holy things . . .I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever; it is a covenant of salt forever . . ." Numbers 18: 19

"Should you not know that the LORD God Of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt?" 2Chronicles 13:5

So, it is not so much the flavour of salt but rather the fidelity or the faithfulness of salt that we should be concerned about when we remember the Lord's teaching. Like hi-fi salt, we should not LOSE our flavour. We remain as salt, even when cooked or boiled, and stay the same under all circumstances.  In our Christian living,  our words should bear testimony to our unchanging character, particularly when we are called upon to answer criticism from unbelievers:

"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." Colossians 4:6

Dearly beloved brothers and sisters,  let us remain unchanging and unchangeable, as salt of the earth. Let us be Christians of high fidelity.

The likes of delights

Tue 07Apr09    Psalm 111: 1 - 10 NIV

"Great are the works of the LORD, they are pondered by all who delight in them." v.2

One day I visited Changi Airport in Singapore accompanied by my old Singaporean friend. To our delight, we found out that the first Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft in the world, had landed. That afternoon it was carrying out some trials, and was expected to take off and land several times throughout the day.

The viewing gallery was busy with expectant visitors like us, eagerly waiting to get a glimpse of the huge double-decker aeroplane. While looking for a spot to get a good view of the aircraft, we met with another friend who came with a visitor from Hong Kong. They were photographers. And they told us that they had come especially to take some pictures of the awesome plane.

Suddenly the A380 appeared in the distance. It appeared to taxi towards one side of our long gallery, making many of us hurry towards the tall windows over there. Our Hong Kong friend ran quickly, with cameras, lenses and accessories dangling around him hoping to shoot a good photo. Alas! the plane moved behind a block of building, hiding itself from view. All of us stood there, somewhat disappointed, waiting for it to appear again.

We spent what felt like the next half an hour hurrying from one end of the large viewing gallery to another whenever the A380 re-appeared, only to see it stop again for some reason at some place, and never taking off at all.  Eventually we got tired of waiting and left, while the Hong Kong man decided to stay on.

We marvel at great feats and accomplishments. Here in our country, we feel proud of making our own motorcar, having the tallest building, reaching the summit of Mt Everest and sending an astronaut into space.

We are delighted in the great works of man.

Reading Psalm 111 today reminds me of taking delight in the great works of God too. In this Psalm, the writer recalled the wonders of God done for His people in the OT. He provided food for them (v.5). He showed them His power (v.6). And he had never forgotten his covenant with them (v.5, 9).

Likewise, let us ponder over what great works God has done among us. His providence, His protection and His power - in times when nothing else could have helped us. Let us always delight in His works in our lives.

Table Number One

Mon 06Apr09 Hebrews 10: 24,25 KJV

"And let us consider one another . . ."

It is always an honour to be asked to sit at the most prominent table in a feast. Last Saturday evening, my wife and I attended the 35th Anniversary Dinner of the Christian Fellowship of our alma mater, UPM. We were directed to sit at Table No. 1.  It was the first table in front of the banquet hall, with the best view of the stage, and it was reserved for the oldest batch of alumni who graduated almost thirty years ago.  We felt rather important. 

That was, until a flash-back of the history of our CF was presented on the large screen. In a somewhat dramatic manner, the presentation began with a montage showing a herd of dinosaurs. It was aptly used to impress upon the audience how old our CF is.

And sitting there at Table No. 1, we felt a fleeting moment of discomfort: we were alumni, and we're being likened to those dinosaurs. As the presentation progressed, the feeling of being old and dated (or carbon-dated . . .) sank in further. Since we left UPM, the 'P' has been changed from "Pertanian" to "Putra". So the farmers have now been replaced by the princes. How clever! As for guests at Table No. 1: we felt obsolete.

Then there were the statistics. The university had only five faculties in those farmer days. Now, in its princely era, it has nineteen. There were only six residential colleges and CGs, compared to the present seventeen. Now, Table No. 1 felt small.

And, oh dear, must they do that? They displayed old photos which successfully reminded us how much we've aged. We've grown considerably larger, mostly at the waist, and more wrinkled. And for many of us, our hair was either greying or gone.  And Table No. 1 felt old.

There is, however, one characteristic which had not changed, and in this we rejoice: we still held fast to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We could still sing and pray together, just like we did on campus almost thirty years ago. And we had not forsaken the Lord. It didn't matter any more that we were likened to paleontological fossils, for our faith, hope and love abides. Table No. 1 felt the joy of being reunited in Christian fellowship with one another after so many years.

After the dinner, one of the bible verses which we often quoted during our CF days on campus took on renewed freshness:

"And let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but all the more as you see the day approaching. "

For this, we're indeed grateful for all the pains taken by the current executive committee of the CF to bring together so many believers in the Lord, both students and alumni dating back to 1982.  I understand that they did all this while having to prepare for final exams which is just around the corner. It was indeed a sacrifice on their part, to bring about an evening of Christian encouragement and joy.

Brothers and sisters, whether we sit at Table No.1 or No.10, let us always consider one another!

A peaceful neighbourhood

Romans 13: 1-7 NKJV

"Let every soul be subject to the authorities . . ." (v.1)

This morning, I brought my family to visit my father's grave at a Chinese cemetery in Kajang. It was a quiet cool and sunny morning, and many families had already arrived to pay their annual customary respect for their departed loved ones. The cemetery appeared busy and, in some places, even crowded, with people burning paper money and other offerings to the departed souls, while others were clearing the graves of weeds, undergrowth and rubbish.

In spite of the busy activity, the cemetery came across to me as a very peaceful place. A "neighbourhood" of so many families who put on some of the best behaviour one can encounter on any ordinary day. People worked and talked quietly without complaining. There were no disturbances nor arguments of any sort. They even walked carefully, making sure that they didn't tread on the graves of other families.

What a peaceful neighbourhood.

Then, I realised that peaceful neighbourhoods, like this cemetery in Kajang, is brought about when people live in fear. Fear of punishment. Fear of angry spirits. Fear of misfortune. In a Chinese cemetery, traditional non-Christian Chinese families are very careful and particular about not offending the departed souls (a.k.a. spirits, souls or ghosts). No careless stepping or walking over the wrong places. No silly talk. No coarse joking. Burn the paper-offerings and "pray" to the ancestors' spirits solemnly.

Perhaps, they will bless your family this year. Otherwise, woe betide you all. Offending the spirits may bring illness, disputes, financial troubles and the like. So, behave yourself and get "their" approval. Misbehave and be afraid, be very afraid.

This morning, I am reminded of Romans 13. The apostle wrote that, similarly, rulers (kings, governors, officers etc) are a terror to those who do evil. Do good and we will have praise from the authorities. Avoid living in fear all the time. A ruler is a minister from God, entrusted with the task of executing wrath on any one who practises evil. In this passage, doing good refers to obeying authorities while doing evil means committing offences.

Let us create a peaceful neighbourhood. A peace that is not confined to a brief annual visit to the cemetery but, instead, one that lasts the whole year round. A peace that is not brought about by some fear of offending angry departed spirits, but by doing good in obeying authorities instituted by God.

An essential cardio workout

03Apr09 Fri    Lamentations 3: 40 - 41 KJV

One Wednesday evening back in 2007 at a prayer meeting in church, my pastor asked us what prayer meant to each of us. A common question, I thought, for I've heard such questions being asked from time to time. Nevertheless, the answers were far from trivial.

When it came to my turn to share, these verses from the Lamentations of Jeremiah came to mind:

"Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens."

The prophet Jeremiah wrote these words at a time when the Israelites were suffering from the wrath of God. He fervently confessed the sins of his own people and urged them to turn again to God - by lifting up their hearts with their hands.

While we are more accustomed to lifting weights with our hands in the gym, it is essential to add a new cardiovascular workout to our routine - to learn to lift up our hearts to God in our prayers. In some of the older churches, worship on Sunday and the Communion at the Lord's Table is carried out with a call by the leader:

"Lift up your hearts."

And the congregation will respond:

"We lift them up to the LORD."

Have our daily prayers become stale and routine lately? Let us lift up our hearts to God.

A change of heart

Thu 02Apr09, 1 Samuel 10: 1 - 9 RSV

Be turned into another man.

Samuel anointed Saul with oil and predicted a series of events that Saul would encounter soon after, as a sign of God's choice and calling. It was also to be the time for Saul to be empowered and transformed.

"The Spirit of the LORD will come mightily upon you, and you shall prophesy with them, and be turned into another man." (v. 6)

". . . when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart."
(v. 9)

It appears that being transformed by God's Spirit involves, and invariably results in, a change of heart and mind. In a similar manner, the apostle Paul in the NT calls upon the Christians at Rome to be transformed, by the renewing of their minds. (Romans 12: 2).

Do you need a change of heart?

A 100,000 mile oil-change and service

Wed 01Apr09  1 Samuel 7: 1 - 17 RSV

Put away, direct and serve . . .

Samuel prophesied, telling the Israelites that they should put away idolatry from among them, direct their heart to the LORD and serve Him only.

When the people of Israel obeyed God, they gathered at Mizpah to fast and pray, confessing their sins, the LORD delivered them from the marauding Philistines - though initially Israel was almost overcome with apprehension and urged Samuel to perform an offering and cry out to the LORD. (v 5 - 11)

Coming across this passage today appears to me as a reminder from the Lord to send myself for a spiritual check-up, perhaps like sending an old vehicle for a 100,000 mile service. After being a Christian for 34 years, it's time to stop and do some soul-searching, to put away idols that have subtly, perhaps unwittingly, been allowed into my life, to direct my heart to the Lord and to serve him only (v. 3).