BLESSED NEW YEAR TO ALL!!

Dear Brethren,

Mersing Boat Tragedy

“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” James 4:14.

We must have read in the newspaper of the tragedy of the capsized boat in Mersing that took away the lives of 5 Singaporeans. It was a holiday joy that turned into sorrow of death. All it took was one moment of a large wave that crashed into the boat and brought it down. This is how fragile our life is and it is exactly how the Bible describes it as a “vapour” in James 4:14.

How many of us have gone travelling this school holiday in plane, boat and bus? Do you realize it is by the grace of God that we are safe and secure in our journeying? Let us be thankful to God always. God has preserved our lives in 2010. He has kept us on this earth with a purpose. We do not know if we can live through 2011 or the Lord Jesus will come in this year. One thing we must do is to be thankful for each day that God gives us and to be faithful to do His will in our lives.

Go Forward in 2011

There is an old adage which goes, “Life should always be lived forward, but can only be understood looking back.” We have just entered into the new year 2011. I wonder what are your thoughts for the new year and also your reflections for the year 2010 that has just gone by and will never return again.  I am sure we have our failings in the past year and some resolutions that were not met. Maybe some regrets too that we have failed to spend our time wisely and have done little for the Lord.

The exhortation from God’s Word is to “GO FORWARD”.  The children of Israel had to face the red sea to move forward. There was no ship to bring them across the sea. Behind them were the armies of Egypt ready to kill them. Indeed they were in an absolutely impossible situation but the command from God was “GO FORWARD”.  When they took the step of faith and trust in God to move forward, then the salvation of God was clearly demonstrated in delivering them by opening the red sea. Imagine if the children of Israel had remained still and murmured about their miserable estate, the end result would be disastrous.

As we start a new journey for this year 2011, we must heed God’s command to “GO FORWARD”. Go forward to be responsible in our vocation. Make sure we do our best in our calling whether we are a student, worker, home-maker or retiree. Go forward and live a good testimony for Jesus that by our good works, many will glorify our Heavenly Father.

We must also GO FORWARD to be a better and more responsible church member. The Lord has placed us in the Church, which is the Body of Christ and we are His members. There are needs in the Church to be met. Go forward to meet them and volunteer to serve the Lord. Be willing to sacrifice more time and effort and even resources for the Lord’s work. GO FORWARD to show more love to others and be less critical. Consider others better than ourselves and be gentle to others.

Finally, GO FORWARD to improve in our spiritual inner life. There are sins to deal with and we must daily repent and mortify it. There is God’s Word that we must learn and we need to spend more time and effort in it. Go forward in having a closer communion time with the Lord Jesus and experience His peace and strength always. Join the Church prayer meeting to grow in your prayer life.

Wishing everyone a spiritually fulfilling year.

Elder John Leong