A blessed Chinese New year
To the Chinese people it is the most important and auspicious day in the Chinese calendar. Non-Christians wish one another a good and lucky Chinese New Year. But Christians wish one another a good and a godly Chinese New Year, for what good is it of a year if it is not to be godly.
It is a popular belief that Chinese New Year will bring wealth and peace. The long queues behind the Toto and 4-D booths will attest to these superstitious beliefs.
This year’s Chinese New Year HongBao draw with the jackpot prize of 10 million is a temptation too good for any gambler to resist but Christians must resist. Lottery is the most popular gambling pastime with Singaporeans. People will go to accident sites to take down the registration of crashed vehicles; murder sites, funeral parlours; temples in the remotest parts of Malaysia to pray and to seek for numbers. winning A few years ago a man who was saddled with a huge gambling debt, killed his family before jumping to his death; wrote to his pastor that he had missed the first prize by one number.
Would he end his life if he believed that God had promised him to have prosperity? Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
God’s riches are riches through His Son to us that unbelievers are oblivious. The immense supply of God to us is the result of His immeasurable riches of His grace.
Secondly, God wants us to have perfect peace. God’s perfect peace is from His Son to us; the peace of Christ that unbelievers are oblivious. “Rest” is an inward peace to relieve us from the burden of sin and sorrow and to calm us from the worries and anxieties of a troubled life. Fears and worries are signs of unbelief and only the Lord Jesus Christ can remove them by giving us peace.
On this day let us be reminded in Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Ungodliness is prevalent around us but a godly person must be full of godliness at all times. We cannot change the world but we must not be conformed to it. May we keep away from the temptations of strong drinks, gambling and other forms of entertainments during CNY that may give away our Christian testimony.
Also, may this CNY be an opportunity to share with friends and relatives the precious Gospel that they may also want to make a difference for Christ.