“If You Love Me…”

by | May 26, 2024 | Andrew Yap, • Timely Word •

“If You Love Me…”

These are personal, direct, impactful, and intimate words, only spoken by someone whom you have a close relationship with. These words will cause you to sit up and listen carefully. Especially when spoken by our Lord Jesus Himself.​​

Jesus said: “If you love me, you will keep any commandments”. (John 14:15)​​

Jesus was speaking to His disciples, and now also to us. He is teaching us what it means to truly love Him. It is not in talking only, but by living it out, in “keeping” His commandments. To “keep” means, to guard, protect, retain, to hold as one’s own, and not to lose; to follow and fulfill.​

To keep Jesus’ commandments, we need to express our dedication and devotion to Him through three important disciplines. We should take King David as an example.​

​

  1. Obedience. Although King David lived imperfectly, he showed wholehearted devotion to God. David’s desire was to do what the LORD commanded. He expressed this in many of his psalms. His passion was to obey GOD’s Word and to uphold truth, virtue, uprightness, and righteousness. It is impossible to possess these godly attributes by our own efforts. But by our obedience to the Word of GOD. ​

David declared in Psalm 19:7 – 11 “The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul, the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple, the percepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the yes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether… in keeping them there is great reward”.​

  1. Humility. David was a young shepherd boy when he was anointed as king. Despite that, he was not puffed up. David never tried to take the throne while Saul was still in power. He waited many years for the LORD to give him the throne. He remained humble, even as king. His humility was shown in his soft heart, his quick realization of his human weaknesses and sin. There were no excuses.​

“For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me”. (Psalm 51: 3 ESV) “Create in me a clean heart, O GOD, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me”. (Psalm 51:10 – 11 NKJV)​

  1. Service. In all of David’s life stages and situations – whether a shepherd boy, fighting Goliath, running for his life, or a mighty king – the many psalms he wrote reveal that he served the LORD with all his heart. His wholehearted devotion was active (not passive), committed, determined and persevering. And always asking the LORD to help him. It is not by his own strength. (Psalm 101: 2) In the same manner, Jesus expects us to live out these disciplines of devotion to Him. We say we love Him; we must keep His commandments.​

By brother Andrew Yap

View more

Jesus Says, “Follow Me!”

by | Apr 23, 2022 | Andrew Yap, • Timely Word •

In Mark 1:17 – by the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw Simon and Andrew and a little later, James and John. He said to them: “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men”.​​

Jesus’ call to them was simple. Yet it was a call that changed their lives forever. He called them to be his disciples and to follow him. The effect and result of this was indeed to change the world as well. As we reflect  on Jesus’ call, is this meant only for the 12 disciples?  And subsequently for the apostle Paul? If we look at Scriptures, we will know that this is a charge not just to the apostles but to all of us believers as well. We are all called to follow Christ. To serve him, to serve his church and to fulfil the Great Commission, to make disciples of all nations. Reflecting on Jesus’s command, how do we apply that in our lives and obey, especially in these difficult times as we see wars, human suffering, disasters and despair all over the world.​

 ​

I made three simple observations about this passage:​

1.The team Jesus assembled.​

These men were fishermen by trade. They were hardworking, industrious, toiling every day at great peril and often catching little after a hard day’s work. Then there is preparing the nets for the next day and the next. They were simple common people. Not educated folks or those with social standing, certainly not the most religious or most moral. Jesus chose them not because they were qualified or felt qualified. Jesus picked the “better” men. “Better” because they had passion, true conviction and devotion to Him, even though they had many flaws. The people Jesus uses are those who are willing, humble, intentional and prepared to be molded, to accomplish great things for Jesus’ glory.​

 ​

2.The call that Jesus made.​

It was personal, simple and unconditional. “Follow me”. In essence, the Christian life is the Christ life. “Follow me” means knowing Christ, loving Christ, worshipping Christ, obeying and serving Christ. It is an unconditional call, in its simplicity and directness. No need for any previous experience or curriculum vitae. Jesus does not give any job description. He does not give any indication of a track for promotion or what the future holds. But Jesus did say, “… and I will make you become fishers of men”.  There’s the certainty and promise of “I will make”. We are called to that end, to fish for men. It takes effort and intentionality. We can start with our circle of friends, family, colleagues, neighbors and contacts. We start simply by telling our story of how Jesus has changed our lives.​

 ​

3.The response that Jesus received.​

Notice the response of these four fishermen in verses 18-19: “Immediately they left their nets and followed Him… they left their father Zebedee… and went away to follow Him.” Their response was immediate. No hesitation, no further consideration. They left their nets. They left their father. They dropped everything of a previous nature to answer this call, to follow Jesus.​

This is Jesus calling all of us to follow Him. This is the Messiah who calls, who saves, who redeems and who leads. We have just last week remembered how Jesus had sacrificed his own life to save us from our sins and eternal damnation. And we celebrated His resurrection as our Living Saviour and Lord! Let us be faithful and go. Jesus will empower us when we obey His call.​

​

By brother Andrew Yap​

​
​

You are Cordially Invited

by | Apr 28, 2021 | Andrew Yap, • Timely Word •

In Luke 14:15-24, Jesus told the story of an invitation to  a great banquet. That story has important lessons for everyone. Jesus is giving a warning to his listeners not to miss the greatest invitation of all. An invitation that comes from heaven.

In that parable, the host prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. His guests must have been people of some importance who were expected to accept the man’s invitation. The host must have been an influential person, with position, power and wealth. And surely, anyone who had received such an invitation would gladly accept and say, “I will be there!”.

He even sent his servant to personally invite his guests with this message: “Come, for everything is now ready”   (v 17).

But the response of the man’s guests was most surprising. The guests were uncannily similar in giving all sorts of lame excuses for not accepting the invitation:

a)“I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.” (v 18)

b)“I have bought five yokes of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please excuse me.” (v 19)

c)“I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”   (v 20)

When these excuses were reported to the master, he became angry. Then he did something totally unexpected. He ordered his servant to go out to the streets and alleys of the town to extend an open invitation to those who would never expect to be invited to such feasts –– the poor, crippled, blind and lame (v 21).

What an invitation! We can well imagine that if such an invitation were to be sent out to the poor and needy living in slum areas or to deprived refugees, or to the street beggars, they would immediately jump at it without hesitation. Who in such a state would reject a free meal, let alone a banquet? These people must have been in shock. Is this a dream? Is it for real?

It was a huge banquet that the master had prepared. And the servant reported that “still there is room” for more. The master wanted every seat to be occupied. No empty chairs in the banquet hall. He ordered the servant to bring more people in “so that my house may be filled” (v 23).

Let’s pause and consider this significant story and what it means to each one of us. Do we know whether we would be at the heavenly feast?

Jesus told this parable to warn people not to be presumptuous that they would be God’s guests in the heavenly banquet. Many among his listeners thought that they would be there.

The stark warning comes at the end of the story. Jesus said: “For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet” (v 24). Jesus revealed that the story points to “my banquet”. That great banquet –– prepared by Jesus, invited by Jesus, hosted by Jesus. His invitation is given to all, but will all accept this invitation?

God’s invitation to His feast is not just to a future wondrous banquet in Heaven, but also to enjoy His presence, His grace and His blessings even while on earth! It’s an invitation to “taste” Him. “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!” (Psalm 34:8).

You are invited by Jesus to attend and taste His banquet. Will you accept and be there? Please do not miss it!

By brother Andrew Yap

Wash Your Hands!

by | May 5, 2020 | Andrew Yap, • Timely Word •

This is the instruction that we are given every day since the start of this terrible COVID-19 pandemic. It is one of the important actions that all of us must strictly observe, to stem the spread of this coronavirus. And to protect ourselves and our loved ones. This is now the new normal.

The subject of washing or cleansing the hands also came up in Jesus’ time. Matthew 15: 1–20 describe the events that took place that had resulted in the increased antagonism by the Pharisees and scribes against Jesus. They had seen that Jesus’ disciples were eating their food with unwashed hands. The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands. And especially when they come from the market-place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves. The Pharisees used this to accuse Jesus and his disciples for violating the “tradition of the elders”.

Washing your hands may seem like a minor thing (though now with COVID-19 it’s essential).  However, back then, this was a very important consideration  to these Jews. Why? Because it was not a matter of personal hygiene, but a matter of religious tradition, tied directly to ceremonial cleansing.

The Law of Moses had many ceremonies. These were stipulated to remind the people of Israel of their need for GOD, that they were set apart to GOD. They were required to be separated from anything that was ceremonially unclean. The Law was never intended to be a religion of mere rituals, procedures or traditions. Take circumcision, for example. It is not just an important outward sign of being a Jew, but rather a reflection of an inner reality.

Deuteronomy 10: 12-16 states this command clearly. To fear the LORD your GOD, to walk in all His ways, to love Him … and to keep the LORD’s commandments. Verse 16 tells the people most pointedly: “So circumcise your heart and stiffen your neck no longer.” (italics mine).

It is a matter of the heart. Fearing the LORD our GOD, walking in His ways, loving Him and keeping His commandments must all come from our heart.

The Pharisees and religious teachers were so concerned with the outward observance of the laws of cleanness, and other traditions and observances that they failed to realize that the real defilement was sin. The real source of uncleanness was the human heart. That brought about a stern rebuke from Jesus that they were being hypocritical in criticizing his disciples for breaking a tradition when they were doing something far worse in breaking the commandment of GOD.

The coronavirus pandemic has taken the whole world by storm. We are shocked into stillness and reflection. The way we live, work and run our family lives are all shaken up. Even the way we do church and have our congregational worship. We are no longer physically meeting as a congregation together, not even as a small group church. GOD is indeed at work in causing a complete shake-up of even the traditions that we hold dear. C.H. Spurgeon once challenged his own congregation about traditions, by asking: “If there were no Sunday morning service at eleven, how many of you would be Christians?”

The worship of GOD is not about the music, the services, the liturgy, or the things we do in a worship service. No matter how good the music, the prayers and even the preaching may be by traditional standards, if we are just going through the motions and not bringing our hearts and minds to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, we have not given reverence to GOD and our worship is in vain. I have learned that it is far more important for me and you to get our hearts right with GOD. This begins with faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, and finding forgiveness and cleansing from GOD through Him. True worship of GOD comes from the heart, our inner being. And if the heart is not cleansed, the traditions and external rituals (washing of hands) mean nothing.

May this be our prayer to the LORD:

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” “Create in me a clean heart, O GOD, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:7, 10-12)

By Andrew Yap (YCKC Bulletin 26 April 2020)