The Lord, my God, my Help and my Hope​

by | Jan 28, 2024 | Lee Yoke Kwang, • Timely Word •

The Lord, my God,

my Help and my Hope​

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” (Psalm 146:5)​

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We have needs. We need help. We have caring families and friends to turn to. But who knows our deepest needs, and our future? The Psalmist says, our help is in God who is our hope (Psalm 146:5). God tells us, “fear not, for I am with you; … for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you…” (Isaiah 41:10).​​

God is Spirit. We cannot see Him. But He has amply revealed Himself, His nature, His will and His power in His Word, personified in His Son, Jesus Christ. Throughout Scripture, He has shown that He knows us well (e.g., Psalm 139). He has shown us His love, grace, compassion and mercies, even as He remains holy and just. ​​

God’s power is revealed in the things that we can see, especially in creation and its order, with all its beauty and intricate functions for mankind to live, be fruitful and enjoy. But sin has contaminated the world, and we see sufferings of all kind. ​​

Sin has to be dealt with. This is our greatest need. God, in His love, grace, wisdom and power, sent His Son to pay the penalty of sin for us. He gave us the Holy Spirit to transform us to be like Jesus. This is the power of God. While on earth, Jesus healed people from blindness and leprosy, physically and spiritually, those who would come to Him. He fed thousands miraculously. He was able to calm the storm in the Sea of Galilee by His Word alone. Jesus confounded the religious leaders of the day from their focus on traditions to grace, love, trust and follow Jesus and His ways, for transformation and salvation. ​​

Indeed, Jesus is “pre-eminent” in all things. The Apostle Paul writes, “… all things were created through Him and for Him. …He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. …head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God… , and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.” (Colossians 1:15-20). ​​

Jesus is sovereign over all things. In this chaotic world, it is comforting to know that “in Him all things hold together”. As the firstborn from the dead, His power of resurrection is promised to us. He is the One Who knows our every need. We have everything we need in Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour, King of kings and Lord of lords. As the Psalmist says, “blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God (Psalm 146:5). ​​

Knowing that we can look to God in Christ for help and hope, how then should we live? Believe and trust in Jesus Christ. Spend time with Him and grow to be like Him. Through thick and thin, He never disappoints: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. …He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:1, 3, 6). Thank You, Lord! Glory to the Lord!”​

By sister Lee Yoke Kwang​

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An Examined Life

by | Jan 6, 2023 | Lee Yoke Kwang, • Timely Word •

“What will I do when God confronts me?

What will I answer when called to account? (Job 31:14)

The Book of Job is not just about suffering. We can also learn from Job’s life and how he remained steadfast in his faith in God through his sorrows and sufferings. In this Book, we also see clearly how God is sovereign, all-knowing, and in control, and who knows His people well. At the end of the Book, Job was doubly blessed by God. More importantly, Job came to know God much more intimately than he had ever been before (Job 42).

It was Job’s resilient faith in the face of much suffering that first caught my attention, where he says, “Though He [God] slay me, yet will I hope in Him” (Job 13:15a). Such a powerful statement of faith from a suffering man is something we can learn and embrace as followers of Christ who was Himself slain for our sins.

In my current reading of Job, I noted especially how Job, in his suffering, looked back over his life to examine if he had unconfessed sins (Job 31). He knew to whom he was accountable, and asked himself: “What will I do when God confronts me? What will I answer when called to account?” (Job 31:14). He went on to self-examine all three areas of his life:

1.Personal life – any sin of lust, falsehood, covetousness, adultery (v 1-12);

2.Public life – treatment of servants, widows, orphans, and the needy (v 13-23);

3.Spiritual life – any trust in wealth for security, any idolatry, any unrighteous speech, purity of motives (v 24-40).

In Job’s case, there was no grave area of sin. Unknown to Job, God had described him as “blameless and upright” (Job 1:8; 2:3). Not that Job was sinless (cf: Rom 3:23), but that he was an upright and righteous man who “fears God and shuns evil.”

David also came to be aware of the need for his heart to be examined. But unlike Job, God had to take the initiative in David’s case. David had become self-absorbed. God had to make him aware of his adultery with Bathsheba  (2 Sam 12). David confessed and repented from his sin. Indeed, “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jer 17:9). David was not perfect, like everyone else, but he had a heart for God, and repented when he realized he had sinned against God and man.

Both Job and David remind me that it is a good practice to take stock of our internal life from time to time. Lest we lapse into complacency unconsciously, or worse, consciously, and suffer the consequences of wrongdoing, even though restored in God’s redemptive love, as we see in David’s life in 2nd Samuel.

May we also, like Job and David, examine our internal life where no human eye can see, except God. Check our thought life, our behaviour toward others, our walk with God. Confess our areas of sinful neglect. Thank God for our areas of strength. Like David, we ask God, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24). We have God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit, also our God-given community of believers to help us live an abundant life according to God’s ways in our journey of faith on earth, till we see Jesus face to face. To God be all glory!

By sister Lee Yoke Kwang

When God Seems Far Away, Continue to Pray

by | Jan 7, 2022 | Lee Yoke Kwang, • Timely Word •

When God seems to be silent in our time of trouble, we may wonder why He does not seem to answer our prayers. Some may even fall away because God does not seem to care or real. Psalm 10 is instructive as I reflect on it.

The psalmist begins with a note of disappointment, lamenting, “O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble?” (v 1). As he continues to pray, recounting the injustices of unscrupulous men (v 2-11), we see him move from lamenting to recalling and contemplating on who God is. In remembering, he puts his trust in God, knowing that “The Lord is king forever” (v 16); He knows; He hears; and He comforts and brings justice (v 17-18).

Thus we learn from the psalmist that he does not give up praying even when God seems to be silent. As he continues to pray, focused on God Himself as he off-loaded his burdens to the Lord, he is led to remember who God is, and knows that He will act as mentioned above. With this conviction, he leaves the matter in God’s trustworthy hands.

Our trials may not be the same as the psalmist’s, but God hears and cares, both for the psalmist then, and us today. Our unchanging God is compassionate and just. He will deal with what is wrong in His sight and in His time.

It would be in God’s time because God has a much wider perspective and time-frame than we human beings with our very limited understanding and preoccupations. Unlike us, God knows everything, past, present and future, and sovereign over all, even as He is working all the things for good of all who love Him (Rom 8:28). We can also rest assured that He knows us and our needs better than we know ourselves (Ps 139).

How our promise-keeping God answers is governed by God’s perfect purposes for our good. He also desires that we persevere in knowing Him, trust in Him and obey Him, and to grow in our relationships with Him. As we do, our desires will become more and more aligned with God’s will for us. Thus Jesus said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7).

The Book of Psalms inspires us to pursue this relationship with God, as we spend devotional time with Him. Like the psalmist, we can bring our disappointments and burdens to Him. Whether we come to God with our human disappointments and needs, or in gratitude, the Psalms show us that we can off-load our inmost needs to our Lord who hears. As we pray, the indwelling Holy Spirit in us reminds us to remember who God is, and to trust in Him, and find rest in Him with thankfulness.

Heavenly Father, I pray for those who may feel that their prayers have not been heard. I pray that they will not be discouraged but will persevere in praying, trusting in You because You love us and hear our prayers, and will do what is good in your perfect time and ways. Thank You Lord for hearing our prayers and for working for good for those who know and love You. To You, O Lord, King of kings, Lord of lords; King forever, to You be all glory. Amen!

By sister Lee Yoke Kwang

Direct Your Heart

by | May 24, 2021 | Lee Yoke Kwang, • Timely Word •

“… be wise, and direct your heart in the way”

– Proverbs 23:19 ESV

God is sovereign and in control, but He is not a dictator. He created us with the freedom to choose when He told Adam in the Garden of Eden he could eat from every tree in the garden, including the tree of life, except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If he eats from that forbidden tree, he would die (Gen 2:9, 16). Adam was not created as a robot programmed to love and obey, but created with the ability to choose to obey or not to obey God, given the warning. To love and obey is a choice.

In choosing, do we follow our hearts? Or do we direct our hearts? What is the difference between following and directing our hearts? Consider God’s Word: “The heart is deceitful above all things” (Jer 17:9); also Jesus’ caution: “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21). What is your treasure?

Christians have two selves. The remnants of the old sinful self is still in us, along with “the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:22-24). As children of God, we are to direct our hearts to follow God’s ways, rather than the world’s culture to follow the desires of our hearts. The latter is dangerous because desires arise from the remaining aspects of our fallen nature. We are to direct our hearts (Prov 23:19) tutored by God’s Words and the Holy Spirit indwelling in all believers. How then can we direct our hearts in making our daily and life’s choices and decisions?

We can use the same four movements used by Ps Chiew Peng in her recent talk on “Finding self in God” – Awareness, Attention, Attunement and Abiding.

Firstly, be aware of which self in us we are listening to. To live authentic Christian lives, we need to be aware of the dangers of a heart that is deceitful above all else. Our old sinful nature/tendencies could destroy or harm us, physically and spiritually, and be displeasing to God.

Secondly, be attentive to how we think and respond to situations in making choices. Keep in mind Jesus’ warning about where our treasure is, there our heart will be; and be attentive to what would please God our Lord and Saviour.

Thirdly, as we become more aware of what pleases God and be attentive not to sin against Him, we become more attuned or aligned with Jesus in our journey with Him in this world.

Fourthly, as we become more attuned to God’s will and ways, we abide in Jesus who is the vine and nourishes/ supports us the branches to grow strong and healthy in Him.

We can thus direct our hearts to grow to be authentic God-honouring Christians. We intentionally take heed of God’s Word as the Holy Spirit transforms us in the way we think, and come to know God’s will for us (Rom 12:2).

The Christian journey is not a once-off event at baptism, but a life-long one with Christ alongside us, through trials and the vagaries of life, with hope, peace, joy and victory, while ever moving upwards toward the heavenly goal. Through it all, we persist in allowing God to transform our minds to know and obey God’s good and perfect will for us.

To God be the glory!

By sister Lee Yoke Kwang

I Press On Toward The Goal

by | Aug 2, 2020 | Lee Yoke Kwang, • Timely Word •

The goal 

The Apostle Paul said, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14). He counted everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (v. 8). Paul was very intentional in pressing on toward the heavenly goal of knowing Christ as his Lord, and called us to follow his example (v. 17). To know Christ is to know Him relationally; it is to know God in Christ, His word, attributes, promises and calling.

Eternal life is to know God in Christ

Knowing God the Father and the Son, and the Father’s will is not an option. Jesus Himself warns that those who do not know the Father’s will, will not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt 7:21-23). He describes eternal life as knowing God the Father and the Son (John 17:3), and we know the Father through the Son (14:7).

As Bruce Milne said, eternal life is “not so much everlasting life as knowledge of the Everlasting One.” Thus “salvation is not merely about knowing where we are going when we die; … It is about being fundamentally changed … so that the will of God can be done in our lives” (Ruth Haley Barton).

The promise of eternal life to believers, with their sins forgiven, is not just the life after death. It is the abundant kingdom life we can have from here on earth, as we are changed day by day in Christ, and it continues when we return home to Him forevermore.

Renewal of the mind

We change as we know Christ through His Word and the Holy Spirit, and submit to His will and do our part. In submitting to God’s ways, Paul called us not to be conformed to the ways of the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, then we will be able to discern what is the will of God – His good and acceptable and perfect will (Rom 12:2).

Our thought life matters because sinful behavioural streaks like anger, impatience, envy, self-centredness, etc. originate from our thought patterns. The way we perceive and understand things, and “the patterns of feeling, judging and determining, shape our actions and responses,” as Barton explained. Our thought patterns need to be sanctified in discipleship towards knowing God’s will and growing in Christ-likeness. This is the heavenly goal we want to press on to attain.

To live intentionally towards this heavenly goal 

For me, I had wasted years in the desert after my baptism. Without discipleship, I eventually fell away. By God’s grace, I came to join a discipleship group. It was at a very busy time in my career, but God enabled me to carve out time to have personal devotional time with His Word, and to journey weekly with others in the small group. I came to know “the worth of knowing Christ”, as Paul said. This changed my outlook on life and determined how I spent my time. I came to learn more and more what it meant to have the promised abundant life and contentment, no matter what the circumstances, knowing whose I am, why I am here, and where I am going when I leave this earth.

May we all continue to press on toward the goal of our heavenly calling in discipleship to know Christ and the will of God, and to enjoy the abundant life we can have in Christ Jesus until the day we see Him face to face.

By Sister Lee Yoke Kwang (YCKC Bulletin 2 August 2020)

A place of nurturing – Trusting God for daily bread

by | Apr 7, 2019 | Lee Yoke Kwang, • Timely Word •

The Israelites were in the wilderness. They were hungry with no food in sight. They complained and despaired that they would die of starvation (Exodus 16:2-3). Evidently, the Israelites did not consider God for their welfare. Yet, they had only recently received God’s providential care with their safe passage on dry ground through the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. They rejoiced in song and dance, praising God (Ex 14:5-15:21). Yet now, in their hunger, they did not look to God for help.

God knew the Israelites’ immediate plight, and rained manna for them – “It is the bread that the Lord has given them to eat” (16:15). God also knew they had a greater fundamental need – to learn to trust Him to provide for them, one day at a time. He instructed them to gather enough manna for each day, no more, no less (v. 4). However, some did not trust that God would give again the next day. They kept some for the following day, but the stale manna rotted and stank, and became inedible (v. 20).

What about us today? Would we find it easy to be reliant on God, and trust that He would provide again for tomorrow? Would we trust in Jesus Christ, the bread of life (John 6:35), to sustain us in our journey till we reach our eternal Promised Land? Would we heed His counsel “not to be anxious about tomorrow; but to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt 6:25-34)?

Like the Israelites, we too need to learn to trust God to provide for our daily needs. The place where God can thus nurture us, is in our devotional time with the Lord through His Word and in prayer.

As we do and obey His Word (c.f., Ex 16:4), we will increasingly learn to see God at work in our lives, and learn to trust Him for our needs. We learn not only in our personal devotion to Him, but also in discipleship and service in the community of believers for His kingdom’s sake.

The trials in our lives in this fallen world, be they personal, in sickness or in need, at work, or at home, are also places where God can nurture and strengthen our faith and trust in Him for both our physical and spiritual welfare. As Charles Spurgeon observes, “Perhaps the only way in which most men get their faith increased is by great trouble … Look at the old oaks; how is it that they have become so deeply rooted in the earth? … It is not the April shower that did it, or the sweet May sunshine, but it was March’s rough wind.” Trials in my life have indeed been places where my faith and trust in God deepened.

I must however add that trusting God does not mean letting go our God-given responsibilities to work for a living and to take care of ourselves and others. It means that we are never alone. God is our ever-present help in times of need (Ps 46:1), whatever our circumstances. Are we partaking the bread that the Lord has given us to eat, or are we struggling with no time for God? May we persevere in devotional time with our Lord, and let Him nurture and root us to be reliant on Him to give us our daily bread, and trust that He will again give us what we need tomorrow.

Lee Yoke Kwang