by Admin | Dec 6, 2024 | Shem Khoo, • Timely Word •
Mary’s Story
Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary as told in Luke 1:26-38 can be compared with his visit to Zechariah. There are striking parallels in both accounts – both were “troubled” when the angel Gabriel appeared to them:
- Gabriel gave them both the same reassurance – “Do not be afraid”
- Both were told of impending miraculous conceptions
- Both responded with a question that contained an element of incomprehension (Luke 1:18, 35)
Yet only one of them was admonished. Zechariah was punished with temporary muteness. The differing responses to Mary and Zechariah highlight some important aspects of faith, doubt and God’s response.
1. Mary’s question versus Zechariah’s doubt
- Mary asked, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” Her question expressed confusion, a desire for understanding, but not disbelief. She accepted the angel’s words and was willing to trust in God’s plan, even if she did not fully comprehend how this was humanly possible.
- Zechariah’s question, on the other hand, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced well in years” betrayed his doubt, skepticism and lack of faith in God’s power.
2. Faith as the Central Theme
- Mary’s response represents a model of faith and trust in the Almighty God despite not being able to humanly comprehend how God’s plan could manifest itself – a model of simple, child-like faith, obedience and submission that all of us believers can learn from. This is underscored by her response, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
- Zechariah, on the other hand, displayed a moment of faithlessness, despite being a priest and a righteous man – both he and his wife Elizabeth were described as “righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.” The manner in which he questioned Gabriel suggests that Zechariah was making the statement, “This is impossible; show me how it is possible!”
3. God’s Personalised Response
The differing responses to Mary and Zechariah demonstrate that God deals with each of us uniquely, addressing the condition of our faith, hearts and personal circumstances.
- Little is known of Mary’s background and upbringing. But it is most likely that, as with most young women of her time, she had no education and formal religious training. Yet, she displayed a child-like faith and belief in our miraculous God. Furthermore, her heart of obedience and willingness to submit cannot be understated, especially in light of the cultural norms of her time. God’s response to her condition was a reassuring, gentle and detailed explanation of the divine conception that was to take place in her womb.
- On the other hand, Zechariah was a priest, who might have been expected to respond with faith to the announcement, especially given the parallels to stories of miraculous births in Scripture – Sarah and Isaac, Hannah and Samuel – stories that a priest would be well-familiar with. Zechariah’s disbelief in a miraculous God was corrected by another miracle. God instantly muted him and made him unable to speak until the birth of John, no doubt giving him time to reflect on and repent from his disbelief and lack of faith.
May we all learn from Mary’s simple faith in and submission to God. May we never take for granted or be desensitised to the many daily miracles that God places around us – the miracle of life, the daily rising and setting of the sun, the functioning of our bodies. And may we daily be convicted that we serve and worship the God of miracles.
By Deacon Shem Khoo
by Admin | Nov 25, 2022 | Shem Khoo, • Timely Word •
The idea of a farm stay holiday has long appealed to me – that is until the day I visited a farm myself. As an urbanite unaccustomed to farm life, I found myself overwhelmed by the dirt, grime, and smells all around me. The images I had of myself nibbling crumpets and sipping tea surrounded by quaint farmhouses and stables were quickly lost when I was confronted by the smell of the stable before me – it smelled just like a stable. And as I stood there taking in these new sights and smells, I came to a disappointing realization that some things were far nicer when viewed and appreciated from a distance.
As Christmas approaches, my mind is brought back to another farm scene. The Gospel of Luke records that Jesus was born in a manger, probably amongst animals. His first visitors were shepherds, out in the field keeping watch over their flock, suggesting to me that this was a farm located out in the countryside. This is a remarkable thought – that our King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Son of God himself, would leave His Father and heavenly throne to be born in the humblest of circumstances.
Our omnipotent and omniscient God could have designed so many other ways to save us. It is hard to fathom why He would choose the most difficult way. Couldn’t God have dealt with the problem of sin from a distance? Was there a need to break the eternal union between Father and Son, to leave the glory of heaven, to take the hardest path?
Yet, He chose not to do so from a distance. Christ chose to come to this earth to live amongst us, to touch the lives of man, including the weakest, the despised and the destitute. And His entire earthly ministry began with His humble birth in a farm – one that was probably filled with dirt and grime and unpleasant smells – foreshadowing the type of earthly ministry He chose to undertake in his 33 years on earth. What an amazing truth we can cling on to; what a wondrous Saviour we worship!
Our increasingly uncertain world is filled with pain, suffering and strife. In the midst of this, I am comforted by the knowledge that the God I worship is One who not only sees our everyday struggles from heaven, but One who came to us to endure infinitely more than any other human being, and overcame the world. He is not One who loves from afar, but One who walks with us, carries our burdens, and gives us strength to overcome.
– by brother Shem Khoo
by Admin | Nov 26, 2021 | Shem Khoo, • Timely Word •
I lost a friend to suicide this year. The news of his passing came as a huge shock for me. This was a charismatic man who, outwardly at least, loved life, loved his kids, and seemingly had most things going his way. For many nights I tossed and turned in bed, deeply troubled by the issues that could have driven him to this tragic end, the pain and despair he must have felt in his last moments, and the anguish and devastation this his children must have felt when they heard the news.
I received news that another friend was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. The news of his illness was a shock to everyone close to him – except for a persistent cough, he was seemingly healthy. I can only imagine the anxiety and confusion that must be afflicting the family during this period.
There is so much unseen pain, sickness, and suffering all around us. Perhaps more than ever, we see the world more acutely as it is – cursed, afflicted, and condemned by sin. One of the problems with pain and suffering is that it is always personal to the person experiencing it.
We might say that we understand what another is going through; we try to empathise. But can we truly understand the pain that another is going through without being in the same position as him or her? For this reason, I am often at a loss as to what to say when I hear of a friend going through a period of grief and suffering.
Yet, as Christians, we know that there is one who truly understands and one who cares. Jesus knows and fully understands the deepest personal grief and fears that each of us face, because He carried the weight of this sinful world upon Himself:
“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.” Isaiah 53:4
Not only does our Lord understand, but the Bible also tells us that He wants us to hand over to Him all our cares, troubles and fears. Scripture is very clear on this:
“[cast] all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
In a world blighted by sin, chaos, and dysfunctionality, we have a Saviour who has overcome the world, gently reaching out His hand and saying, “Come to me… and I will give you rest”. What a wonderful assurance we have as Christians, that we can daily lay at the cross all our griefs, pain and ailments, and hand all of it to the only one who triumphed at the cross and overcame the world.
Perhaps more than ever, I view the cross and all it stands for as an ever-dependable crutch that I can lean on, and one that I can cling to in a world that is fundamentally lame.
by brother Shem Khoo
by Admin | Nov 29, 2020 | Shem Khoo, • Timely Word •
The upcoming December school holidays will be the first time in a long time that many of us in Singapore are not traveling out of the country for our year-end holidays. My own children have lamented that they have missed out on all their trips this year and were rather distraught when we recently informed them that we also had to cancel our December holiday plans too.
In this new age of excessive consumerism, we often measure our sense of fulfilment and happiness on the scale of what we acquire, where we can go and what we can do. Birthdays or special occasions are incomplete without presents; rest times are unfulfilled without electronic devices; holiday seasons are hollow without overseas trips.
Yet, the Bible reminds us to find rest in Him and value in things of heaven:
‘”For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me.” Jeremiah 31:25-26
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3: 1-2.
I find that it is a constant challenge to live out these truths daily. Thus, I personally feel that the government-imposed restrictions on travel are timely, and a good opportunity for my family and I to reflect and recharge, as well as to reconsider matters that should really be of value, without the hustle and bustle and excitement of overseas travel. To this end, I plan to do the following simple things in the upcoming holiday season:
- Set aside time each week to commune with the Lord and to find rest in His presence.
- Lead the family in the time-honored practice of memorizing Scripture.
- Participate in one family activity where we can “love our neighbors” as a family and be a blessing to them.
- Spend time outdoors to appreciate God’s handiwork and creation even in our city-state. Indeed, God’s creation is varied and marvelous – we can all learn to marvel at all of God’s creation daily. Singapore may not have majestic snow-capped mountains, but God’s brilliant handiwork can be equally seen in a humble but intricate spider’s web or a delicately designed and subtly perfumed flower petal in the neighborhood park.
And even as my family and I look forward to our next overseas holiday when our borders open up, I pray that this month of reflection spent together in Singapore will stir our hearts to look forward even more to the greater glory that awaits all of us who put out trust in Him:
“But, as it is written, “…no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him” – 1 Corinthians 2:9
By Brother Shem Khoo
by Admin | Nov 10, 2019 | Shem Khoo, • Timely Word •
Matthew 10:34 does not make for easy reading. In fact, this verse seems counter-intuitive and appears to challenge the very characteristics that I love to associate with Jesus – the Gracious and Gentle Shepherd, the Loving Saviour, the Forgiving Son of God. After all, He is the Prince of Peace and Wonderful Counselor. It is, therefore, almost jarring to my senses to read Jesus’s own proclamation – “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
Truth be told, this is a verse that I have read over many times, but it has been far more comfortable for me to retain these words as mere head knowledge, instead of letting them sink into my heart. Writing this devotional passage has, however, compelled me to reflect deeper into these words, and to reconcile them with the Jesus that I know.
Jesus’s love is freely given but demanding all at once
There is no membership fee to be paid to join the Christian faith. Indeed, Jesus paid it once, and He paid it all for all, regardless of whether we choose to follow Him and receive His love. But if we should choose to follow Him, the cost of following Him and the expectations of membership are high and extremely demanding. That is the reality of His membership model.
What do I prioritise over my love of God?
I am a peace-loving person. I have been blessed with a relatively peaceful relationship with my wife and family. I love the idea of living a life of peace and tranquillity and I am, frankly, easily enticed by the notion that the Christian life affords harmony and serenity. It is therefore very easy for me to think that a peaceful life is what God wants for me. Jesus’s words, however, remind me that the ultimate purpose for laying down His life was to make peace between God and humanity, even if at the expense of peace on earth in this life. Peace with God was His mission, not peace on earth.
Indeed, so long as this sinful world exists, we can expect that the Gospel will bring division, and proponents of the Gospel will face much opposition and strife. No one likes to be called a sinner. The truth exposed by the Gospel is, however, that everyone is sinful and fundamentally lame. This is not a palatable message that is easily embraced, especially in an ever-increasingly politically-correct, feel-good, self-loving world. Quite the contrary, Jesus foreshadows the inevitable deep conflict that will exist between His followers and those who oppose Him or do not yet know Him. The reality of the Gospel is that it pierces the conscience of man. Jesus demands that we love God more than everything else that we hold dear – whether it be our jobs, our relationships with friends and family, and even ourselves.
The Gospel is a sword – am I prepared to carry its piercing message that will scar the hearts of men? Do I love Him sufficiently to daily carry His cross? Because such is the love that Jesus demands. Yet, when I consider the magnitude of Jesus’s love for me – that He, the King of Kings, should submit Himself to death on the cross for me – is it unreasonable that He demands that I place Him first in my heart?
May we all be willing to bear the cross daily for Jesus. And may we all resolve to do so out of love for Him.
By Shem Khoo, Deacon (YCKC Bulletin 17 November 2019)
by Admin | Aug 18, 2018 | Shem Khoo, • Timely Word •
While I was reviewing various sources of Christian literature to find a definition of authenticity that resonated with me, I came across an article which cited Ephesians 4:22-24, calling believers… “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Authenticity in the Christian context is the degree of our brokenness and our adornment in God’s grace. An authentic person is one who is both, privately and publicly, putting off the old self and, by God’s grace, putting on the renewed self.
Being an authentic Christian does not mean being a perfect one. Far from it. We are broken vessels, prone to sin and folly. And God knows we are such. But when our conduct falls short, we should be quick to admit it, seek forgiveness and get back in step with Christ. An authentic Christian fully embraces the grace of God and should also be quick to give His grace to others. We need God’s grace when we err. Equally, we need to readily demonstrate God’s grace to others when we are wronged.
So what steps can we take to start possessing authenticity? Three much-loved and familiar hymns come to mind to help us chart the path towards authenticity.
“Search me O God and know my heart today”
A good starting point is to regularly put into practice the words of Psalm 139:23-24: “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!”
The natural consequence of putting these words into practice is that when we prayerfully examine ourselves, our thoughts and our conduct, we come to a greater realisation of our own brokenness and failings. And when we lay our ruins at the cross and seek to be made whole again by the redemptive blood of the Lamb, we grow in greater appreciation of our constant need for God’s abiding grace.
“Count your blessings, name them one by one”
We complain, whine and gripe too often. I believe that if we dedicate some time each day to count our blessings and give thanks, we will slowly but surely develop a very different outlook to life. Through this process, I am growing in realisation that all that I have or have achieved are, in truth, blessings from the Father. And as I grow in appreciation of my status as a beneficiary of providence, I learn humility and I desire God’s favour more deeply.
“Tell out my soul, the greatness of the Lord”
We are a forgetful people. I believe that the hymn writer calls us to “tell out… the greatness of the Lord”, not only to edify the hearers of our stories, but also to serve as constant reminders of the “unnumbered blessings” showered upon us each day. In my personal experience, not many people are really interested to hear of my achievements! A boast often begets a boast from the listener and the conversation soon descends in that direction. On the other hand, when I share short anecdotes of how God has blessed me, I sense that people listen to me! This also leads them to share the blessings they have experienced, and the body of Christ is edified in the process.
When we constantly speak of His love, His acts and His blessings, our focus shifts from “I” to “Him”, and we progress in our journey of “put[ting] on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness”. We become more accessible to others, our narratives become more compelling and we impact more lives for His sake.
By Shem Khoo, Deacon (YCKC Bulletin 18&19 August 2018)
