Loving one another​

by | Feb 9, 2021 | Wang Dan Dan, • Timely Word •

“10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:10-15)​

I would never have imagined that the Lord would choose Saul, a persecutor of His church, as His instrument to carry His name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. Likewise, I can never fathom that the Lord would choose me, such a sinner who so frequently sins against Him, to be His ambassador. Sometimes, I feel helplessly trapped in my own sin. But I know, like how the Lord never wanted Saul to perish, He is still holding onto me. ​

Many times, we see not only our own failures again and again, but also our loved ones’ or friends’ or colleagues’ wrongdoings repeated over and over. It is easy to be discouraged or give up. But will you join me to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith – and our loved ones, friends and colleagues’ faith as well?​

 “26 And when he (Saul) had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.” (Acts 9:26-28)​

We each have our own thorns which can be from our past or the present. I pray that God’s love will bind us closer even when it hurts at times, and we shall grow together as a united family, leaving no one behind. ​

By Sister Wang Dan Dan​

How often must I forgive?

by | Feb 9, 2020 | Wang Dan Dan, • Timely Word •

“Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”

In Judaism, forgiving three times showed a generous spirit. Believing that he has been particularly kind, Peter asked the above question.

“It depends on what sin, big or small… …”

“It depends on which brother, your close friend or new comer… …”

“It depends on how severe your hurt is… …”

“It depends on how you feel, take your time if you don’t feel like forgiving him… …”

These are the answers I wish to hear. But Jesus answered “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

When it comes to forgiveness, there is no bargain. Just forgive! It sounds very harsh and super hard. To forgive three times is barely doable to me. I can’t imagine to be like Peter forgiving as many as seven times. But God’s command is to forgive countless times!

Oh God, I need You.

We often think forgiveness is given only to those who deserve it. Those who deserve it are those who apologize and seek forgiveness.

One of my best friends and sisters-in-Christ did apologize for her provoking attitude and sought my forgiveness years ago. However, I chose not to forgive and harboured anger for two weeks, thinking that she didn’t deserve it. 

During those two weeks, I was reading the book “More Pastoral Reflections” by Pastor William Wan. One day, I read “… forgiveness is about liberating oneself from the burden of sin and becoming free again to be the person God wants us to be. I used to think otherwise, that the forgiving is for the other person. How wrong I was! As long as I am unwilling to forgive, I am a prisoner of my own sin of unforgiveness and continue to be less useful than what God expects of me.” The words pierced through my heart convicting me of my sin of unforgiveness. The only thought at that moment was: I mustn’t harbour this sin for one more second. I closed the book, knelt down, and earnestly cried: “God, You must help me, I can’t do it. I don’t want to sin against You for one more second.” So desperate for God’s deliverance that I kept on praying, praying, and praying…  Suddenly I both heard and felt a non-audible sound of my heart being set free! God helped me to forgive just like that.

Unforgiveness is detrimental to our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness. Forgiveness liberates us to love again. It’s not easy, but there is no other way except to forgive. When we strive to obey the Lord, He will make a way. Many times I find myself still struggling in forgiving, but I know it’s worth it. And God’s grace is always sufficient. Don’t give up, my dear brothers and sisters.

Our Father in heaven, thank You for Your immeasurable mercy unto us which we can never pay back. As true beneficiaries of Your amazing grace, help us to put our excuses, emotions, and reasoning under Your Lordship. Empower us as we desire to pay it forward through Your mercy. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. In Jesus Name. Amen.

By Wang Dandan (YCKC Bulletin 9 February 2020)

The Compassion of Christ

by | Sep 15, 2019 | Wang Dan Dan, • Timely Word •

Matthew 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

When Jesus saw the crowds, he chose to see their harassment and helpless state, and he had compassion on them. It was not written: Jesus saw the crowds, and he had condemnation for them, because they were sinful and wretched. Followed by Jesus’ compassion was His action of sending out His disciples to the crowds to rescue them.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Christ is compassionate enough to reach out to us in whichever state we are in. He came to me when I was in the darkness and rescued me into the light 11 years ago. Since the 2nd quarter of this year, I have been struggling with confusion and was in a lost state. I started to doubt the way I pursued God for the past 11 years and was stuck in a dilemma of not knowing how to live my life.

I didn’t desire to draw near to Him; I feared that He was angry with me. But the Lord was never far away. There was a deep cry in my heart (I believe it’s from God): no matter how I struggle, help me, Lord, not to deny You. I shared my journey with brothers and sisters in Christ who were praying for me. Slowly, peace replaced the fear in my heart. I started to desire to draw near to Him. His very own presence in my struggles and falls, comforts me. He knew my every sin and yet He chose to see my harassment and helpless state; He had compassion on me and worked everything together for my good.

My dear brothers and sisters, let’s embrace the compassionate Lord in our struggles. When we desperately need Him, He compassionately never leaves us nor forsakes us; when we desperately want to hide from Him, He still compassionately never leaves us nor forsakes us. Whichever state you are in, turn to Him, embrace His presence now and struggle together with Him.

Dear Lord, thank You for having compassion on each one of us regardless of our state. You, the Lord of our life, want to save us, not to condemn us. Forgive our trespasses and empower us to embrace You wherever we are. Compel us to have compassion on the “crowd”, to see their harassment and helpless state, not their sins or wretchedness, and send us to them to preach good news of the kingdom and heal every disease and sickness. In Jesus’ compassionate Name I pray. Amen.

By Sister Wang Dan Dan (YCKC Bulletin 15 September 2019)