“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matt 22:37-40
What we are planning and doing in Church – the worship service, sermons, our Intentional Discipleship Process (LEAD, AIM, SG), etc is for the main purpose of bringing us closer to God. This is to add permanence in our observance of the great commandment. Not to love God or love Him less is not an option. The command is very clear – we are to love Him with our whole being. God’s love towards us is active. He watches over us, protects, directs, provides, comforts, heals and speaks to us. We can add on to this list. Often we take for granted His shepherding presence. Sometimes we even wish He is not present when we are sinning. And most times, we just ignore Him.
Couples know that to make a relationship significant, both must actively love each other – spending time together, knowing, understanding, caring and pleasing one another. It is commonsense that a relationship will never amount to much with a passive partner.
This basic understanding of human relationship extends to our relationship with God. Is it a one-sided affair? How well do you know the Lover of your soul? Do you desire a significant relationship with the Lord?
Last Sunday, Elder Kiat Hoe prayed for a transformation of our lives in this New Year. Can I encourage you to purposefully and actively pursue a significant relationship with God?
Nothing of significance will be achieved without a purpose. To improve, one cannot just dream big; one needs to work on that dream. Without hard work, dreaming purposefully remains a dream. Nothing changes.
Don’t know how to proceed? Deut 4:29 says “if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Start with the Bible and stick with the Bible.
Some who are of slow mind like me and find it hard to understand scripture, I urge you to persevere with understanding the basics of scripture. Invest in a set of good commentary (I find the 2 volumes ‘The Bible Knowledge Commentary’ by John Walvoord and Roy Zuck a great help.) Don’t look for exciting books or listen to charismatic speakers. I am not objecting to them per se but I want to encourage you to focus on building a solid foundation of your biblical knowledge. Then you will find other stuff interesting because you are able to discern what’s good, bad or ugly.
In 2016, shall we put “intentionality” back into our lives to regain, restore and rediscover GOD as the first love of our lives?
May the Spirit be with you.
By Shi Pau Soon, Elder (YCKC Bulletin 16&17 January 2016)