FIRST

"You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20)

Is it possible to say "I love you Jesus" and truly meant it from the deepest core of our being, and yet find it hard to put Him as our number one love in our life?

We make all kinds of choices daily. Deciding what to eat, which hawker centre should we have our meals; what to wear; to more complex and important decisions of whom we should marry. Maybe we do not realise, that making a choice to love Jesus and putting Him first above all things is also a daily decision.

You shall have no other gods before me. That's the first commandment. Whatever takes first place in our lives, that is the god we worship. It becomes the sorce of our self-worth and the ultimate consideration in decision making.

Martin Luther claims, "That to which your heart clings and entrusts itself is, I say, really your God."

"Your god, " according to J I Packer, "is what you love, seek, worship, serve and allow it to control you."

R Kent Hudges puts it that way, "There are two cateregories of people - true worshippers and true idolators - for all have a god."

Making the choice to give God first place is what the commandment is really all about. To give Him our undivided allegiance. At the core of our being, on the throne of our heart, there is room only for one. That place should be God and God's alone. But the reality of life is that many things compete for God's rightful place in our lives. As believers, it is obvious that we are mindful not to allow club memberships, money, cars, sex (more to mention) to dominate our lives. But subtly and without realising, we may have allowed our own preferences, perspectives, opinions, values and other relationships to take the preceding voice before God. How true it is to say it is the unobvious that we should be paying more attention to. And that is why in this first commandment, God challenges us not only to look at our perception of Who He is, but also at where we have placed our relationship with Him in our list of priorities.

I believe this commandment comes first is because it is foundation upon all of our responses to the other nine will be built. If God is first in our lives, we'll want to live to please Him. We'll listen closely to His instructions and we'll do our best to obey His commands. We make choices to live life His way, to follow His rules and to do what pleases and honours Him.

Someone developed a test using the word 'First' in helping us answering that question if God is number one in our lives or not?

F stands for the word Focus. Identify what occupies our thoughts most of the time. When we are winding down at night, when we get up in the morning, when we've got free time. What do we think about?

I is for Income. Where are you spending your money? Where you spend your money says volumes about our relationship with God. Jesus said, "where your treasure is, there your heart will also." (Matt 6:21)

R = Relationships. Our relationships with other people, how we treat and interact with others. Are we practicing forgiveness or bear grudges. The people we choose to hang out with, the people we choose to avoid and our reasons for drawing near or steering clear of others says a great deal about whether we have given God first place in our lives.

S is for Security. We need to question about our sense of security. The last time we felt inscure, when we needed some support or someone to lean, who did we first turn to? When we are struggling with fears and negative emotions, hurting and struggling, do we turn to God first, last or somewhere in between?

T represents Time. Did I do the things Jesus would have wanted me to do today? What we schedule in and schedule out in our daily routines clarify our life's priorities. Where does our attention and energy spend on?

For the past many years being a minister, I have the privilege of walking and journey with different people from different walks of life. Many times, these people are at the crossroads of making decisions that greatly determine their destiny. The only one question I seek to ask is "Where is God in this decision?"

I am not at my crossroad now. Yet there are still many 'unnoticed' and unobvious choices I have make every day. I want to make this daily decision to love Jesus and putting Him first above all things. And I trust that this verse do help me to stay abiding in Him and guarding myself against being judgemental.

'So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall." (1 Cor 10:12)

A Great Team!

"I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus." (1 Cor 1:4)

A businessman once quoted this statement, "Our most important customers are our own team members." I have also discovered that is also true in ministry.

Some of the most insightul and resourceful people I have known are the staff. Besides my dear family, they are the ones that I relate and work closely with. We fought many countless battles together. Laugh and wept together. Sticking closely as a team to get through some tough seasons. As a team, we seek to love, to learn and to grow intentionally as a team throughout these years.

Sincere affirmations always motivaes one to use their gifts even in greater ways. The team realises everyone plays a specific role. We grow to understand and appreciate the roles of others, placing individual rights below the team's best interest and learning to uphold persistent honour and stubborn love at all times. Of course, there are many occassions we are tested and tried. In occassions like this, we agreed to disagree without disengaging, learning to laugh at our own mistakes, separating the personal from the professional.

One of my good interntions turning actions is learning to appreciate the staff more. Many times, we pastors usually get the credit for something well done and highlighted. We are being appreciated and highlighted most of the time. In fact, it is the team that makes us pastors look so successful and great. We need to pass down the credit to the team who so deserving it.

A worth mentined example is the recent Yusheng Celebration at Pek Kio. There were Ps Sok Hwee and Karen who had taken leadership responsibility to motivate and challenge the leaders and members in this community blessing event. There was Lester who had diligently uploaded all 8 barrels of mineral water and fixed up the sound system. Sabrina and Candy, who laid out the refreshment spread. Jessica and JJ, who mobolized the youth in the distribution of helium balloons. Jennifer who played the excellent programme co-ordinator, alongside with an enthusisatic Wei Jie as his assistant. Ps Thomas and Fanny, our joyful emcees for the night, rentlessly hosting the crowd. Mary Ann who played an important part in conveying the event purpose to the church through broadcast. Roslyn leading the intercessors to pray. Finally, Thomas Franks, our video production specialist, indeed a specialist. That's the team who gets the credit!

I always thank God for you, staff team. Thank you for making me look great by being great! You are a wonderful team indeed!

the 3Rs of a Leader

"And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him." (2 Samuel 5:10)

When I first read this scripture in various version, I realised that David was growing greater and greater. And the scripture chose to use the word 'growing' instead of 'changing'. He grew great.

David was 36 years old when he became the king. He reigned 7 years and 36 months in Hebron (Judah) and 33 years in Israel and Judah. He was a king for 40 years.

In David's transition time as a king, he made changes. Unusual changes. He first touched the untouchables, the Jebusites. Without bloodshed, he easily had Jerusalem conquered and taken over. An ideal location in connecting northern Israel and southern Judah. This was a daring move.

We saw David had a Position changed. From a fugitive to a king. He had a Power change. From a king of Judah to a king of the whole nation of Israel. He had a Posture changed. His dependency on God is never compromised. His inquiring of the Lord is reflected throughout 2 Sam 5:17-25

It was interesting to note that David did not change for the sake of changing . He changed for the sake of growth. His kingdom grows, his fame grows, his dependency in God grows, his maturity grows. David grows.

As a leader of his people, he seeks to grow. He enlarged his embrace and lengthen his stride. David's life became more, not less. His life is robust in God, prayer and obedience. He lived passionately, love completely, learned humbly and leave boldly.

When we grow, in contrast to merely change, we venture into new terrority and include more people in our lives. We serve more and love more.

Sad to say, our culture is filled with changes but poor in growth. Models, developments, opportunities implemented merely to replace, not grow. Then new novelites are manufactured but soon, they wears out easily.

God's way is growth, not just changes. David's life reflected a series of transitions, changes, growth and maturity.

"And the LORD said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.' " (2 Sam 5:2)

David was a great leader and a shepherd of his people. He was not ego-driven like Saul. He ruled not by self power but with an inner rest.

I seek to grow and matrue in my leadership like David. As a leader, I have to keep questioning myself, "Am I drawn to the new changes or growth?"

David grew in his leadership in three areas - Resourcefulness; Resilience and Restedness. Important qualities for anyone who is called to be a leader.

A resourceful leader is a growing leader. He is more interested in making changes for the sake of growth and not protecting his own turf. He is quick to trumpet call what is of God and proclaim it without compromising.

Tears, courage and trials are common for a resilience leader. They are make for the long haul. This is a great training ground for character development.

A leader must learn to lead from inner rest. Rest comes from knowing God and resting in His will. Walking in His ways.

David at age 37 was greater than he was at 17. He grew greater and greater in God. Greatness can never be apart from God.