Lord’s Day, Vol. 2 No. 24
(1) Father’s Day
Every father who is a God-fearer and walks in His ways is blessed of God, as testified in Psalm 128, “1 A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. 5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.”
An obedient worshipper of the living God, he chooses to love the commandments of God and walk in them (v1, 4). The fear of God is a permeating virtue of the heart that results in blessings in all aspects of his life. He departs from evil. He hates sins and flees from temptations. He is patient under trial. He exercises faith and trusts in God’s deliverance.
His labour is blessed undergirded by integrity and diligence (v2). His family is fruitful, blessed with a virtuous wife and obedient children (v3). He is blessed with a fruitful church and nation (v4-5). He will see his children’s children and experiences God’s abiding peace (v6).
Blessed Father’s Day to all the fathers in our congregation!
(2) Charity Endureth All Things (1 Corinthians 13:7d)
The action word “to endure” consists of the preposition “under” and the verb “to remain”. “To remain under” is to persevere, to bear up under. It describes the biblical grace to “bear up” a load of adversities, persecutions or provocations. It is also a military term that means standing firm and holding a position at all cost. Biblical love does not buckle under trying circumstances. Whatever the storm may be in life, such love refuses to lose heart or falter. It does not stop loving. This is the capstone of Christ-likeness. It is not idealistic but a very realistic disposition of a child of God.
Our Lord Jesus sets for us the example par excellence. He endured all to go to the cross, to be crucified, mocked, scourged and finally to die. His endurance was not in vain for three days after Jesus died, He rose again, victorious.
The Apostle Paul also gave an account of the afflictions he endured for the sake of the gospel in 2 Corinthians 11:24-27, “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” Again he testified before his martyrdom, how God’s grace helped him to persevere as written in 2 Timothy 3:10-12, “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
In this earthly sojourn, there will be sufferings and afflictions to endure. However, there is victory in Jesus Christ. What tremendous encouragement for all suffering saints through the ages. We have the power to continue to love in spite of setbacks and afflictions. This love is supernatural. It is given by the Holy Spirit that indwells every believer, to overcome. God wants us to live that overcoming life through prayer and trusting in His Word. Charity endures all things is a reality, a victory that every child of God could experience. Dear readers, may charity abound in our lives. Amen.
Yours lovingly
Pr Lek Aik Wee