Lord’s Day, Vol. 2 No. 25

(1) A Foretaste of Heaven

Psalm 133:1 “A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

The first Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church Camp was held from 12 to 14 June at Traders Hotel in Puteri Habour, Johor Bahru, located near the Tuas link. There were 50 campers. Thank God for safety granted to all campers throughout the camp. Our camp doctor, Dr. Lynn Yeo, was at hand to attend to campers’ medical needs.

Our camp theme was “Jesus is the Joy of Living”. There were 5 theme messages – Jesus is Creator (Proverbs 8:22-31), Jesus is Sustainer (Hebrews 1:1-3; John 15:1-11), Jesus is Saviour (Luke 15:1-32), Jesus is Intercessor (Hebrews 7:25) and Jesus is Rewarder (Revelation 22:12-13).

Elder Paul Tsao and Elder Siow Chai Sheng shared in the morning devotions on the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) and Our Ebenezer (1 Samuel 7:1-12) respectively.

CD recordings of our camp messages will be made available soon.

Thank God for our camp committee led by William Oh (Camp Master) and Richard Yeo (Assistant Camp Master) who took care of our campers’ needs. Thank God for enabling Phoebe Oh who came up with a beautiful design which was used for the camp T-shirt, banner and booklet cover.

Our camp photographers were Lois and Lucas Lek, and Heather and Bryan Yeo. Thank God for helping Lois Lek to put together a 10-minute video that captured our wonderful time at camp.

Breakfast was a good buffet spread at the hotel’s café. Lunch and dinner were at Hakka restaurant Ying Ker Lou which provided sumptuous meals for all campers.

Testimony time was spontaneous and heart-warming, with many sharing and praising God for His goodness. We thank God for a blessed time of studying God’s Word and fellowship. As Mrs. Siow testified, there was a spirit of “like-mindedness” among the campers.

As the 2014 church camp draws to a close, we are led to consider an early booking of the same campsite, God willing, for a June 2015 camp. Please pray as we plan!

(2) “Seek Me Early” (Proverbs 8:17)

“Seek me early” is thought for our meditation taken from Proverbs 8:17 which reads, “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” The Lord speaks to His children instructing them the secret to receiving spiritual blessings.

There are two thoughts that run parallel in this proverb that reveal to us the secret for finding God’s blessings. They are a passion for the LORD in verse 17a and a priority for Him in verse 17b.

(a) A Passion for the LORD (17a)

Verse 17a reads “I love them that love me.” This verse speaks of the mutual affection of the believer and his LORD. This verse does not tell us that the LORD does not love us if we do not love Him for it contradicts His very character for God is love (1 John 4:8b). God’s love for His people is constant, consistent and complete. It suffers no lack. It is at its fullness all the time. It is God’s love that brings blessings to His obedient people and it is also God’s love that brings chastisement to His wayward people.

Rather, this verse tells us how God’s love is manifested in the lives of His children who love Him. It pleases the LORD to receive His children’s devotion. It begets more love.

What the writer of proverbs is emphasizing here in the light of verse 17b is that this love is a passion in the heart of His people that causes him to seek His LORD early. It is a love that manifests itself in true devotion and there is a drive that makes this love active and productive. It produces a reciprocal response from the LORD, in spiritual blessings. How does His children show love to their LORD?

It is by the devotion of their hearts in prayer and the praises of their lips for all that He has bestowed upon them. In love, His children count their blessings. Love is manifested in a grateful heart of thanksgiving. The Book of Psalms is the bible’s book of praise. In it, we learn how love can be expressed to our God. Take time to read and learn from it.

(b) A Priority for Him (v17b)

Verse 17b is a consequence of that passion for the LORD in filial devotion at the earliest possible moment, “and those that seek me early shall find me”. Dear friends, how is your devotional life? How is your quiet time? Is it a rush or a relish?

Do you spend time communing with Him before you commune with the world each day? Or do you rush head on to the business of the day without first consulting Him? Is your life run your way or God’s way? There is an intensity in the Hebrew verb “to seek” that must be emphasized which tells us of a heart burning for the LORD

It enables one to wake up earlier before the rush hour so that he is able to keep his quiet hour with his LORD. This act of devotion brings with it a promise. The promise that he will find His LORD’S blessing, he will receive spiritual wisdom that triumphs over worldly wisdom.

As the child of God commune with his LORD through His written Word and through prayer, the divine Holy Spirit manifests its power in ordering the day’s activities aright. His child can attest in thanksgiving that it is good to seek Him early for He was found to be with him through the waking hours. Dear friends, is this your experience too? May the LORD help us. Amen.

Yours lovingly,
Pr. Lek Aik Wee