20121223

The year 2012 is quickly coming to an end and we will be finishing soon our pulpit studies on the complete book of Hebrews. In Heb. 12:1, 2 there are 2 thoughts on running the Christian race.

“Let us” – speaks of united action, as a community of Christians. Our Elder Francis Maniam shared with us at our 2011 Watchnight Service what he hoped to see in 2012. We are not alone but are part of the Christian family in Bethesda (Katong). Heb. 10:25 teach: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching”. We meet each Sunday for breaking of bread, for fellowship and study of the Bible. We get together in various Care Groups for study of the Bible, prayer, personal sharing, mutual encouragement and fellowship. We gather regularly for our Church prayer meetings. Question: In 2012, were there more intentional efforts made to “meet together”? “Fix your eyes on Jesus” – means to focus your eyes on the Bible. Question: in 2012, did you have more intentional efforts to hear, read, study and memorise verses/passages in the Bible?

The reason why we put much emphasis to “meet together” and dig into the Bible is that the conviction of the Christian faith runs counter culture to the world system. Throughout the book of Hebrews, the writer encouraged the Christian community to hold fast to faith and all its demands. In the spiritual race of life we have many distractions along the way and we need to “fix our eyes on Jesus”. In the words of the Apostle Paul we “press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”(Phil. 3:14). Some of the Hebrew Christians faltered and some among us may have stopped pressing forward. The hearers/readers of Hebrews were drifting towards the passive, settler mentality. They were comfortable in the world and forgot they were pilgrims only – “For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come” (Heb. 13:14). Let us ride on the momentum in 2012 and continue to press on in 2013. Always:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace