Psalm 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be reverenced of all them that are about Him.
If coming to Church on every Lord’s Day is important to us, the subject of reverence in the Worship Service must also occupy an important place in our hearts.
What is the atmosphere that we look forward to in Church prior to the Worship Service? Are we earnest in desiring to see a greater degree of reverence to the Lord by our early arrival, with a prepared heart? Late coming to God’s House is to be discouraged; but coming with a light-hearted spirit and yet claiming to know that God occupies the place with His special and unique presence is also a cause for concern. We have not only failed to grasp what reverential worship is, but have failed to see the attributes of God and who He is as well.
On entering God’s House, have we a heart that desires quiet moments and after worship, a heart that is overwhelmed with the beauty of holiness? In the run-up to the pre-worship singing, what will our conversation be if we are conversing with our neighbour? To check with one another on health and family issues; or where to eat after the Worship Service, and rather not to spend time for self-examination of our spiritual condition and ponder deeply on the love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts? To the sincere and earnest worshippers, what a disappointment it will be when there are unnecessary voices which are hindering them from a few precious moments of waiting on the Almighty.
Firstly, it must be remembered that we are examples of instilling a reverent and godly attitude before God to our children or the children in our midst. Chairpersons and speakers are not blameless when they hold the congregation longer than they should have, and not having to blame the congregation for their restlessness and inattentiveness in worship.
Secondly, we rarely see people dressing up casually to go to a wedding or a funeral because they know that such occasions call for a more formal attire than in ordinary times. Should we be less formal when we are gathered to worship our God, the Almighty? A strict rule of how we should be attired is not necessary; however our attire should reflect the purpose for which we are to come together if the worship of God is to us a glorious occasion.
This article is not aimed to hurt any of your feelings or to have you to think that coming to Church is without joy and delight. It is to encourage one another that we may bring out our best attitude and behavior in the worship, to the end that God be glorified. Can we say with David, I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the House of the LORD? #
Y is for YesterYears
My privy desire to revisit MediaCorp (Part 2)
Less than pleasant memories about my time at SBC Childcare Centre include:
* Verbal squabbles with peers (the handful of boys and girls whose behaviour I perceived as being selfish, and thus I could not communicate/interact cordially with them)
* Educational tasks (I disliked copying Chinese characters, as well as numerical. Most melancholic was the tedious, unalluring repetition!)
* Unappetizing food during tea breaks (specifically red bean soup, red bean paste buns and pancakes; I remember, however, being rewarded with a sticker when I finished my pancake successfully once – this strategy worked at that time!)
* Punishments (including standing beside the wall, deprivation of play time; several times, I remember rubbing my eyes till they were red whenever I cried and shed tears)
At about 5½ years old, all of my same-aged peers left, except for 2 other girls. I still do not know why. But for the next 1 year or so, I developed a good rapport with those 2 companions, hence I felt more comfortable with my social environment, and was able to demonstrate a more adaptive and better behaviour coping. The 3 of us got along very well!
Then disaster struck. Mother had a very high fever—almost 42°C! She had to be hospitalised for a period longer than 6 months. It was a wearisome time for Father, who had to shoulder the extra responsibilities left by Mother, especially in the care of me. I enjoyed the regular trips made to SGH though. Not long after, it was time to say goodbye to SBC childcare centre. I was placed in Bedok Lutheran childcare centre for another memorable, but short, stint.
Thank God, Mother recovered over time. For a few weeks, after graduation from kindergarten 2, she with some food, only to return during lunch time with more food. Apart from food, she also gave me about a dozen Mathematics problem sums (which were a chore) to occupy the time (to counteract boredom), or perhaps, with a practical and concerned motive of toughening my Mathematical abilities for Primary 1! During those hours, I was frequently showered with food from staff of other departments – many of whom Mother did not even know – with plenty of snacks.
Reflection
A child’s main meaningful, daily life activity is play. Occupational Therapists have found that purposeful play promotes social interaction, object recognition, exploration, self-expression and problem-solving, among other skills essential for successful transition to later stages of life. Despite adversities described, for example, being bullied by peers who teased and insulted, God provided in His own good timing.
Blessings ranging from cordial friends to dainties to favoured possessions (to a child, being able to have his favourite toy is like having gold to him), to human abilities (to a child, being able to play at a playground, feed independently, excel in spelling and counting, etc.) are quantified in the realm of the carnal, mortal nature, more often causing us to correlate our level of satisfaction and joy with them.
What I had lacked during all those years was the knowledge of God and His Word. In Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus affirmed that “heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away”. It would be foolish of me to even contemplate of daydreaming to relive the good times then, in comparison to the present. Having and only with an intimate, personal relationship with Christ, can one at this time “greatly rejoice”, even “though now for a season, if need be… in heaviness through manifold temptations” (1 Peter 1:6).
In 1 Corinthians 13:11, the apostle Paul illustrated the most precious gift (charity) one should strive to inherit in this manner: “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Children need to play and need to acquire the basic skills to care for independently for oneself, just as a newborn babe in Christ ought to “desire the sincere milk of the word”, to grow (out of his former depraved nature) (1 Peter 2:2); but in Hebrews (most likely written by Paul), the author exhorts the reader that milk are for babes, and “every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness… But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” One’s inner man should show an increasing understanding in the Word of everlasting life the older he gets and the more he matures in the faith. New knowledge, skills and behaviours are expected of the ‘adult Christian’, in comparison to one new to the faith!
I thank God however, for preserving a precious residue from childhood – childlike faith – as Christ explained what saving faith is in Mark 10:15, “Verily (truly, undoubtedly) I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” (This instance is also recorded in Matthew and Luke).
Back to the present
It was past 9 by the time Caleb and I descended back to the foot of Olive
Road. Time for breakfast! We proceeded to a coffee shop not too far away. Satisfied from the savour of the trip, we discussed several lessons we learnt during the morning hike while simultaneously tucking into our prawn noodles:
Joelson: (with regret peering into the past), declared: “In Christ, I already have everything, there’s nothing that I lack!”
Caleb: (nodding), replied: “Yes”.
Caleb: (displaying empathy from my sharing and as he reflected on his personal past for a moment), reiterated: “We have everything already” (and rightly expressed), “now it is a question of how we could repay Him for so much he has given us”
Conclusion
If it be the Lord’s will, I would surely be able to pass through the sentry (which Caleb and I were not allowed to step beyond) somewhere in the future. And I will definitely relish fully every moment spent there of seeing how SBC has changed from then! I am also keen to be able to meet those 2 female companions whom I was blessed with, Pei En and Woon Nia – I am quite sure I spelt their names correctly – to reminiscence about auld lang syne (the good old times). Where can I look for them? How do they even look like now? Will I ever meet them again, if so, when? God willing, I would also use that opportunity with equal keenness in sharing with them the gospel, if they are not saved.
Brother Joelson
