Each one of us has been created for a purpose; the righteous end up declaring God’s praise through their lives, while the wicked await punishment on the day of trouble (Prov 16:4, Is 43:21). The question of one’s purpose for living is of principal importance, and should be overlooked at one’s own peril. Paul the Apostle was constantly articulating and making clear what he recognized as his purpose – to preach the gospel to Gentiles (Rom 15:18-19, Col 1:24-25). He then takes liberty with moral authority to deliberately encourages and stir up his junior colleagues to “fulfill the ministry”; Timothy and Archippus receive similar instructions in the same words (2Tim 4:5, Col 4:17). Ron Kenoly once had a quotation on his website that read, “There is nothing more satisfying than to know you are where God wants you to be”. Having served in the US Air force and as Music Pastor as well as international Worship Leader, he had traveled the world, and he found no better place. Johnny Cash was another renowned singer-songwriter, actor and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. He was a troubled but devout Christian; he made a spoken word recording of the entire New King James Version of the New Testament. About satisfaction he said, “I have tried drugs and a little of everything else, and there is nothing in the world more soul-satisfying than having the kingdom of God building inside you and growing.” One...

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013! I welcome you to this new year – another clear indicator of the new season reality. God has been our help in ages past, and He is our hope for years to come. In this year, the Lord extends the concern about His people. The episode of disciples rebuking those who had brought children to Jesus for prayer and blessings prompted our Saviour to explicitly give the vital instruction, “Let the little children come to me”. Jesus received little children, and hence was consistent with God the Father who gave circumcision to father Abraham with his present and future children as a sign of the covenant (Gen 17:11-12). Jesus was himself entered into this covenant through circumcision when he was a little child – eight days old (Luke 2:21). For our application in today’s Church, let me share four categories of people about whom Jesus says “Let them come to me” – this is our mission imperative this year: 1. The lambs: These, according to John Gill, are the younger and more tender part of the flock, weak believers, Christ’s little children, newborn babes, the day of small things, which are not to be despised, the bruised reed that is not to be broken, and the smoldering wick that is not to be quenched. To Simon Peter Jesus said, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15). They are to be nourished, comforted, and strengthened, by feeding them with the milk of the Gospel, and by administering to them...

What do you see? It is the third Sunday in Epiphany – a season in which we commemorate the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles; this season will end when we start Lent on Ash Wednesday. When they saw the bright new star, those wise men from the East actually saw a deeper significance and they followed it until they got to the manger in Bethlehem. Many people had the opportunity to look into the same sky, many might even have seen the star; but the wise men saw the deeper significance, a bigger revelation, a life giving discovery – a new born King. In the same way, while many people did not bother about the young man from Nazareth who was attending a prophet’s teaching, John the Baptist saw and pointed him out as the Lamb of God! John saw what others were not able to see; to John was revealed the unique identity of this one member of his congregation, who had been baptized a few days earlier. Two disciples were only seeing a mere man, but when they heard he was the Lamb of God, they transferred their allegiance from the forerunner; they took keener interest in following and learning more about Jesus. Andrew then realized that you can’t find such treasure and keep it to yourself; he called his brother to the new found Messiah. What do you see? When you look into the skies, when you look at different people around you, when you...

Freedom is defined as the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants; or the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved