Week 18 (27 Apr - 3 May): Held by Love

It was a meaningful Labour Day long weekend! Instead of lazing at home or taking a weekend get-away, I attended a Healing workshop with 15 others from TB. There's something beautifully ironic about spending a day meant for rest from physical labour by diving deeper into spiritual work. Perhaps this is part of experiencing the Sabbath rest that is spoken about in Hebrews 4.

Through the workshop, we were reminded of God’s heart for his children – to see us physically, emotionally and spiritually restored. Over the years of befriending residents in ministry and people I meet at work, I have often noticed a heaviness and worry that plagues many.  During these conversations, I am often reluctant to talk about God as I fear that it may offend the other party and they may view me as a religious fanatic. Over the weekend, I was reminded that not speaking about the good news that God has given us withholds God’s love from his children. Knowing that God heals and always wants to be involved in the life of his children should embolden me to speak. The knowledge that I can pray for those who need his healing is another way to show his love. From our study of Acts, we know it is far more effective when we do a “show and tell” rather than it being “no action talk only”.   After all, the supernatural action can only be done by God.

On Saturday evening, Raphael Zhang, a counsellor with Indigo & Co, came to speak at our Saturday Celebration on the “Good News for People with Same Sex Attraction”. He challenged our church – are we ready to be a place where people with SSA can come and sense God’s love? I believe this extends to people who are marginalised by society. As we love one another, we need to remember that the church also exists for others. The ability to distinguish right and wrong must be coupled with the ability to communicate lovingly.

The Labour Day long weekend was an opportunity for me to remember that the best rest can only be found in Christ. We can strive for many things – work, family, personal desires and even ministry. These are tangible and often blind us from a deeper relationship with a God that is unseen. But resting with God is putting an end to the inner turmoil and finding a deep rest that only comes from knowing I’m held by Love Himself. It recalibrates our view and reenergises us for our walk on this earth.  

Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV) "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."