Since the move into Suntec Convention, our church has been talking about “Choose Love” – it is an appropriate theme in a season when it seems so many past hurts, bitterness, and misunderstanding come to the surface. It is really a time to say that I choose to love, despite it all.
Someone once asked me what do I think is my purpose in life, and I replied that I want to be a living example and encouragement for people to lay down their lives for the house of God. The house of God is the body of Christ, literally. And I believe that it is very difficult for someone to say that he loves God but not the house of God. Since being a young Christian, I felt strongly about sacrificing, defending, and building the house of God.. I always tell my cell group members that it is worth it to lay down your life to build His House.
So choosing love.. what or who do we choose to love. I think we choose to love the house of God – the vision that built this house and will continue to build the house. We choose to love the leaders in this house because they are our spiritual covering, and we choose to love our brothers & sisters in this house.
I must admit that prior to yesterday’s prayer meeting, I had a very shallow understanding of “Choose Love” but in the midst of the prayer meeting, I felt so strongly that it is a very high calling, to be put together as a cell group, as a zone, as a church to build God’s House. And it is not something that we should so easily put as under, despise or throw it away because of the differences we have. Don’t forget the God-factor in the forming of every cell group, zone and church – it is really not by chance.
To choose love – is to tolerate and give grace; to cover a multitude of sins; to overlook the shortcomings and brag about the strength; to extol and to encourage. It is not to backstab; it is not to discredit and despise; it is not to be self-righteous and definitely not a false sense of concern. It is to humble yourself and serve.. not just serve the pastors and leaders, those that are highly edified and presentable, but also to serve the weak, and the least presentable (or the most annoying, unloving, uncool, haha.)
I pray that as my cell group grows up, transit and develop their personality, career and opinions and lives, we will continue to choose to love one another. I pray that my zone members, people I grow up with in the church, will always remain united. I pray that I will always choose love instead of being quick to criticize and being a cynic.
The unity of the church, the zone, the cell group is WORTH fighting for, defending at all cost. And our weapons are faith, peace, and love. So let us fight the good fight, and in Pastor Kong’s words, stand shoulder to shoulder and build this great sanctuary for our great God!
