This morning, I woke up because of an interesting dream. Read on ...
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We were all seated in canteen, at tables and benches just like what you have in primary and secondary schools. Different groups of us are in the midst of some forms of discussion over our meals. The group of people I was seated with was discussing about the calling of God.
"Haha. Yvonne, you look like a legal aid tat earns alot of money rather than a secretary. "
"Well, it's for the ministry that i'm willing to sacrifice. If i'm reali a legal aid outside then probably i wont be working as hard. Haha."
I stood up and was preparing to leave. And Dawn passing lixia white tic-tac sweets thru me. ;P
From a few tables away, pauline stood up and said: "Yvonne, your recent post on success has caused a discussion here." A lady at that same table stood up, and she was 曾晓英. She went on to say:“如果说“失败乃成功之母”，比喻成生意，那这生意是不是妈妈谈成了，女儿就谈不成了？女儿谈成了，妈妈就失败了呢？"
(I have no idea why all these pp are in my dreams especially 曾晓英?!! Goodness. I don't even see her on TV.)
Anyway, I was challenged with that question about the saying "失败乃成功之母" and how it's contradictory on success. So all eyes were on me. And the question just kept repeating on my mind. And I woke up with this question! urgh... disturbed sleep again... So I was trying to make myself go back to sleep. But the question was still bugging me. So this time, i really woke up and seriously thought about the question. And 3 passages came to my mind.
Matt 10:35-39
For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me... And he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
Matt 12:46,50
While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside. seeking to speak with Him... For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."
Matt 15:4-7
"For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' But you say,'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God"--'then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. "Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"
I dunno what came to your mind when you read the 3 passages but to me it was very very clear...
If success is represented by "your mother and brother", then the passage tells us that if our predecessor of success has LIMITED us more than it encouraged us to be successful in our ministry then we are missing out on one very simple fact. We are missing out on the fact that it is GOD we are serving, and the Kingdom of God that we are trying to expand.
Many times, as we grow in ministry, we become limited exactly by the ones that made us successful. Bcos we feel we "owed" them our success and we become afraid to move forward further than them. And these considerations are very understandable. But Jesus says we gotta take up our own cross to follow Him. The calling that He has given us is irrevocable. Your friend will not achieve his calling just because u give up yours. And vice versa. So everyone of us is RESPONSIBLE in taking up our own cross to follow Jesus and bring that vision and calling to pass.
Now, don't get me wrong now... No matter how much more achieved we have become, we got to always remember to HONOR our predecessors of faith. The ones that had made things possible for us. The ones that had shaped and moulded us in our growing up years. If we think we have achieved far more and have this attitude that you have surpassed them and there is no need for you to honor them, bcos it is God's gift and your own hard work, the bible says Jesus calls you hypocrites and that you have worship Him in vain.
An apt example: Pastor Kong. It's Canon James Wong's 50th year in the ministry. Now he's old, and not many of the younger generation knows about what he has done for the Christian world in Singapore. Yet, in many ways, Pastor Kong has chosen to honor this predecessor of faith. There was also a time when Canon laid down his life for the conviction and the calling of God in his life. The many sacrifices he made that brought revival and changes. All these had not limited Pastor Kong from moving on and responding to the calling that God has given him. But he's always honoring this man of God that have aged. I feel so honored to have such a great man as our senior Pastor. I'm so moved in my heart.
We have to do everything we can to fulfill that purpose and calling that God has given us. Be it in the marketplace or in the ministry, we got do our best for God and the KOG. But dun forget to look back at all those that have made it possible for you to be where you are today and where you will be in the days to come. Be a grateful and honoring person.
So with this, I also want to thank Pastor Yock Kiang for being such a wonderful leader. Today, as I prayed for you, I was in tears. I remembered the times when I failed, you were there to forgive and restore me. The times when you had chosen to give me the space I needed to grow emotionally, mentally and spiritually, instead of just "making" me change. I can't ask for a better leader than you. Just like what you have told me almost 10yrs ago, you are not just my leader, you are my friend and my brother. These 10yrs had shown me that you are, reali indeed, my brother and not just a Pastor, a boss or an authority over me. Thank you very much, Pastor. I really appreciate every chance you had given me. Thank you very much.
