Working Extra

Nehemiah 3:27

Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another section, from the great projecting tower to the wall of Ophel.

I learned from a very special mentor back in college that a leader is most successful when the work continues even without him. So last month, before I left for my sister’s graduation in Manila, I made sure I delegated the children’s ministry tasks to competent people. Receiving no calls that weekend, I was confident all went well as prayed for. It did. Except for that detail that the teacher assigned for the evening service had a surprise guest and another willingly took her place to attend to the kids. The latter had all the reasons not to do it: she already taught that morning, she also needed to attend the service, she had a full day already, and she still had wife-y responsibilities when she gets home. But she didn’t use all those valid excuses to avoid working extra.  She didn’t even complained after or brag about her sacrifices. She just did it with her whole heart - - and with a right heart.

Chapter 3 of Nehemiah was a lengthy read, especially because it’s an account of hard-to-pronounce names and i-have-no-idea-where locations. The long and short of it was these remnants were called by God through Nehemiah’s leadership to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. From priests to goldsmiths, rulers to commoners, fathers, sons, even daughters, all worked as one to complete the task.  Aside from Baruch who zealously repaired a section, my reading highlighted the men of Tekoa too. The verse above was the second mention of their names, meaning, this was already an extra work for them. Earlier in verse 5, they were next to Zadok working near the Fish Gate and then we read these words: ‘though their leaders refused to work with the construction supervisors’. But despite the lack of expected help, these men of Tokea  were able to finish their double-load, even faster than others, and willingly walked some more extra miles to help where it was needed.

We all wished to be regarded as good Samaritans. We are compassionate people and if really needed, will extend help to those hurting.  But of course, everyone understands that sometimes we also have family issues, and have tight budgets, and have very important meetings, and can’t be Superman all the time. Better yet, isn’t ‘I’ll pray for you’ godly enough? Why extend another hand? Why walk an extra mile? But can you imagine God clicking autopilot after creation? What He gave us was perfection that could last a thousand generation. But when we chose sin and the consequences gave birth to more rottenness, He didn’t say ‘Not my problem guys. I did my part.’ Instead He sent Jesus to take that painful extra mile to save us all.  And although it was enough, His grace still overflows. Note His answers to our prayers. His timely protection. His daily provision. These are all extra love. And what do we do with our extra supplies? Yes, we give it out : )

Love’s Story

1 Chronicles 16:41

With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, ‘for his love endures forever’.

As early as December last year, we’ve already marked February 12 as a one of the special Sundays in Kiddiepointe. When the team sat again four weeks ago, it took us quite some time to unearth a concept based on this question: How should kids celebrate Love Day? Definitely, the boy-girl, date-theme was readily discarded. Family love was next crossed out because we just had that last Christmastime. Friendship was next considered, but somehow, it couldn’t pull that chord of excitement to overflow us with ideas. We ended that meeting afloat. After another week, God’s faithfulness made us realize we’ve been wandering in circles instead of wonder-ing the Cross. How could we miss the greatest love of all? In pursuing His theme, t’was amazing how easily everything fell into place. The finished product yesterday was picture perfect: God so loving us and sending Jesus and the kids responding in love and seeking Jesus. Such a beautiful love story!

When the chronicler came to retell the story of bringing back the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, everybody expected him to take hold of the account of Samuel and simply copy-paste the event details. He did. He even stretched it to two chapters long. But for some God-reason, he was kept in his chair, and his heart was somehow unsettled. From the pile of notes and scrolls around him, God prompted him to pull their songbook and soon found his answers. Three of these psalms were first sung corporately during that joyous event. David handed it over to his chief musicians and instructed them to sing it regularly before the Lord. It has been their hearts’ music ‘til they were exiled to Babylon. With the remnants back in promise land, God wanted them to learn their love song. He desired for them to see that the covenant of love He made with Abraham, Jacob and David was an everlasting one. That though they ‘wandered from nation to nation’, He kept them safe from harm. He kept them safe in His arms. 

With barely twelve hours to Hearts’ Day, many of us, singles especially, have our minds wondering and wandering how this season of love can beautifully include us. There are those in denial of course, but that doesn’t change the fact that we want to be part of a love story – both as givers and receivers. Either or both can be disappointing. As givers, what if they’re unappreciative? As receivers, what if they gave thoughtlessly? At the end of the day, you might end up even feeling worse. How then can God expect us to give thanks for His love? Like the remnants, God encourages us to look further back and move further on. The remnants immediate back was exile and their immediate front were ruins. Nothing appealing there. But looking further back, they saw the covenant promise, and further on, they saw the Messiah. Finally, they felt loved. I pray we can have the maturity to look beyond February 14 and see how high and wide and deep God’s love is for us. Look further back at the Cross and realize it was love at its best. Look further forward to eternity and you’ll run out of words describing how beautiful ever after is with God. Felt that love? 

'Spring' Cleaning in December

2 Kings 23:26

Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to provoke him to anger.

In between Christmas and New Year, homemakers everywhere unite in one more major event in their calendars: 'Spring' Cleaning! (for lack of a better term, haha :>) Wikipedia notes that this practice originated in Persia, calling it ‘khooneh tekouni’ or literally, ‘shaking the house’ before the new year. Another possible origin was no less than the Jews’ preparation for Passover where they strictly had to make sure no yeast will be found in their homes. I sincerely wish they had vacuum cleaners before. Turning our homes upside down is no easy task. The fun part is when everyone shares in the work. The fulfilling part is when we can finally breathe in fresh air to our hearts’ content.  Of course we know the family will sure mess it all up again in no time. But still we vainly hope for the shine to last and be kept all year. *We Wish! :>

When the pious Hezekiah died, chapter twenty one gave us two kings of Judah who were his complete opposite: Manasseh, Judah’s longest reigning, most evil king and Amon, whose two years echoed his father’s detestable walk. They rebuilt all that Hezekiah’s zeal destroyed. They even surpassed the sins the pagan nations the Lord destroyed before them. It was in Manasseh’s term that God finally gave up Judah because of the innocent blood that filled Jerusalem from end to end. It was a miracle that their bloodline would produce the reformer Josiah. In his spring cleaning of the whole land from idolatry, the book of the Law was found and he readily ordered everyone, from the greatest to the least, to come to terms with the covenant. His leadership brought them back to temple worship, but God knew the pretense in the people’s hearts. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the Lord. When he died, so did their devotion. No wonder the Lord was not willing to forgive. No genuine repentance happened in the first place.

Imagine the hardwork of Josiah’s spring cleaning: burning all carved idols, smashing down altars, slaughtering pagan priests. It was a national thing, extending even to Samaria. He passionately want it all gone for the land to breathe anew. He prayed it will be clean living for all henceforth. With the Bible on his hand, he was hopeful. But still his people failed him. Yesterday, I went to church to clean the kids Sunday School area. God called me to head this ministry for 2012 and with His Word to lead us, I am hopeful. The vision is to see the kids and teachers alike growing in their faith.  Today, God reminded me I can’t. Not even with good leadership, nor thoughtful plans, not even with Bible on hand (I was surprised and shaken with that last part).  I suddenly felt helpless and discouraged. I realized that not even godly efforts or sincere hearts can guarantee success. It was so humbling. But to trust Him is to hope in Him. Our God is a gracious God. He will not force men to respond to Him, but His love is sooo patient to willingly wait. As parents and teachers, that’s where we come in. The most we can do is to direct our children towards a direction and pray they’d take that step. Let’s pray they’d take that step. It may mean calling for regular clean ups and an all-year round bible reading. Then let’s hope that in time, they’d really see the Cross and accept His cleansing power. Only then they’d really be white as snow :>

Kids Safety

2 Kings 11:3

He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

When we were considering which church to attend here in Cebu, one of our prayed-for considerations was a good Sunday School for our kids. I was a product of one and I know how much it’d help me raise them well in the faith. Although back in history, this movement in England was actually a literacy program for the poor child laborers, and not for church people. With Sunday as their only day off, they used this time to teach them reading and writing with the Bible as main textbook. One site wrote: ‘Sunday schools provided an alternative to Sunday rowdiness’. Delinquency was rampant then and they hoped that through these classes, moral transformation would take place. With the Bible in their hands, it sure made a difference to millions of children.

When Joash was born, it was not the best time in history either. He was still being nursed when his father, King Ahaziah, died in the hands of the Syrians. Next we read of his grandmother Athaliah who murdered all his sibling-princes so she could take the crown. Imagine being unsafe in your own home. Where would you run? And as a babe, how could he run? But in God’s eyes, no dark year in history is dark at all. To Him, night shines like the day. In His sovereignty, He orchestrated Josiah’s aunt to be there at the time of the massacre to hide him. And for six years, he was kept hidden in the temple, raised by Jehoiada the priest. It was a breath of fresh air in all Judah to witness the coronation of this young boy – Scriptures on hand and God’s anointing on his head. For a time, he was thought to be the great grandson of the wicked Ahab. But that day, everybody remembered he was first of all, a son of David.

‘It’s not safe out there’.  I can still hear my parents worried sigh whenever I ask for their permission to go out with my friends twenty years ago. Soon, it will be my time to look out at that window and I’m guessing I’d probably give the same script.  Who’d not be alarmed with the bad news left and right, day and night? But come to think of it, the world was just a family of four when Adam’s son was killed by his firstborn. Home is not the safest place. God is. No sheep of His can be snatched from His hands.  Let’s teach our children to listen to His voice. With Scriptures on hand, they have a light to their path. That even in the valley of the shadow of death, they can walk and not fear. But don’t just bring them to Sunday School. Be with them in church. Jeremiah 23 says, ‘I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing’. Teachers exist because parents do not. Hold that Bible now and read it to your child. Later may be too late.