Down, not out

As I meditated upon Psalm 129:1–2 (NIV) during my devotional reading, I understood how the Psalmist felt distressed like how Jacob did when he saw how the enemies surrounded Israel who came from Egypt and they had afflicted the Israelites for four hundred years since the time when a prophecy given to Abraham their ancestor, and where their lives were made bitter with hard bondage; and in the times of the Judges, by several neighbouring nations in the time of their youth. Yet, the Psalmist expressed his affection of distress to show how he was overwhelmed by the enemies that surrounded Israel but he was not knocked out by them as he had God by his side to help them defeat their enemies. Indeed, God delivered the Israelites from their captivity while they were being oppressed by the Egyptians and how they went through suffering as a youthful nation; truly, I believe that God has given Christ the authority to deal with all insubordination and rebellion. From then on, Christ will rule with a rod of iron and punish rebellion whenever it raises its ugly head (Psalm 2:9, NIV).

In reference to New Testament, I noted how God allowed the apostle Paul to go through all kinds of persecution such as sickness, sorrow, afflictions, difficulties and distress to have him raised up again to present the glorious news of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:9, NIV).

Hence, this prompts me to let my faith speak out the gospel to others through my transformed life in Jesus Christ despite of the challenges and the obstacles that I have to go through when I am being oppressed by tough circumstances surrounding me today.

Does your faith speak out the gospel to others through your transformed life in Jesus Christ in view of tough circumstances surrounding you today?

Prayer Response to this featured article:
Lord, would you let ‘Your’ perseverance help us move on with our lives by the strength of God.

(Written by Jeremy Koh, 4th February 2014)

Profile Background:
Jeremy Koh is a disabled graduate from Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore – formerly known as Spastic Children Association (1987-1997). He graduated with Certificates in Microsoft Office Skills. Jeremy has worked in ServeHope Pte Ltd – Project Assistant/Email Marketing Consultant for 5 years (March 2008 – August 2013). And, Jeremy did a research work for the keyguard at (these)abilites Pte Ltd handling all KeyGuard Operations for 10 months in World United College South East Asia (Tampines Branch). He was Executive Assistant with Vision Strategy Storytelling (3 months, Aug to Oct 2017). Jeremy worked as GB Connector in GrowthBeans Team in Savior-Asia Consulting Pte Ltd (October 2018 to December 2019). Today, he continues to be in GB Youth Organizing Team/as a GB Youth Facilitator in YouthCorps Singapore, a former member of the Special Needs Cluster in YCS, and a Founder in the ground up initiative project called – Project Story for LIFE (Affiliated with Youth Corps Singapore) that serves the Special Needs Community at–large in society today.

Majulah Singapura!

 

As I celebrate 57th National Day today and meditated upon how the apostle Paul said to the early church’s believers and exhorted them saying, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1–4, ESV), I give thanks to God for our Government and pray that they would live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness which seems good, and how this pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. I pray for the LORD to bless and keep them as He makes His face shine upon them and be gracious to our government leaders and for the Lord to lift up His countenance upon them and give them peace (Numbers 6:24 – 26, ESV – Paraphrased). I give thanks to God for His gifts of peace, prosperity, and progress all these 57 years of nationhood knowing that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above (James 1:17, ESV).

Truly, I praise God that Singapore has ranked third in the world and first in Asia for the effectiveness of government (Chandler Institute of Governance | The Straits Times, 28th April 2022) according to the global index today. I pray for the Multi–Ministry Taskforce, medical experts, scientific community, key consultants, chief decision-makers, doctors, and healthcare workers as they battle Covid–19 and for many individuals of them to encounter God and experience a double portion of rest and rejuvenation, faith and foresight, clarity and courage, wisdom and wonder, shalom and success. I also pray that Government would continue to protect and preserve the right of the Church to profess, practice and propagate our biblical convictions regarding gender, sexual morality, heterosexual marriage, traditional family structure and parenting – without harassment from any third party.

Truly, I praise God and rejoice in the LORD for our 4G Team Leader, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, whom God has positioned to succeed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in due time and how he had made his  public statements so clearly that reflected the values of the Kingdom of God saying that...

“Throughout my life, I’ve never hankered for post, position or power. I’ve always been realistic about my own abilities and strengths. My philosophy in life, instilled by my parents from young – is that whatever task I’m assigned, I will give of my best. And if my best falls short –  as it surely will from time to time – I try to learn, and I strive to improve, and do better.

“So I have never gone out looking for additional work, but somehow the work finds me. Over the last 25 years in public service, my duties and responsibilities have kept on growing …

“Now I will be taking on what would possibly be the biggest responsibility of my life. I am under no illusions about the demands of the job …

“Knowing full well that we will have to earn the right of leadership, I will continue with the same principles that have guided me all these years, which is to give of my best, to engage and listen, and to learn and improve continually.

“And as I have repeatedly emphasized, leadership, and political leadership is never about one person, it’s always about the entire team. Even a giant like Mr Lee Kuan Yew had a team. The same was true for Mr Goh Chok Tong, and now PM Lee. He has SM (Senior Minister) Teo, SM Tharman, and many others. So much more the case will be with me.” (Press conference | 16th April 2022)

Through this, I give thanks to God for having DPM Lawrence Wong’s life chosen to represent as David as His servant … to be the shepherd of His people … And David shepherded them with integrity of heart, with skilful hands he led them (Psalm 78:70–72, NIV) as His work of grace had been evidently shown in his life – for humility comes before honour (Proverbs 18:12, ESV) and that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6, ESV). I pray that DPM will continue to clothe himself with humility towards all (1 Peter 5:5, ESV).

Indeed, DPM Lawrence Wong “puts his heart and soul into what he is doing and is never a seeker of credit or fanfare” and that he is “patient, listens hard, connects well with people and is intellectually honest while welcoming of vigorous debate … he’s calm under pressure, listens and consults widely … he is prepared to make tough, sometimes unpopular, judgment calls. And if those calls turn out to be wrong, he’s humble enough to admit the missteps and quick to learn from them” (Minister Ong Ye Kung | Professor Donald Low – The Straits Times, 16th/23rd April 2022).

Above all, I thank God for DPM’s sound thinking on faith at work when he said: “I suppose in the Methodist tradition, you would say your work is your worship, right? You don’t delink faith from day to day. Whatever you do on a day-to-day basis, if you do it well, if you take responsibility, that in itself is a testimony of how you as a person are an example, you know, a light for the world.” (‘Lunch With Sumiko’ | The Straits Times, 1st November 2020)

Indeed, public servants who are like DPM Lawerence Wong are “serious, reliable, thorough, questioning, imaginative, always looking out for Singapore” (Lim Siong Guan) as mentioned inside the 40 Days (2022) devotional text.  Indeed, I pray for exceptional grace, wisdom, courage, and unity as DPM Lawrence Wong and the 4G Team to plot the road map for the next decade and beyond as I pondered upon my today’s reading..

(Adapted Text the 40 Days (2022) devotional text, 8th August 2022)

I pray for Section 377A to be governed by legislation and policy, uphold and strengthen the sanctity of heterosexual marriage, establishing this core moral value as the norm – the model for natural procreation, and the stable foundation to bring up the next generation for the long term good and continuity of our nation as our Government is considering how to proceed without “causing a sudden, destabilizing change in social norms or public expectations” (Today, 3rd March 2022) and for God to protect Singapore and keep her safe (Psalm 140:6– 7, ESV) in the days of messy geopolitics ahead.

Indeed, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will”. (Proverbs 21:1, ESV) for “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10, ESV) and for the “Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power” (Proverbs 8:14, ESV); as such, I pray for our Government to take effective measures to protect the young and vulnerable in our society.

Current Singapore’s Cabinet:

Madam Halimah Yacob – President of Singapore

Mr Tan Chuan Jin – Speaker of Parliament  

Lee Hsien Loong – Prime Minister

Mr Lawrence Wong – Deputy Prime Minister / Minister for Finance

Mr Heng Swee Keat – Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister + Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies.

Mr Teo Chee Hean – Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam – Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan – Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister-in-charge of the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore

Mr K Shanmugam – Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law

Mr Chan Chun Sing –Minister for Education/Minister in–Charge for Public Service

Mr Ong Ye Kung – Minister for Health – Minister in–charge for ageing issues

Mr Gan Kim Yong – Minister for Trade and Industry.

Dr Tan See Leng – Minister for Manpower/Second Minister for Trade and Industry & 2nd NTUC secretary-general as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Mr S Iswaran – Minister for Transport/ Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations in the Ministry of Trade and Industry

Mrs Josephine Teo – Minister for Communications and Information/Second Minister for Home Affairs & Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation Initiative & Cyber–Security

Ms Grace Fu – Minister for Sustainability and Environment.

Prayer Response to this featured article:

We pray for God to enlighten our Cabinet Ministers with wisdom, discernment, depth of insight, foresight, courage and strength to govern this nation in His ways and for His glory. We bless Singapore today

(Written by Jeremy Koh, 9th August 2022, SG National Day)

Profile Background: 

Jeremy Koh is a disabled graduate from Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore – formerly known as Spastic Children Association (1987-1997). He graduated with Certificates in Microsoft Office Skills. Jeremy has worked in ServeHope Pte Ltd – Project Assistant/Email Marketing Consultant for 5 years (March 2008 – August 2013). And, Jeremy did a research work for the keyguard at (these)abilites Pte Ltd handling all KeyGuard Operations for 10 months in World United College South East Asia (Tampines Branch). He was Executive Assistant with Vision Strategy Storytelling (3 months, Aug to Oct 2017). Jeremy worked as GB Connector in GrowthBeans Team in Savior-Asia Consulting Pte Ltd (October 2018 to December 2019). Today, he continues to be in GB Youth Organizing Team/as a GB Youth Facilitator in YouthCorps Singapore, a former member of the Special Needs Cluster in YCS, and a Founder in the ground up initiative project called – Project Story for LIFE (Affiliated with Youth Corps Singapore) that serves the Special Needs Community at-large in society today.