Psalm 107: 1 & 2 (NASB)
1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary
In the above-mentioned verses, the psalmist reminds us of God’s goodness and His everlasting lovingkindness to us, the redeemed of the Lord, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary. Dr Jeffrey Arthurs, Dean of the Hamilton Campus and the Robinson Chair of Preaching and Communication at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary advocates preaching as reminders as we are forgetful people who need them. The apostle Paul too says that “to write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you” (Philippians 3:1b). So, as the redeemed of the Lord, let’s be reminded…
1.To return to the Lord now
In my Christian experiences, I am consciously aware of how often my heart tends to wander away from God. Jesus identified our hearts as evil and that which will defile us (Matthew 15:18 & 19). Joel 2: 12 says, “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning” – a clarion call that we only ignore to our peril. We must return to Him now in repentance of heart!
2.To repent in earnest
Confession is more than just saying ‘sorry’ to God. It starts with agreeing with God that that which draws us away from Him is sin; no rationalization, no excuses, no ifs and no buts (1 John 1: 8 – 10). It is then followed with thanksgiving as Christ has cleansed us from all our sins. Last but not least, the act of repentance will require a ‘round-about turn’ of action. Sometimes this act of repentance may require making restitutions.
3.To be radically different from the world
Finally, as the redeemed of the Lord, let’s be reminded that we are to be in the world but not of the world (1 John 2: 15 – 17). The late Rev John Stott observed that amongst the many themes in the Bible, one which consistently stood out for him is this: the redeemed of the Lord is set apart (consecrated) for God Himself. From the Law to the prophets in the Old Testament to the Gospel and the epistles in the New Testament, the message is always the same: “…You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11: 44 & 1 Peter 1: 16)
In Christ,
Dr Ho Boon Tiong
LCEC Chairperson