"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

The Beijing Olympics is coming in 3 months’ time. Thus it is appropriate for us to think about running the race that is now before us. With the annual congregational meeting and elections of our church now behind us, we stand at the starting line of a new 3-year term under the leadership of a new Session. As the challenge facing any athlete is how he may run the race in order to win the prize, we should likewise strive to do our very best, because there are wonderful rewards to look forward to.

The Christian life is likened by the apostle Paul to a race or an athletic competition like the Olympic Games. We are participants in this race, and the challenge is for us to run well, to compete well, so that we may win the rewards awaiting us. The rewards however, will not take the form of tangible objects like medals or trophies. The Bible tells us that it will be even better than that. When we have fought the good fight of faith and finished our course we can hope to gain the prize of God’s praise. How wonderful it will be to hear the Almighty God Himself (and not just a panel of fallible human judges) say to us, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

All the effort that is put into serving God will be more than recompensed when we hear these blessed words echoing through all eternity! With this reward in view let us be faithful in serving the Lord well. Actually God is not obliged to give us any rewards for our service at all, because even when we have done our very best, we are still unprofitable servants, who have simply done what was required of us to do (Luke 17:10). The fact that God does give rewards is a great condescension on His part, and this should make us appreciate the rewards much more.

But more than that, God also gives us rewards for our service which we do not have to wait a long time to receive. There are some rewards of serving the Lord that we can have even right now. One of them is the opportunity for us to know and experience God’s grace in a deeper way. Those who have served the Lord well can testify that one of the things they have gained as a bonus, is the privilege to learn more about God Himself through their service. As we serve the Lord, we learn to focus on who we are serving rather than on what we have to do. Even in the midst of being busy we will learn to depend more on the promises from His Word and to serve Him not by our own strength, but in His strength alone.

One excellent example of this is Moses. God called him into service from a burning bush. At that time Moses did not know the Lord well, and so he doubted that he should be the one to undertake such an awesome task as leading God’s people out of Egypt. But Moses gradually learned that God can make up for all his weaknesses and inadequacies. He learned that following God’s instructions carefully always brings success. And he proved God’s faithfulness to his covenant promises many times. He learned how to pray. He learned how to intercede well in moments when Israel faced tremendous crises in the wilderness. He learned how to trust in God for every provision. Through serving the Lord, Moses found himself spending so much time in such close fellowship with God that his own face began to shine with God’s glory!

Finally, when Moses reached the end of his life after 40 years of service, he was a different Moses from the one who had been called out of the burning bush. In his final speeches recorded in the Book of Deuteronomy, he spoke as one who had gained the reward of an intimate knowledge of God, a solid faith in His promises, and an overwhelming appreciation of His grace.

Listen to what Moses testified at the end of his life: "Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He." (Deuteronomy 32:1-4)

Dear Lifer, if you want to have a deeper relationship with God, be willing to serve Him. The pathway of service is a pathway that is strewn with many priceless blessings from the Lord. Your heart will experience new dimensions of closeness to God as you labour together with Him. Your mind will discover more and more of His wonderful will as you seek to do what pleases Him. Your soul will be filled with life in its fullness as you draw strength for every task He gives.

Ask anyone who has served the Lord well and he will testify to these things. Ask any pastor or missionary or Christian who is actively serving the Lord if they have ever regretted giving themselves into God’s service. They will tell you that they have no regrets at all. It is worthwhile to serve the Lord because service brings us closer to Him.

Besides that, service also draws God’s people closer to one other. There is a wonderful sense of comradeship and mutual encouragement among those who serve the Lord. This is another reward of service. The biblical pattern for service is teamwork. In 1 Corinthians 12 the apostle Paul describes believers as being parts of a body, and each of us has a different role to play. God has graciously bestowed spiritual gifts on each of us that are to be used to serve God. But none of us can function without the rest. We need one another to serve the Lord.

Why does God do this? Why should there be such an interdependent arrangement among members? He did this so that at the end of the day, when the task of service is done, God may be the one who receives all the glory, and not any particular talented member. Since this is the biblical pattern for service, let us seek to follow it in Life Church. There should not be just a few who are serving while the rest are not. Electing a new Session and dedicating them for service does not mean that the rest of us need not do anything. God’s Word reveals that every member of the church should serve with his or her spiritual gift that God has provided for that very purpose.

At the 10:45 am service next Lord’s Day we shall witness the installation of six new deacons and the dedication of the new Session. Pray for them, and pray for the church. Pray that all Lifers will also dedicate themselves to work together in building God’s kingdom. The race is now before us. Let us run it well with the Lord’s help!

We want to express our sincere thanks to the following who have laboured for the Lord as Session members of Life Church in the last term (2005-2008): Rev Colin Wong, Elder (Dr) Chin Hoong Chor, Victor Chan, Lee Heok Seng, Pang Leong Siang and Seow Cheong Kiong. May the Lord bless them as they continue to serve Him in other ways. "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (Hebrews 6:10)

We thank God for the good attendance of 672 at the ACM last week which is 72 % of the total number of resident voting communicant members in good standing. By God’s grace the meeting went well and the election results reveal that the congregation has been moved by the Lord to give the 28 candidates a clear mandate to serve in the new Session. May the Lord be praised!

—Pastor

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Eld Khoo Peng Kiat 97%

Eld (Dr) Lim Teck Chye 95%

Eld Ng Beng Kiong 92%

Eld (Dr) Sherman Ong Eng Lam 86%

Eld Sng Teck Leong 97%

Eld Tan Yew Chong 92%

Dn Charlie Chan Weng Keong 92%

Dn John Ching Ser Loong 91%

Dn Benny Chng Seck Kherng 92%

Dn Choong Chan Yong 86%

Dn Benny Goh Li Nee 96%

Mr Mark Heah Eng Siang 86%

Mr Heng Shao Sheng 82%

Mr Lee Chee Weng 84%

Dn Lee Hock Chin 92%

Dn Lee Pak Sing 85%

Dn Lim Ching Wah 95%

Mr Lim Pin 87%

Dn Roger Lim Tow Hong 94%

Dn Victor Loo Lam Hua 95%

Mr Ong Beng Hong 83%

Dn Joel Seah Geok Leng 83%

Dn David Tan Boon Keong 92%

Dn Tan Cheow Hock 95%

Dn Stephen Tan Tong King 80%

Dr Clement Tan Woon Teck 89%

Dn Woon Sin Wei 87%

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