Contributed by Adeline Ting • Nov 12, 2024
I have never been one of the lucky ones. I have never won anything just out of pure random draws. Even in a pool of 20-30 people, with 10 prizes at stake, I will still go home empty handed. And this has been the story of my life. Which is why, in any event, I hardly make the effort to stay back for the lucky draws.
But this sermon has so aptly reminded me that our sights are not set on worldly standards, rather on Godly standards. While I may not do well with man-made prizes, I am very blessed to be receiving God’s love and goodness. There have been many incidences in my life that I see the hand of God. Like the time when decisions needed to be made on my education pathway, He taught me to trust in His plans. Or the time when I was hit by a motorcycle many years ago, He sustained me with only minor scratches and a bump to the head. Or when my mother was called home, He filled the void in my grieving heart. I realise that these are gifts from God, given when I decided to receive Jesus in my life. When I let Him be real in my life, He guides me in my thoughts, in my actions, and in my relationship with others. In short, He gives me the peace and comfort to endure and to be grateful that in all things, He is in control.
God is truly good, and the amazing thing is that He gives His love freely and willingly. I do not have to take a ‘chance’ to see if I can ‘win’ His love in any draws! God’s gifts are much better gifts than anything else. If we can jump with joy over man-made prizes that are temporal, how can we dismiss the greatness of eternal gifts from God? This motivates me to live a well-transformed life. And with such a great God, I am not ashamed to live a life that bears good witness to Him.