Life Integrated, Start again with a Right Direction
The first Sunday sermon the Lunar New Year was wonderful – Boaz, our co-worker and his wife Debbie preached with their Being at the Mercy Seat for the first time. They preached the word of life through acting and singing.
We planned to continue on the Ten Commandments series. However, it was the Lunar New Year. Also, after preaching on “Ascending 2023” for the previous two weeks, C-Mo and I decided to preach on “Life Integrated, Start again with a Right Direction”. This couple was the first who came to our minds as their lives really matched this theme.
They have been in Hong Kong for five years, but they were withdrawn and distant in their first four-and-a-half years here. Debbie was contemplating leaving and hardly made her appearance in church. But when they were willing to be our co-workers, their lives changed. Their family has started again in the right direction. I am thankful for their lives.
I was prompted to choose Genesis 38 for the message as in the previous week Joash and his wife Crystal preached on the story of Joseph, which was in Genesis 37, 39 and the following chapters. In the middle, in chapter 38, the story of Judah and Tamar was inserted. It was suitable for Boaz and Debbie to preach. Debbie was just like Tamar, though Judah was unrighteous to her, she stayed righteous. When Juda admitted, “She has been more righteous than I,” his life began to be integrated and he started again in the right direction.
At the age of six, Boaz wanted to be a pastor. Yet due to his weaknesses, he was trapped. However, Debbie never gave up on him. When Boaz was depressed and frustrated, she stayed up late at night to pray with him. As a result, he was able to start again. She has become Tamar for him. After they have come to Hong Kong 611 and received discipleship, she sees his change and now she is brave enough to admit that she wants to be a c-mo, a pastor’s wife.
This couple, with the husband wanting to become a pastor and the wife a c-mo, starts again under the Tree of Life due to their longing for God. I believe that they are on the right track and their lives will become the Tamar for many people. Dear brothers and sisters, as our lives become integrated and we start again in the right direction, there surely is a way out under the Tree of Life despite all difficulties.■【2023.02.12】
we are to become the Tree of Life because God has chosen and called us, His people, to be a royal priesthood, a holy nation, to serve in His presence day and night. Read more Having witnessed how God has been leading our mother church step by step into the destiny of global evangelism and church planting, Read more Thank God that we experienced God's amazing presence as I went back to our mother church, Taipei Bread of Life Christian Church, with my team to participate in the celebration of its 70th Anniversary! Read more