10 by 24: "You love me just because you love me"

As we step into 2007 the year of Victory, last Sunday’s sermon by Pastor Melvyn was very apt in teaching us how to live a victorious life in our Lord Jesus Christ. The statement “To learn to live a life of victory, we must first learn to surrender” is indeed an oxymoron and a paradox in itself. And as we continue to grow in our Christian life, life in Christ will have many paradoxes for us to grow in.

How to live a life of victory in Christ?

SONSHIP - We must know our position in God. Not only do we need to know that we are the sons of God, we need to also live out the truth and experience the love of God deep within our hearts. The apostle John had a very healthy relationship with God the Father. He wrote this statement “the disciple whom Jesus loved” 5 times in the Gospel of John. He was not only confident of his relationship with Jesus, he also knew and experienced His love first hand. I want to be like John, not only knowing my position as a son of God, I want to experience His love to the fullest as well.

Luke 3:22: “You are my Son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased”

This statement that God the Father made to Jesus at his baptism really blew my mind. Right even before Jesus had started his ministry, right before he did any works of miracles, right before Jesus died on the cross, right before Jesus could glorify God, right before… … God had already told Jesus that He loved him! He loved Jesus NOT for what he has done, or was going to do, but God loves Jesus simply for who He is. Wow! This truth that really broke through my heart, it has taught me that beyond my performances, what I can do to please God, what I can do to impress others, God loves me for who I am and NOT what I do/ can do for Him.

SURRENDER – 2 Chron 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him”

To have a life of victory, we must first learn to surrender and commit our hearts to be wholly after God. As for me, as a follow up to the prayer session we had with Pastor Seng Lee, I want to keep my mind pure and wholly for the Lord. Living a life of surrendering to the Lord is not easy. However, God has promised us that He will help us and guide us in our pursuit for holiness and victory in our lives. “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” Matt 19:26b.

Phi 2:7-8 very aptly describes Jesus surrendering himself fully and being obedient to death, even death on a cross. His absolute obedience and submission to God’s calling for His life has brought about life to all of us who believe in Him. I want to be like Jesus, to be like Him more and more everyday. Circumstances may be tough, life may be hard, and my prayer to God is to teach me to be like Jesus more and more each day.

Evan Ng