Devotion: Do I have a personal relationship with God?

This is the very question that popped straight into my mind as Pastor Khong was preaching the sermon yesterday. And my answer frankly is YES.

This is my 8th year in FCBC, and 5th year serving as a cell leader. Honestly sometimes I am just amazed and wonder what really kept me going on all these while? Looking back, the cell group of today is totally different from the cell group I joined and started back 8 years ago. There has been so many changes.. people have come and gone, and there has been so many times I have had to go through disappointments and failures. Frankly speaking dear family... there were many times I just feel like throwing the towel in and giving up. I felt it was not worth it to give anymore... I felt the hurt / rejection / disappointment were so painful that I just can't go on anymore.

The reasons to drop out and give up are just so overwhelming and many. I seemingly had all the valid reasons to give up. But what was it that kept me going? What was it that undergirth my walk such that spiritual drive grows stronger and stronger each year?

One basic reason: I know that God loves me.

I don't need to strive to perform or clock church attendance so that God will love me more. I don't need to please everyone everytime so that I can become Mr Popular in church. I don't need to prove myself to anyone.

Dear sons, where are you in your walk with God now? Are you tired? Are you feeling stagnant? Or feel that church is very packed with activities? Are you striving just to be part of many activities so that the cell brothers or leaders will love you more?

I pray that we learn to re-evaluate our motivations. God still love us even if we drop all these things. God still love us even when we fail. However, do not use this as an excuse for not serving God, but rather knowing that God loves us, may His love compel us to give more. May His love compel us to be excited about going to church and cell or cluster events. May His love drive us to be enthusiastic in sharing the goodness of God to others around.

Sons, many of you will be going through major transitions this year. Going in NS, pursuing higher education, going to work...etc. With each transition comes changes we have to adjust to, or having to do things out of our comfort zone, and even sometimes we feel like giving up on church.

At the end of the day, what are you holding on to? If we are just fulfilling an obligation or responsibility to God, it will never last, because we will soon have other 'gods' to attend to.

Can we singlemindedly devote our hearts to knowing the Love of God and loving Him?

John 6:26 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

(PS: I am not writing this devotion to 'demand' you guys to attend more church/cluster/cell events. My prayer is that when you participate in these fellowships, you know the reason why you are doing it.)