Good Friday

I'm really thankful and also very impressed by my God that He is able to weave the decisions I make in these circumstances into so good an outcome. I love to away, fully knowing, understanding and being able to say: this is the place I was meant to be in all of time. I am here by His intention and by my compliance.

This morning at ABC, I brought my reluctant bones to the North, and to Good Friday service. I was glad to hear the Word and a reminder of the cross; our holy God's saving work, fully completed, once for all. It is huge to meditate upon how huge is this: that Christ is an acceptable sacrifice, without blemish and fully meeting God's standards of perfection. And that His Blood made remission for all sins once for all. At this point, all the sins in all of time were laid upon the Lamb of God: God's Son. He tasted death for every man (Hebrews 2:9). 

I was introduced to a new person who came for the service and I had the opportunity to share with him about the gospel of Christ, the Word of God and how Biblical church and worship should be. I thought to impress upon this truth seeker that the Word is authoritative and instructive, and our guide for all manners of living. I was able to bring him through the opening verses of the Book of Romans in close reading, to explain the rich information in each line.

I was very encouraged by his sincerity and his openness, and receptivity to the good community at ABC,  so different from mainstream Christianity in Singapore. I had hoped to show him that all men are able to fully understand and study Scripture. It was edifying for my person also; that I could point to my own life as a testament to the Word's transforming power. It is not that I found a right drug, but rather I had taken hold of the truest truth early in my life.

Later, at Agnes' place, I got to look at my essay, eat beautiful scrambled eggs with toast, and speak with her father. This heightened the sense that I was in the place I was supposed to be.

Agnes and I are 5 months in, and by all considerations we are young, new and hasty. 

But I'm glad we have entered into courtship with marriage as the goal, and we are increasing our certainty of this, deepening our commitment to one another, and receiving more evidences that this is the Lord's will for us.

Uncle shared with me his values on the things that a Biblical husband and wife, the breadwinner and the homemaker/housekeeper should be. He shared about long term considerations in family planning, where two different people come together as husband and wife, and the types of decision making involved. There is individual preparation before marriage; husband and wife must be able to come to terms and make a committed decision in the household affairs. Building a godly family is aim.

I think there are amazing blessings when we obey God's direction and order, where we submit and give ear to the counsel of our elders. It is fitting and right to do so.

While others may be aghast at what they perceive to be premature commitment, I am acting upon surety and increasing confidence that this is what the Lord has in store for me. That this is the woman that I am to love and care for in the Lord and that I do not take it lightly.

We will respect and involve and defer to her parents in the Lord, that we may be living on principles from the Word.

It is both comforting and blessed to have her father's oversight and also confidence and approval that we may one day be married in the Lord. 

I was reminded of my responsibilities as a student and also heard of uncle's concerns about managing and raising a godly family. We should be able to raise children who may "intellectually and willingly" come to faith in Christ. He also reminded me of the need to pass values down to the next generation. I need some sober self-examination to see if I am able to live the Word, share the Word and make decisions based on my trust in the Lord to provide, and whether I have the skills/ knowledge to take care of a household. 

I had to try not to smile to openly when he spoke of a day in time where we would be "walking down the aisle".  Walking down the aisle - that's what we are working towards. Anything other than that is a waste of time, youth, money, a gross disobedience to the Lord, and a disegard for the Word. 

When we obey, the blessings in store for us are sweet and wonderful.