Dear COA Family,
An account in the Old Testament is very instructive in teaching us about an aspect of maturity in
our Christian faith. It is about whether we are willing to surrender to the will of God and give space
to him to move in ways that we may not be comfortable with.
In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar had commanded all the people under his rule to bow down and
worship the image that he had made. However, three friends of Daniel: Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego refused to do so.
What is most remarkable was their answer to the king:
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we
serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O
king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden
image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18).
In other words, although they fully trusted that God could deliver them from the fiery furnace, they
gave room for God to act in his sovereign will not to save them. They were willing to trust and
remain loyal to God regardless of whether they were delivered or not. This is maturity.
And this was exhibited when our brother Kenny Goh gave his testimony at the 10.30am service last
Sunday. He shared that he prayed for a good report when he met his doctor for a follow-up on his
high cholesterol, as well as for grace to accept whatever result the doctor gave. He was giving room to
God to act in regards to his health according to God’s sovereign will!
Why are these a demonstration of spiritual maturity? This is because they are willing to accept
God’s will in their lives even if it is contrary to their wishes and desires. They trust that God
has a more perfect plan for them. Their eyes were fixed on what is unseen, rather than what is seen.
We have been exploring how God has a wonderful plan and will for our lives even in the midst of
suffering, these few weeks in the sermon series on 2 Corinthians. Trials and difficulties are not things
we would normally and naturally wish for ourselves. Yet we know that God has an even greater purpose
as he allows us to go through them.
Let us then grow in maturity by leaving room for God to act in our lives in his own way rather than
insisting on our own desires. Wisdom is when “we look not to the things that are seen but to the things
that are unseen” (2 Corinthians 4:18). For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are
unseen are eternal.
God bless,
Revd Ian