Singaporeans are often in pursuit of perfection. Students are pursuing straight As. Customers expect impeccable 5-star service. Working professionals are expected to deliver accurate reports. Similarly, we apply the same view to our Christian life. We constantly strive for spiritual perfection. Yet spiritual perfection is God’s work.
Last Sunday we had Dr Timothy Wiarda minister to us from 2 Corinthians 3:18 with the sermon titled ‘Transformation.’
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
The word ‘one degree’ jumped out immediately to me. Spiritual transformation is a gradual small step process. As we behold the glory of God through His Word and His Spirit, we are gradually moulded into Jesus’ image.
There is a saying, “The more you focus on the result, the slower the process. The more you focus on the process, the faster the result.” We should focus more on the process than the result. The process of beholding the glory of God through His Word and being led by His Spirit.
Service was followed by a coffee fellowship with Dr Timothy Wiarda at 9.45am. It provided ‘we all’ an opportunity to clarify and ask questions on the sermon we had just heard.
Dr Timothy shared his own habit of prayer through the Lord’s prayer every morning.
One brother shared how he was convicted by the Spirit to apologise to a sister after saying a harsh word to her. Another sister shared how she prays for her children and grandchildren daily.
It was an open, warm and honest fellowship. By listening to one another’s reflections, we considered how to apply the sermon to our own lives. We shared our own spiritual journeys, working on our one-degree transformation as Christians.
‘We all’ are on a one-degree transformation process. May the Lord mould us, bit by bit, inch by inch and step by step into His glorious image.
Blessings,
Deacon Alvin Fu
