LOVE, RELATIONSHIP AND FAVOUR 爱、关系和恩惠
In this Year of God’s Love, we build a strong love relationship with God so that we remain in first love with Him. No matter what is done, it is our love relationship with Him that counts. This was the report card given to the Church at Ephesus in Revelation 2.
Love makes life worth living
We thought life is in our performance and wealth. Not despising the need for hard work and wealth but we know that these are for a greater end in God’s service. It is our love relationship with God that keeps us not only from burning out or stressed out and tempted to throw in the towel but it is in a love relationship with God many dynamics of true living happen. Sometimes, performance can conceal our true identity. Love confirms us in our real self. Love brings out the best of us. Being loved is loving. It relaxes us with inner freedom to live life to its full.
Power of present love
Although short absence makes the heart grow fonder (so the saying goes), love cannot be perpetuated by absence. You want to be present with the one you love, even when not much is happening or when they only whisper “sweet nothings” to each other. But the power of connection is built. It has a healing effect. It gives security. It is re-assuring. There is peace and that is empowering.
You will hardly realize the power of love except when it is absent. Those in deficit of love longed for it. Some imagine it. Others go into depression or into an ill-spent life of careless living. I know of some who never succeed in life due to character flaws traced to love deficit, rejection, insecurity and inferiority. Sad, isn’t it?
Your love relationship contains your future
In the presence of God’s love, people flourish. Affirmation, faith, hope and positive mind-set blossom into possibilities of divine and human favour. Favours are critical to you future. The favour of access to God’s throne, to people we need to see, to open doors and favour of a good report with the wisdom of God – point to the need to celebrate our relationship with the God who loves us. Our future, success and destiny hinge on our relationship with God.
Love,
Jeremiah& Susan Yap
Group Senior Pastor
New Life Restoration Centre
聆听叶牧师 – 爱、关系和恩惠 (2010年二月)
在神慈爱之年里，我们要与神建立很深爱的关系以致我们能停留在神起初的爱里。
无论做了什么，最重要的是我们与神的关系。这是在启示录二章中神给以弗所教会的一个成绩单。
爱使生命活得有意义
我们以为生命是关乎表现和财富。不是要轻看勤劳工作和财富，但我们知道这些都为要成就神更大的事。我们与神爱的关系能保持我们不至於在压力下耗尽而放弃，反而因着爱的关系许多生命的动力能体现出来。有时候，表现可以掩饰了我们真实的身份但爱却可肯定我们的真正的自我。爱能把我们最好的引发出来，被爱就有能力去爱，它使我们放松自己以得着内在的自由去活出丰盛的生命。
有爱就有能力
爱无法在缺席中被体会，有个说法：“短暂的分离能使爱更浓”。你会渴望与所爱的人相处，即使不做什么或只是彼此绵绵细语。此时联系的能力就被建立。它有医治的果效，让人有安全感，有平安也能使人得力。
通常只有在缺乏爱的时候你才能体会到爱的能力。那些缺乏爱的人都会渴慕爱，有些人更是凭想象去体会。有的则跌入忧郁或以荒唐的方式虚度此生。我知道许多人一生无成就是因为缺乏爱而有性格上的瑕疵，被拒绝、缺乏安全感和自卑。很可悲，不是吗？
你爱的关系成就你的将来
在神的爱里，人们兴旺。被肯定、信靠、盼望及有积极的意念去引发神与人之间的恩惠所带来可能性。恩惠对你的将来是重要的。神的恩惠领你到他的宝座，到我们所要遇见的人，到开启的门和靠神的智慧做正面报告 – 这一切都指向我们需要欢庆与爱我们神的关系。我们的将来、成功和命定都是取决于我们与神的关系。
爱你们的，
叶超群总
主任牧师夫妇
