Pursue Holiness and Taste Heavenly Grace behind the Veil,
Testify Word and Manifest Light outside the Camp
Thank God
for leading us into the year of 2007. At the beginning of a new year, I wish
brothers and sisters be strengthened in the spiritual journey, knowledgeable in
God, beloved by Him, and with a joyful heart and healthy body.
In 2006,
our faithful God led us into the new church building on No. 5 Road. Not only we
completed the physical construction, but also finished well without a deficit.
God gave us many opportunities to bring the lost souls into His Kingdom through
our evangelism and testimony. We could meet many of our goals of church
ministries. May God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, the author of our
faith, be glorified and praised!
“Pursue Holiness and Taste Heavenly Grace behind the Veil, Testify Word
and Manifest Light outside the Camp” is a new spiritual direction and objective
that we need to pursue this year. Saints living before God, act like the
Priests of the Old Testament. They must be separated for the Holy purpose. To
serve before the altar according to a designed system and time, they would
offer sacrifices and prayers for themselves and others in the Holy Place. They
could behold the glory and enjoy a sweet fellowship before the Throne of Mercy.
They could draw strength of Life and happiness of His divine grace. As the
author of the Book of Hebrews says: ‘Therefore, brethren, having boldness to
enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He
consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.’ (Hebrews 10:19-20)
We follow the Commander of the Church, entering into the veil, performing
different functions of priesthood. Abiding in Jesus Christ, we offer daily
prayer for ourselves and others. May the Holy God and Heavenly grace be our
focus this year!
On the other hand, Saints living on earth should contact the outside
world like the priests leaving the camp. Yet, we carry a unique identity and
mission. Jesus says: ‘As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world.’ (John15:19) Before He departed from His
disciples, Jesus mentioned twice in His prayer: ‘for they are not of the world
any more than I am of the world.’ (John 17: 14, 16) The Church is separated by
our Lord from this sinful world according to His divine purpose. We are a
spiritual entity belonging to God. By the understanding of the Bible and the
help of the Holy Spirit, we adopt a new worldview of life, of the core values,
of God, and a new perspective to eternity. Christian worldview should be
different from the people of this world. We perceive and act according to the
Biblical principles. Outside the camp, we bear witness for God and shine for
the truth of Jesus.
I hope our church will be exhorted by this new theme so that we may
continue to pursue for His holiness and grace and to testify for God’s Kingdom.
Finally, I would like to share with you a hymn taken from the Hymnary 269.
Enter the veil and go without the camp, taste heaven’s sweetness, thus
the earth forsake;
If by the Holinest I am satisfied, how can I of earth’s vanities
partake?
Enter the veil for resurrection power, go out the camp to bear the cross
and woe,
If I His radiant face in heaven see, His footsteps I will follow here
below.
Enter the veil, on heaven’s fatness feast, without the camp, in hardship
persevere;
Though earthly trials sorely pain my heart, heaven’s communion doth my
spirit cheer.
By: Daniel To