A grieving God – vengeance is His

https://odb.org/2025/05/20/a-grieving-god

Isaiah 41:10–13 (NIV): 10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  11 “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. 12 Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. 13 For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, “Do not fear; I will help you. “

God grieves with us when we sin, and similarly, He grieves when His people are bullied or oppressed. In Isaiah 41, the LORD spoke about those who wage war against Israel will surely be ashamed and disgraced. They will be as nothing and perish. Because He is their God and will take hold of their right hand – “Do not fear; I will help you.”

At last night’s young adults’ bible study, we discussed how we could forgive those who had hurt us intensely. We all agreed that time would heal even as our memory fades. Of course, we must not constantly replay and relive those moments in our memory. We agreed that we would forgive as much as it is difficult because we must forgive, for God to forgive us our sins.

Another way we could forgive, which we did not traverse last night, is to know that vengeance is mine, says the LORD (Romans 12:9). Leave it to God to deal with those who bully and oppress us, like in Isaiah 41. In some cases, the LORD may even save them and bring them into the Kingdom of God! Leave it to His discretion. He knows what’s best. He knows the human heart more than anyone else.

Our role is to forget the past and look to the future to the missions, tasks, and responsibilities in the Lord that lie ahead. Our future in God is a land overflowing with milk and honey, but there are fortified cities, strong armies, and sons of giants to conquer and overcome! Nothing comes on a silver platter, not even the promises of God for our lives. We need to work at it, placing reliance on Jesus, the Lord of our lives, the author, and the finisher of our faith.

The LORD our God is indeed our God. He will protect and help us in times of trouble. He will deal with our enemies if we are oppressed. He is our rock and salvation, our fortress and stronghold. Amen! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

Jesus the Son of God

https://odb.org/2025/05/16/for-the-record

Mark 1:1–8 (ESV): 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight”. 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

As believers, particularly long-time ones, we take it for granted that Jesus is the Son of God or the second Yahweh in the Holy Trinity. But during His time, that was a big challenge, especially to the Jewish audience. Yahweh was sacred and was always known in the Old Testament as a monolithic God. When Jesus claimed He was Son of God and God Himself in the flesh, it was thus sacrilegious and a major blasphemy to the eyes of the Jew. Even today, Jews look at Jesus with disdain. If you’re in Israel trying to preach to a Jew, it’s really an uphill battle.

The Gospel writers, therefore, took pains to emphasise that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. Like Mark referencing John the Baptist and that the Messiah (Jesus) whose sandals he (John) is unfit to untie. While John baptised with water, Jesus would baptised us with the Holy Spirit (the third Yahweh in the Holy Trinity). John, on the other hand, started his Gospel by proclaiming that Jesus was at the beginning and was the Word or Logos, the supreme force in Greek thought.

Our response to today’s message should be thankfulness and gratefulness to God for giving us the faith to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. We were not saddled with the theological baggage of who Yahweh was like the case of the Jews or who Allah is like the case of Muslims. We were able to accept that Jesus is the Son of God and, more importantly, that He was crucified for our sins and resurrected to give us the hope of glory.

The question remains this morning: Who is Jesus to us? Is He a piece of information like Trump is the crazy American who caused global trade turmoil? Or is Jesus the second Yahweh that we know personally? Or even better, it was through Him that we personally know God the Father and the Holy Spirit? More than head knowledge but as a friend, a brother, and a Lord. Someone we could talk to and convey our deepest thoughts to. Someone who walks with us as we face issues of life and the struggles of living headon? When we confront the demons in our lives, Jesus is right there with us, helping us clean up the skeletons in our cupboards.

Have a good day, everyone, and a good weekend ahead to rest and serve God as we take a break from work!

Thorn in the flesh

https://odb.org/2025/05/15/such-glorious-knowledge

2 Corinthians 12:1–10 (NIV): 12 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body, I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Although the Apostle Paul was given visions and revelations of the Lord and saw and heard inexpressible things, he remained humble because the Lord also gave him a thorn in the flesh, to prevent him from getting conceited (extremely proud). As humans, we may become proud or even conceited when we feel we are special and as believers, especially when we feel God treated us so special and gave us out of the ordinary gifts or talents. When the glory of God shines on us, we bask in the glory. Even powerful and famous speakers may suffer from this ailment. In the case of Paul, the Lord gave him a thorn in the flesh, a weakness to keep him humbled and for him to place his reliance on Christ as His grace is sufficient for Paul.

There are things in our lives that make us weak or vulnerable or limit our capabilities in the natural. For example, some people find it tough to sleep in a strange bed or without air conditioning and thus may not be able to travel to the interiors of the country to minister or do missions. Or despite our eloquence and powerful messages, we may walk with a limp, or we may not be as tall or beautiful as we wished. Maybe we have a darker complexion or suffer from psoriasis (autoimmune condition leading to skin issues) or scoliosis (spinal condition) or anxiety attacks or mental health issues. Or we are glad to preach at the pulpit because the revelations God gives us as we prepare but do not have the gift of the gab. Very few are perfect and good at everything as usually if we are a jack of all trades, we are masters of none.

Celebrate God’s goodness in our lives. As we dwell deeper into His Word, we will gain better insights into Father God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Some of the knowledge we will gain may be like Paul’s – indescribable. There may be things that God reveals that we may not even be permitted to say. Yet like Paul also, we may have a thorn in the flesh that refuses to go away despite the thousand times we have prayed or been prayed for. Take it that the thorn is there for us not to be conceited. That we remain down to earth and not puffed up into the clouds!

Hezekiah and the LORD

https://odb.org/2025/05/14/bring-it-to-god

2 Kings 19:14–20 (NIV): 14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: “LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, LORD, and hear; open your eyes, LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God. 17 “It is true, LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. 18 They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 19 Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, LORD, are God.” 20 Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria.

King Hezekiah, when he received the letter from his messengers, spread it out before the LORD and prayed. Hezekiah was King of Judah (the Southern Kingdom with its capital in Jerusalem after the split with Israel, which was the Nortern Kindom with its capital in Samaria). Hezekiah reigned for 29 years from the age of 25.

Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of God. This included removing the high places where the Israelites offered sacrifices to pagan gods; cutting down Asherah poles used in the worship of Asherah; and destroying the bronze snake made by Moses, which the Israelites had begun to worship. He trusted in and held fast to God and kept His commandments.

In 2 Kings 19, after Hezekiah laid out the letter in the Temple and prayed, he received word from Isaiah that the LORD Zhad heard his prayer and God later destroyed the Assyrians who had taken over a few cities and was about to invade Jerusalem. The Assyrians later overrun and captured the Northern Kingdom of Israel under King Hoshea, and this was seen and witnessed by Hezekiah during his reign. About 75 years later, during the reign of King Jehoiakim, Judah fell, and this was to the Babylonians when Jehoiakim and the people did evil in the eyes of God, disobeyed His laws and commandments and worshipped Baal and Asherah, the dominant deities of Canaan.

When we are distressed and face difficult situations in life, we may like Hezekiah, spread out our issues before God, and ask our Father in the name of our Lord Jesus, to intervene and help us. But note that Hezekiah was a righteous king before God, unlike Hoshea or Jehoiakim, who were evil before God. Remember – it is not just our prayers but also our matching lives. The prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16).

Have a good week ahead, although it is already Wednesday! May the LORD our God bless us with wisdom and knowledge in all that we do and cover us in His protective arms, and may we be blessed in the shadow of His wings! Amen!

Help the foreigner

https://odb.org/2025/05/13/a-helping-hand-3

Leviticus 25:35–38 (NIV): 35 “ ‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. 36 Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God so that they may continue to live among you. 37 You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit. 38 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.

May 13 is a watershed moment in Malaysian history in which politics coupled with power fueled the first racial violence in post-independence Malaya that led to the National Economic Policy. The NEP was justified on the basis that racial inequality led to racial riots, but over the years, it has most sadly been used as an excuse by politicians to enrich themselves and their cronies. The truth of the matter is that with the economic status of indigenous and native elevated, you will not simply throw stones at an urban home like in the days of old as you could well hit a Malay home. In other words, any disruption of economic activities in contemporary modern Malaysia will likely hurt everyone – Malay, Chinese, Indian, Dayak, or Kadazan!

In ancient Israel, as recorded in the Holy Bible, the issue was the opposite. Instead of the foreigner enjoying economic prosperity like early Malayan migrants, the foreigner struggled in their lives. This is because Israel then was very much an agricultural society, and practically every Israeli family was a land owner since God gave everyone a piece of the Promised Land after Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan. But if you’re a slave or a foreigner, you don’t get a piece of that land and thus will end up as labourers in the field working for a wage.

Without land, the foreigner will also need to rent their own home and thus the wage which put food on the table and a roof over their heads may just be enough for them to survive day in day out. This, unfortunately, is reminiscent of most of our journey in life until we have saved enough to buy our own place. And if we had been careful with our wages while we were still working, we may have enough as we retire and grow old.

The point is that throughout the ages, there will always be people and families who struggle. In the case of ancient Israel, it was the foreigner, the orphans, and the widows. In the present world, it will be those starting out and those from underprivileged families or those caught in the web of crime or substance abuse. In as much as the LORD bequest that we help the foreigner during ancient times, we must, whenever we can, help those who need help in our midst. No one should starve to death, and neither should anyone be denied an education because of lack of finance. As a fast developing prosperous country, everyone who lives in Malaysia, whether a foreigner or a citizen or a native, should enjoy a reasonable and respectable standard of living. So long as we are willing to work, we should be able to make a living by the grace of God! Amen!

Blessed Mother’s Day

https://odb.org/2025/05/11/a-mom-looks-back

Genesis 29:31–35 (NIV): 31 When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son, she said, “Because the LORD heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.
34 Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi. 35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son, she said, “This time, I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.

When we read the story of Jacob and Laban, we often overlook the treatment Leah received because of Laban’s trickery. We are more indignant of Laban’s deception but likely see it more as God’s retribution to him for his own deceving ways vis-a-vis Esau. Laban promised Jacob Rachel’s hand if he worked for him for 7 years. But when the time came, the daughter Jacob married was Leah. The “justification” was that it was customary that the elder be married off first. Laban did give Jacob Rachel after his bridal week with Leah, but he needed to work another 7 years for Laban.

It was difficult for Leah since Jacob loved Rachel. But the LORD looked out for Leah (as He did for Hagar, the maidservant of Sarah in Abraham’s case) and blessed her womb. She bore him 7 children – 6 sons and 1 daughter. But most significantly, her son Judah is the tribe from which Jesus descended. Thus, despite her unloved status, the LORD honoured her.

A mother’s love knows no bounds. Leah persevered on by bearing Jacob sons after sons even though Jacob loved Rachel. Later, the LORD opened up Rachel’s womb, and she bore him 2 sons, Benjamin and Joseph, and they became Jacob’s favourites. It is likely that family politics led to his brothers (other than Benjamin) selling Joseph to slavery. But we all know how God later turned that tragedy into a pivotal moment of salvation for the Jacob clan.

In real life, a mother will love her children even if they are naughty and rebellious. It is an undeniable fact that my dearest wife thinks about the well-being of Ivan and Daniel much more than me and prays for them constantly. For example, despite her busy schedule and workload, she makes it a point to cook for Daniel at least a few days a week. As her husband, I will, of course, benefit when she cooks! But between us, we are good to have a few slices of bread for dinner. She has done much more for the boys than I as their father, but these pages will not be enough to list down her deeds.

Blessed and happy Mother’s Day to all mothers out there! Know that your children will always appreciate and remember your love and efforts, as your husbands will certainly testify to the same! Amen! Praise the Lord!

Recognising Jesus

https://odb.org/2025/05/09/loves-great-surprise

John 20:11–16 (NIV): 11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

All four Gospels have the account of Mary visiting Jesus’s tomb but with varying details. The main takeaway, however, was that Mary initially couldn’t recognise Jesus, although He had risen. It’s not unique to Mary either as the other accounts of others walking with Jesus for hours also were in the same situation. It is only when Jesus opened their eyes and revealed Himself, in the case of Mary, when He called her name, that they recognised Him. The conclusion from all these accounts is that the glorified body of Christ post resurrection is not the same as the one He had before His crucifixion and death. And yet when He reveals Himself, they all knew He was Christ Himself.

Consequently, we could deduce from the resurrected body of Christ that our glorified bodies one day will be different from our bodies when we die. Come to think of it, it is logical since we all die at varying ages (of decay in our fallen bodies), and we can assume that at Eden Recreated we will no longer age or grow old (since we will live for eternity) and thus it is likely all of us will be at the same age and optimal physical condition.

But the point I like to make today is Mary’s response when Christ called her name. She instantly knew it was Christ, and she replied in Aramaic “Rabboni” (meaning “Teacher”). We can feel the tenderness, closeness, and familiarity between Christ and Mary even as we read the verse. We know, like with the disciples, Peter and Andrew, James and John and the others, Jesus was close to both Mary and Martha.

The question this morning is, are we close enough to Jesus that we will recognise Him the moment He calls our name as we pass through, one day, from the land of the living to the realm of the dead? Will we call Him “Lord, Lord, you are my God”? “You, O Lord, are the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!”. Will we?

But do not despair as there is still time here on earth. Get to know our Lord more and more each day. Develop that personal relationship with Him. Become as close to the Lord as we can in our fallen mortal state. Pray and speak to Him. Serve Him. Do the will of our Father God. Fulfil God’s plans and purposes for our lives! Become the son or daughter that He always wanted us to be! Amen!

Deeply rooted in Christ

https://odb.org/2025/05/08/deeply-rooted

Ephesians 3:14–21 (NIV): 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

A benediction is a horizontal statement of blessing bestowed by a person on another. A classic example is the Aaronic blessing in Numbers 6:22-26. A doxology, however, is a vertical statement of worship to God. The word doxology comes from two Greek words—doxa (“glory”) and logia (“word” or “saying”). It’s a declaration of the glory of God. An example is the angels’ doxology on the night of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:13-14. In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul blends both. In verses 14-19, he prays for God’s blessing on the Ephesian church, and in verses 20-21, he declares God’s “glory in the church.” We could practice both benediction and doxoloy when we pray, speaking of God’s blessings upon our loved ones, our brethren in church, and all those who are going to hard times and giving glory to God for the goodness He bestows on us and in our lives.

Coming back to the topic of the day, we need to be deeply rooted in Christ, in His love so that our faith remains strong in the face of both adversity and deception, the latter will become more prevalent in these end times.

How do we be rooted in Christ? We read God’s word and meditate upon it more. We spend our quiet time with both Christ and the Father, with the Holy Spirit helping us along in the communion. We learn and grow more in the knowledge of Christ and His Wotd. Ultimately, we need to learn more of our faith in order not to be deceived. Then we practise what we learn as we apply His Word and teachings into our daily life, in our interactions with one another. In the process, we are transformed into the person God wants us to be in our words, deeds and thoughts. We embody the fruit of the Spirit. We become more loving with more joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We become a person of good character, living out the goodness of God in our lives. In this way, we will stand firm despite adversities life brings, deceptions of the devil, or even temptations of the world. We will always stand firm in our faith! Amen!

Mephibosheth – faithfulness and love

https://odb.org/2025/05/07/a-new-game

2 Samuel 9 (NIV): 3 The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.” 6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honour.
David said, “Mephibosheth!”
“At your service,” he replied. 7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

I have written a few times on Mephibosheth in these pages, and until today, David’s love and compassion for Mephibosheth still fascinates me. It is a love borne out of a pact made with Jonathan while he was young and was in hiding from King Saul, who was bent on killing him on the mistaken notion that by eliminating David, he will preserve his throne. It was mistaken because God preserved David’s life and, in fact, gave David two opportunities to kill Saul, which the former declined because he believed that the throne should come to him by God’s will and not through his hands. Saul, on the other hand, had become known as the man who took things into his hands and suffered the devastating divine consequences. Saul eventually died in battle, and unfortunately, his son and David’s best friend, Jonathan, also died in the same battle. See 1 Samuel 31 – the battle at Mount Gilboa.

In 2 Samuel 9:3, David asked whether there was anyone left in Saul’s household to whom he could “show God’s kindness” for the sake of his friend Jonathan. The word translated “kindness” is the Hebrew word hesed, which is often used to describe God’s steadfast love and faithfulness to fulfil covenant promises to His people. In this context, David shows hesed, or covenant faithfulness, by keeping the covenant promises he had previously made with Jonathan when he was young by restoring the lands and servants Saul used to have to Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, and promising the latter a permanent place at his table.

There are times when we ourselves as the redeemed of the Lord should show the hesed kindness that David had for Mephibosheth. It speaks of the covenant love and faithfulness of God. A love and compassion and kindness that is steadfast and unfailing. A love and kindness God has for us as His children translated into our love and kindness for others. A love that is steadfast and unwavering for our spouse, our children, and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Humility and honour

https://odb.org/2025/05/06/humble-honor

Luke 14:7–11 (NIV): 7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

I always thought of this concept of humility, as taught by Jesus, is for us to be humble now in order to be honoured in heaven as those who are last will be first in the kingdom of God. But when we read Luke 14 above, we will see that this principle also applies here on earth. Meaning to say if we are humble at the beginning, we will be honoured or exalted in the end while still on earth. Or one of the ways to achieve honour is humility. This is also in line with another teaching of Jesus where He taught that if we are faithful in little, we will be given more. In a way, it also means that we are not to look down on our humble beginnings as one day we will achieve much for God. Start small in serving Him. Eventually, we will be doing mighty works for Jesus.

A great example is King David. He was the youngest in his family of seven brothers and two sisters, and among the males, he was chosen to be the next King of Israel despite his youth and his then scrawny appearance. It is from this narrative that came the famous expression – “While men look at the appearance, God looks at the heart.” David had humble beginnings. Yet because of that, God exalted him as he grew up, and he eventually became the greatest King Israel ever had, so much so that Jesus Christ traced His geneology to David. Jesus, the Son of God, the second Yahweh, the Son of Man, was proud to be from the House of David.

What does this mean to us? Like we started in an organisation as a fresh graduate right at the bottom, we will one day rise to the top if we hone our skills and be good at what we do. We may become senior management one day. Don’t despise our humble beginnings. Or we may start a business with little revenue and sales at the beginning. But one day, we will have revenues exceeding a million MYR a year and then a million a month. Similarly, we may serve God as ushers or, like some of us, in the early days, we started by cleaning toilets. But one day, we will do much more for God, leading missions, setting up outreaches, opening churches, leading and discipling hundreds in the Kingdom of God. Don’t despise our humble beginnings. It is from our humility that God will raise us up and exalt and honour us one day!