June Reflection – Sow the seed, reaching out into your community
By Mrs Tay Poh Imm
Currently President of GB Singapore Mrs Tay brings tremendous experience to the role of IVP for Asia, and the International Leadership team is blessed to add her wisdom to the team as GB moves forward in this next phase of mission. As a teacher she brings a wealth of knowledge to the team, and has travelled around Asia supporting the extension of our mission into Thailand, Cambodia and more recently into Indonesia.
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:7,8
We can only bear fruit, the fruit of the Spirit, by abiding in Jesus and walking with Him daily. To abide in Jesus is to live in such a way that I am always found to be in Him, to walk hand in hand with Him, to live according to His Word.
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you …” It is clear that abiding in Jesus has to do with His words abiding in (i.e. dwelling in, having power in) my heart and mind. When the words of Jesus abide and have power in my heart and mind such that I obey them by the power of the Spirit, then the fruit of the Spirit, the virtues of Jesus, will also come forth in my life. I will naturally bear fruit.
God will put a great desire in my heart to reach out to others in my community, to love them and show them God’s love.
Who are these? I would think immediately of those who are orphans, lonely, sick, elderly and those with additional needs.
In GB, I can teach the girls and young women to be aware of the needs of these special people in our community. We can work in partnership with an retirement/ nursing home or service centre to plan visits and outings for the elderly and sick. As we teach our girls to interact with them and as they put into practice what they have learnt, they will gain insights and an awareness of needy people and their needs.
It is so heartening and a blessing to see the joy it brings to both our girls, as well as the beneficiaries.
Our girls can also bake cookies or cakes and distribute to children in a home. This would be a treat for them. Offering help with lessons, organising games and playing with the children would also be very much appreciated. There are many opportunities for us to reach out but just lovingly spending time with these vulnerable groups of people would truly bring much joy and fulfil God’s command to love one another.
There are so many little ways we can reach out to the community but do remember that we must reach out in God’s love and in so doing, show that we are Christ’s disciples. Without dependence on God and His love in our hearts, it would be difficult to sustain the service.
Mother Theresa said: “We cannot all do great things, but we can all do things with great love.”
Has God been putting this desire in your heart to serve Him? Abide in Christ and pray for Him to lead you to someone you could show His love to. Bearing abundant fruit, the fruit of the Spirit, is the calling of every believer and God’s promise to them! And by God’s grace it is possible for you too! By this the Father is glorified, and by this definition Jesus has said: “… so you will be my disciples.”
Prayer:
Dear God, as I abide in you and allow your love to flow through me, help me to bear fruit and bring glory to your name as I seek to make your love known to these needy people, who are so in need of love and friendship.
Let me love what you love; hate what you hate. Empower me to do your will. Give me the strength and courage to live out your values, as your disciple and follow in Jesus’ example.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
May God enable us to go forth joyfully to serve the community He has placed us in.
