A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Tsunami by Hokusai 19th Century

'Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God and I trust Him. For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.' Psalm 91:1-3 (NLT)

A tsunami of crisis aptly described 2023; it was a most challenging year for the Lee family. Pat started treatment for T-cell Lymphoma which has lasted for more than a year. It was one relentless cycle of different chemotherapy drugs after another. It took a toll on Pat's health, immune system, weight and energy. Debbie and Becky, our two daughter, were tested as potential donors for a allogenic stem cell transplant for Pat on 22 February 2024. Debbie has been selected to be the donor and she is back in Singapore for medical examinations, tests and mobilisation of stem cells. 

We hope and pray that Pat will achieve remission and be cured of the Lymphoma. Family members and many friends from around the world are joining us in prayer. Above these prayers, we know that we are at God's disposal entirely and His will shall prevail in our lives.

At such times of prayers and seeking assistance from God, we are reminded that God will protect those He loves. Martin Luther wrote the hymn of 'A Mighty Fortress is our God' declaring this assurance.

Described as the Battle Hymn of the Reformation, Martin Luther wrote it to rally the reformation against the onslaught of persecutions and opposition. One can imagine the numerous times when the singing of this hymn assisted Martin Luther through many a difficult year, as the reformation took on the might and influence of the Roman Catholic Church

The lyrics are inspired by Psalm 46. This Psalm described 3 different scenes indicating the presence of God in all circumstances.

• The Raging Seas - Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:2-3

• The Peaceful Stream - There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Psalm 46:4-5

• The Mighty Fortress - Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice and the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46: 6-7

A mighty Fortress is our God,
A Bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His Name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His Kingdom is forever.

When one is buffeted with life’s difficulties and challenges, it can be a very frightening experience. One problem follows another much like the relentless waves of a raging storm. Yet, Psalms 46:1 resonates across the waves, 

'God is our refuge and our strength, an ever present help in times of trouble.'

So, despite a difficult year past, looking ahead, this hymn will be our anthem for 2024 - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.

Lionel

Work For The Night Is Coming

22 Nov 2011 Planning the Curriculum for a New Medical School

'Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don't know if profit will come from one activity or another - or maybe both' Ecclesiastes 11:3-6 (NLT)

A familiar hymn 'Behold Us Lord A Little Space' extols the relationship between work and worship, particularly this stanza:

Work shall be prayer, if all be wrought

as You would have it done;

And prayer, by You inspired and taught,

shall then with work be one.

I have worked for 47 years and I have always treated careers and tasks as part of Christian service. That work and worship are inseparable was also the view of Martin Luther the reformer, "Every occupation has its own honour before God. Ordinary work is a divine vocation or calling. In our daily work no matter how important or mundane, we serve God by serving the neighbour and we participate in God's ongoing providence for the human race." Martin Luther dignified all work, even the most menial and unsavory. He described work as the place to serve God and people.

In more modern times, Martin Luther King also expounded the sanctity of work. He said, “No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. Whatever your life’s work is, do it well.”

Recently in a newsletter, Lam Kok Hiang, Leadership Mentor for Campus Crusade for Christ in Singapore, wrote, "Steward well what has been entrusted to us. We reap what we sow. We must be diligent in our assigned roles and responsibilities. When we steward well what God has entrusted to us and spend each day wisely, we can rest assured that He will bless and establish the work of our hands, for His glory." 

Apichai Chenrungrotsakun, fondly known as Loong, introduced me to the Hebrew word Avodah (עֲבוֹדָה). Do you know that in the Bible the English translated work, worship and service all originated from one Hebrew word, Avodah? For example, 

“Then man goes out to his work (avodah), to his labor until evening.” – Psalm 104:23

“This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship (avodah) me.” – Exodus 8:1

“But as for me and my household, we will serve (avodah) the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15

Using Avodah, William Perkins puts it altogether, "The main end of our lives…is to serve God (worship) in the serving of men (service) in the works of our calling (work)." Our work, our service and our worship are all intertwined because it is all part of living our lives devoted to Christ Jesus. And St Paul summed up,

'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.' Colossians 3:23, 24b 

There is no separation between the spiritual and the secular. Every moment, every hour, everyday we are living for Christ, whether we are missionaries or plumbers, doctors or gardeners we are working and serving God and treating every action as an act of worship. This changes everything, no task in life is too hard and or too menial. 

John Wesley had this to say about Christian industry, "Use all possible diligence in your calling. Lose no time. If you understand yourself and your relation to God and man . . .If you understand your particular calling as you ought, you will have no time that hangs upon your hands. . . . Never leave anything till tomorrow, which you can do to-day. And do it as well as possible. Do not sleep or yawn over it: Put your whole strength to the work. Spare no pains. . . ."  (Ref 1)

Minister Lawrence Wong, Singapore's Finance Minister and the designated next Prime Minister said, "I suppose in the Methodist tradition, you would say your work is your worship, right? You don't delink faith from day to day. Whatever you do on a day-to-day basis, if you do it well, if you take responsibility, that in itself is a testimony of how you as a person are an example, you know, a light for the world." (Ref 2)

'We need to be energetically at work for the One sent Me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls the workday is over.' John 9:4

Jesus Christ worked to do the will of His Father with a single minded purpose and mission, He said 'Work for the Night is Coming,'

Work for the night is coming

Work thru the morning hours;

Work while the dew is sparkling,

Work ‘mid springing flow’rs.

Work when the day grows brighter,

Work in the glowing sun;

Work, for the night is coming,

When man’s work is done.

Work, for the night is coming,

Work thru the sunny noon;

Fill brightest hours with labor –

Rest comes sure and soon.

Give ev’ry flying minute

Something to keep in store;

Work, for the night is coming,

When man works no more.

Work, for the night is coming,

Under the sunset skies;

While their bright tints are glowing,

Work, for daylight flies.

Work till the last beam fadeth,

Fadeth to shine no more;

Work, while the night is dark’ning,

When man’s work is o’er.

President Ronald Reagan once quipped, "There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit." 

'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working to the Lord, not for human masters.' Col 3:23

Lionel

Ref 1: Christian History Institute, Christian History, Issue 110, 2014

Ref 2: The Straits Times, Lunch with Sumiko, 1 Nov 2020