Hope in TribulationDaily Devotions For Lent 2019

Published by Sower PublishersTM

(a ministry of The Bible Society of Singapore) Copyright© 2019 by The Bible Society® of Singapore All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.Used with permission. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016

Sheepography illustrations © The Bible Society of Singapore Illustrated by Kelvin Lim

The Bible Society of Singapore7 Armenian Street, Bible HouseSingapore 179932Tel: (65) 6337 3222 Fax: (65) 6337 3036Website: www.bible.org.sgEmail: info@bible.org.sg

First Printing 2019 • 11MISBN 978-981-220-641-1

A project commissioned by

Lent has traditionally been a fast in anticipation of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. A practice that began in the second century, followers of Jesus committed themselves to a season of heightened prayer, fasting and almsgiving in honour of His forty days in the wilderness. It therefore invites us to consider more carefully Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection, and the significance they bear upon us Christians.

To help us in this journey, the National Council of Churches of Singapore has commissioned The Bible Society of Singapore to publish this Lenten devotional booklet. It is a labour of love with contributors from many different churches and denominations, and I am thankful to God for blessing the Body of Christ through its publication for so many years.

This year’s theme, “Hope in Tribulation”, is an especially pertinent one. People all over the world face tribulations of various kinds, and they search and long for hope. However, a concrete, sure hope that never fails can only be found in God whose love is everlasting, and whose gifts and calling in Christ are irrevocable (Rom 11:29).

I pray that God will, through this devotional, open our eyes to apprehend more clearly the salvation that Christ accomplished on the cross and the hope He has secured for us, and bring about a transformation in our lives that is deeply grounded in this unfailing hope.

Bishop Terry KeeBishop, Lutheran Church in SingaporePresident, National Council of Churches of Singapore

Foreword

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“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused

us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and

unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready

to be revealed in the last time.”1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV)

Lent is a 40-day period of preparation for all Christians that points us to the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. As we read and meditate on God’s Word, we examine our own lives and renew ourselves in the hope of His blood-bought grace, as we prepare ourselves for Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Since its inception in 2006, The Bible Society of Singapore has been commissioned by the National Council of Churches of Singapore to produce this annual collection of Lenten readings and reflections. The year 2019 marks the 14th year that we have done so. Last year, we printed and distributed about 18,000 copies of the devotional and, for the first time, introduced a large print version in both English and Chinese for the elderly. We also continued to make online copies available in both languages as well as in Tamil and Bahasa Indonesia, and to produce audio recordings of the material in Hokkien. We are thankful for the opportunity to bless so many Christians through this effort, and also for our many partners who came alongside us in doing so.

Preface

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The theme for this year is “Hope in Tribulation”. As we live in a fallen world broken by sin, tribulation abounds, whether we look inside or outside of ourselves, and no matter if they are brought about by natural or human causes. It is so easy for us therefore to be trapped in an almost perpetual state of anxiety and uncertainty. Yet hope is what God abundantly supplies through His spoken and written Word, and secured in the saving work of the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. Unlike the spurious hopes the world promises, the hope we have in Christ is a “sure and steadfast anchor of the soul” (Heb 6:19). Therefore, as the children’s song goes: “with Christ in the vessel, we can smile at the storm(s)” of tribulation that may come our way, “as we go sailing home”.

As we journey through this season of Lent, let us reacquaint ourselves with the precious hope that Christ has purchased for us with His own blood. I pray that God will be pleased to use this devotional to further transform our lives and equip us to extend the same hope to a world steeped in darkness and hopelessness.

Rev Ezekiel TanGeneral SecretaryThe Bible Society of Singapore

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Through the traditional Lenten disciplines of almsgiving, prayer and fasting (Mt 6:1-18), the church seeks to be renewed in the likeness of its Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This booklet aims to foster such renewal by providing a series of readings and meditations focused specifically on Lenten themes.

Drawing on the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings (Augsburg Fortress, 2005), the biblical passages in Daily Devotions for Lent 2019 have been selected because of their thematic connection to the Sunday readings of the Revised Common Lectionary. The Sunday Gospel Lessons of RCL are the central foci to which our weekday Lenten readings will point. Users should be mindful of the major themes and motifs encountered in the readings of Revised Common Lectionary and RCL Daily Readings for Lent:

First Sunday — I will remember my covenant (Gen 9:8-17)Second Sunday — Following the Son of Man (Mk 8:31-38)Third Sunday — We are those who have faith and

preserve their souls (Heb 10:19-31, 36-39)Fourth Sunday — But the Lord GOD helps me (Is 50:4-11)Fifth Sunday — He learnt obedience through what he

suffered (Heb 5:5-10)Palm Sunday — Your King is coming to you... humble

and mounted on a donkey (Zech 9:9-12)

Following the RCL Daily Readings pattern, this booklet’s readings for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

Introductory notes

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are considered “Preparation for Sunday,” and those for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are “Reflection on Sunday.” The former group looks forward, the latter backward. (An exception to the pattern will be the readings for Holy Week, all of which will constitute a preparation for both Good Friday and Easter Sunday.) It is hoped that this system will provide a sense of unity and focus, and enable users to appreciate the Sunday lectionary readings within a broader biblical context.

The overall theme of “Hope in Tribulation”, challenges us in two ways pertaining to our walk with God: firstly, in the light of God’s Word and His other means of grace, humbly consider the current condition of our relationship with God as we face the challenges and temptations of life, reflect and repent where we fall short, and secondly, encourage and build each other up, unified as one, in knowing God’s Word (Rom 15:4), live out and share Christ’s love and hope (Col 1:27) for us and all people everywhere (Rom 15:12; Mt 12:21; Eph 4:4-6).

Some suggestions for your daily devotions:

1. Find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted or distracted.

2. Choose a fixed time and begin with a short hymn or song of worship to prepare your heart for receiving the Word of God.

3. Take your time in meditating on the truth contained in the Scripture passage. As you read

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the Bible passage at least twice, meditate on the life-changing truth contained in God’s Word.

4. Make a sincere commitment to the Lord (you may wish to modify the suggested commitment statement, or even make your own), and then spend some time praying.

5. If you are particularly touched by an aspect of the reading that day, try to share your insights with at least one other person.

6. Keep a journal that records significant insights.

7. As you begin each series of “Preparation” lessons, consider reading the Sunday lesson so that you get the “big picture.”

8. Consider reviewing the Sunday lesson as you begin the “Reflection” series.

May you draw closer to the Lord Jesus, by the Holy Spirit and His Word, be filled with the Father’s passion (2 Pet 3:9b) and assured by His promise (Phil 2:10-11), and being challenged by His undying faithfulness, be a faithful and fruitful disciple in whom Christ may see “the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied.” (Is 53:11; Mt 24:14)

Canon Emeritus Louis TayAuxiliary PriestSt Andrew’s Cathedral

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The publisher would like to record its grateful thanks to the following for help rendered:

Consultant (Lenten Readings)Canon Emeritus Louis Tay

Contributors(Names of contributors appear on the next two pages as well as at the end of each daily reflection)

EditorDr Florence Teo

Administration, Design & Layout Sower Publishers

(A ministry of The Bible Society of Singapore)

Acknowledgements

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Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon 1 - 4

Rev Dr Edwin Tay 5 - 6

Mr Lim K Tham 7 - 9

Rev Ezekiel Tan 10 - 12

Dr Lee Soo Ann 13 - 14

Rev Stanley Chua 15 - 17

Rev Dr Dev Menon 18 - 20

Dr Ernest Chew 21 - 23

Canon Emeritus Louis Tay 24 - 27

Rev Martin Yee 28 - 29

Rev Ranganathan Prabhu 30 - 32

Colonel Rodney S. Walters 33 - 35

Rev Dr William Wan 36 - 38

Rev James Nagulan 39 - 41

Rev Chia Beng Hock 42 - 44

Rev Malcolm T H Tan 45 - 48

Rev Dr Daniel Koh Kah Soon 49 - 51

Rev Christopher Chia 52 - 55

Rt Rev Teo Yew Tiong 56 - 58

Dr Calvin Chong 59 - 61

Rev Dr Samuel Wang 62 - 64

Revd Canon Dr Titus Chung 65 - 67

Rev Dr Steven Gan 68 - 70

Rev Dr Clement Chia 71 - 73

Contributors

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Rev Dr Alex Thomas 74 - 76

Rev Dominic Yeo 77 - 79

Elder Dr Lawrence Chia 80 - 82

Pastor Lawrence T Y Chua 83 - 86

Rev Samuel Gift Stephen 87 - 89

Dr Roland Chia 90 - 93

Rev Dr Leonard Wee 94 - 97

Rev Dr Maggie Low 98 - 100

Rev Dr Chua Chung Kai 101 - 103

Venerable Wong Tak Meng 104 - 106

Rev Dr David W F Wong 107 - 109

Rev Dr M. Mani Chacko 110 - 112

Rev Dr Chiang Ming Shun 113 - 115

The Revd Canon Andrew Shie 116 - 118

Rev Mathew K Punnoose 119 - 121

Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung 122 - 124

Revd Steven Seah 125 - 127

Mr Michael Perreau 128 - 130

Dr Tan Kim Huat 131 - 133

The Right Reverend Solomon Cheong 134 - 135

Revd Canon Terry Wong 136 - 140

Rev Dr Michael Shen 141 - 143

Bishop Terry Kee 144 - 147

Contributors

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2019 Year of PrayerLenten Prayer Guide

(Pages 150 to 165)

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Isaiah 58:1-12

1“Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins.2Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God.3‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.4Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.5Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?

6“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry

6 March • Ash Wednesday

Declare to My People Their Transgression

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and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?8Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.9Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,10if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.11And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.12And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.

MeditationSome kinds of fasting and religious observances may be admired on earth, but not in heaven (see Christ’s teachings in Mt 6:1-18). The Israelites wondered why their impressive pious practices failed to produce any significant result. God gave the answer through his prophet Isaiah. Merely going through religious rituals without inward and behavioural change is meaningless. For instance, the Jews, though they fasted, were guilty

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of pursuing their own pleasure and oppressing the weak (v 3). Somehow praying hands and wicked fighting fists (or greedy grasping hands) don’t go together (v 4)!

The kind of fasting that will be noticed by God and delight His heart is one that goes beyond religious ritual and trappings. It involves actions reflecting God’s righteousness and holiness, and compassionate acts such as feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and clothing the naked (vv 6-7, cf. what Jesus said about how the “sheep” and the “goats” will be separated, Mt 25:31-46). In other words, God is not interested in religious shadow play but in real inner and social transformation. Our prayer and fasting practices must be genuine and involve personal sacrifice and concern.

The results of such proper piety will be an opening of heaven’s door to pour forth spiritual blessings. Our holiness will grow, our prayers will be heard, our spiritual hunger and thirst satisfied, and our souls and land healed. We will then truly become repairers of that which is broken and restorers of that which is lost (v 12). We will be able to secure the faith and future of the generations to come.

Lent is an annual period of prayer, fasting and almsgiving (doing good in the name of Christ). We should remember what God is looking for in us as we observe Lent. Let us go beyond superficial religious practice and ensure that our hearts are full of God’s holiness and our hands full of His love.

PrayerO Lord who searches all hearts, help me to go through this holy season of Lent with humility, repentance and

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a hunger for Your presence and righteousness, and a heart full of compassion for those in need around me. Help me to fast from everything that prevents me from doing so.

ActionMake a list of things you should focus on during Lent. How would you relinquish your will in order to embrace God’s will? How would this change your heart and the way you see your needy neighbours?

Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert SolomonThe Methodist Church in Singapore

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Luke 9:22-25

22[Jesus says:] “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

23And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

Meditation“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” These are the shocking words of the German pastor-theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Are his words an exaggeration of the cost of following Jesus? Our passage today suggests that far from exaggerating, Bonhoeffer has grasped the essence of Christ’s summons for his disciples. In a world that is dominated by self-serving interests, Jesus’ call to self-denial and daily cross-bearing is unpopular, counter-cultural and difficult to embrace.

Take the example of the disciples for instance. Having witnessed Jesus’ miracle of feeding the multitude with five loaves and two fishes, Peter was quick to confess Jesus as the Christ (v 20). But his confession, while right in form, is defective in content. Luke reveals in verse 45, that the understanding that Christ had to suffer death had not yet dawned upon the disciples, presumably including Peter. This should not surprise us. Death by crucifixion is inimical to human expectations

7 March • Thursday after Ash Wednesday

If Anyone Would Come After Me

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of a saviour and Christ. A crucified Christ is one who has been shamed as a criminal and cursed by God. Why would anyone want to follow such a Christ? Yet this is the very road that Jesus must walk if he is to be the Messiah who will “on the third day be raised” (v 22).

The starting point from which we are to grasp the messiahship of Jesus is not the glory of his resurrection, but the necessity of his death. Likewise, the call to follow Jesus begins with the necessity of death, be it the death of self-will, or in some cases of persecution, physical death. Whichever the case, the crux of our prayers as followers of Jesus is, “not my will, but yours be done.” Self-denial for the sake of Christ is the way to finding our true selves as God intends.

PrayerO sovereign God, I am no longer my own but Yours. Put me to what You will, place me with whom You will. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be put to work for You or set aside for You, exalted for You or brought low for You. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and fully surrender all things to Your pleasure and disposal. Amen. (Words adapted from John Wesley’s Covenant Service)

ActionIdentify one or two areas of your life that you find most difficult to “crucify” and yield to the Lord’s sovereign control. Offer those areas to God as you pray the prayer above. Close your time of devotion with the song, “I have decided to follow Jesus…no turning back.”

Rev Dr Edwin TayVice Principal

Trinity Theological College

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Psalm 51:1-5, 17-18

1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

3For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

18Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;

MeditationThis is regarded as one of the most profound of the seven ‘penitential’ psalms, viz. Psalms 6, 32, 38, 102, 130, 143. It was penned during the psalmist’s darkest moment of self-searching and remorse. Most probably, the sin being recalled is David’s sin of adultery as told in 2 Samuel 11 and 12.

The psalmist’s opening cry ‘Have mercy on me, O God…’

8 March • Friday after Ash Wednesday

Sacrifices Acceptable to God

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(v 1) is an acknowledgement that he, being the guilty one, is totally undeserving of the forgiveness he asked for. Thus, he can only appeal to the ‘steadfast love’ of God.

What is stressed in his confession is that sin is more than an offence against another human person. In the larger scheme of things, when one sins, one sins against the Lord too: ‘Against you, you only, have I sinned’ (v 4; see also 2 Sam 12:13). The reason why this is so is because divine righteousness is offended. Moreover, the hurt that is done to a person who is sinned against, is ‘felt’ by God Himself.

Though not mentioned, David is certain to have offered a burnt sacrifice for sin, as required by the ritual of his time. Here, he tells us that God will not despise the sacrifices of a ‘broken spirit’ and a ‘broken and contrite heart’ (v 17). I think his point to us is that getting right with God and with those we have offended is a matter of the heart, even if concrete actions have in fact been taken in restitution.

PrayerHave mercy upon us, O Lord! Have mercy upon us! We need Your forgiveness for the sins we have committed—consciously or unconsciously. Cleanse every part of us and make us whole. Help us to do what is right always. Amen.

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ActionTake a moment to recall how we have hurt others by our selfish and inconsiderate actions. Ask the Lord for forgiveness, remembering that our sin is a sin against Him too.

Mr Lim K ThamHe had served as General Secretary of the Bible Society of Singapore

and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Singapore. He was also with Care Corner Singapore and Singapore

Anglican Community Services as their chief executive. Currently he is doing research at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

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9 March • Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Luke 5:27-32

27After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

29And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

MeditationDo you feel despised by your own community? Are you stuck in a dire and detrimental path of life, yet you cannot help but continue on for survival and the gain it brings? Do you despair that you may have no more hope?

This was very likely how Levi felt then. Named after the patriarch Levi, he was expected to be a great figure among his people. Instead, he parleyed with the Romans and collected taxes for them from his fellow Jews. Outwardly, he enjoyed riches and favour from the authorities. Inwardly, he was miserable—rejected as a traitor and outcast. Yet Jesus came and called this Levi to follow Him.

I Have Come to Call Sinners to Repentance

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Consider how this impacted the public’s opinion of Jesus. At that time, He was highly regarded by many as a righteous man and holy prophet. However, people soon derided him as a “glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Lk 7:34), no doubt caused in part by His association with Levi and his associates. Yet this did not stop Jesus from doing so, for—as He replied those who questioned His actions—it was to the sick and the sinners that He came to heal and call to repentance.

When we find ourselves in the mire of hopelessness, we can often feel that we are not worthy of God’s attention and love. Yet Jesus, the sinless Son of God, still came personally to save us in our sin and sorrow, and offers us a change of course. When we repent, we can move out of our mire and follow Him along the narrow but blessed path of life.

In response to the vicious accusations and derogatory labels that the public heaped on Jesus in Luke 7:34, we see that truly, “wisdom is justified by all her children” (Lk 7:35). Today, we know Levi the despised tax collector as Matthew the apostle, who also gave us one of the inspired Gospel accounts. Praise be to God for His power to save and change, and may we also experience the same today.

PrayerThank You, Lord Jesus, for Your great initiative and condescension in saving sinners such as me. I do not need to be well and whole before I can come to You and experience Your saving grace and power. Help me to know and embrace You in a deeper and more personal way, and lead me to respond in true, heartfelt repentance and obedience. Amen.

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ActionAs you reflect on your life, meditate on Christ’s person and works as revealed in this passage. Then come to Him just as you are, and experience the transformation of your mind, heart, will and life as you repent and follow Him.

Rev Ezekiel TanGeneral Secretary

The Bible Society of Singapore

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10 March • First Sunday in Lent

Confess Jesus is Lord

Romans 10:8b-13

8b“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

MeditationHere Paul links the heart to the mouth, for indeed Jesus had said that what matters comes out from a person, not what enters a person. The heart is the center of our mind, spirit and body and to confess that Jesus is Lord is to proclaim that Jesus is lord of all thoughts, emotions and strength. We are to love God with all our heart, soul and mind.

The confession is that of one who has gone astray, a cry to Jesus as Lord and God, to re-centre our lives on our privilege of being able to be reborn as a child of God. God answers our cries and no one is denied entry into God’s kingdom. No one is so bad that he or she cannot be saved, but neither is anyone so good that he or she does not need God.

As reborn children, we can lift our heads high for it is God who lifts us up. All have fallen short of the glory of

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God and truly the same Lord is lord of all, bestowing on us undeserved riches. If we need to boast, we boast in the name of the Lord and nothing else.

At the start of this Lenten period, we follow Jesus as He goes to the cross which enables us to be lifted high. We in turn can lift others up, for truly everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

PrayerAlmighty God, we thank You for Your great love in which You sent Your Son Jesus to go to the cross so that we can be lifted up. Enable us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, knowing that Jesus has gone before us and was raised triumphant after He fulfilled Your wishes for us. We praise You for Your great power which raised Jesus after His perseverance in obeying You to the very end. May we also persevere.

ActionDo something every day in the next forty days which imitates the way our Lord Jesus died to self and lived to God. See how almighty God sustains you and lifts you up.

Dr Lee Soo AnnPresident

The Bible Society of Singapore