Young Adults' Group

Making This Lunar New Year Significant

by Pastor Mark
January 26, 2017

A Blessed and Happy Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year is just a few days away. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Blessed and Happy Lunar New Year!

Celebrating the New Year is always a joyous and festive occasion. It is a time for special dinners and to meet up with family and relatives. Yet going beyond the physical aspects of the occasion, it is crucial that we celebrate with spiritual significance in mind.

1. The honouring of our parents

The principle of honouring our parents stems from the fifth commandment of the Decalogue…to honour our father and mother. (Deut 5:16) The apostle Paul also challenged his young readers to obey and honour their parents. (Eph 6:2)

The word “honour” in Greek is “timao” which means “to value, to deem precious”. The challenge is to value our parents for who they are and to honour them. Let us seek to practise this principle of honouring our parents not only during the Lunar New Year but also one in which we should consistently practise.

2. An opportunity to be a witness

Since the beginning of 2017, we have been challenged by Pastor Charles to be witnesses of the Lord. The Lord gave the call for His disciples to be His witnesses as He promised them the coming of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8) Subsequently, there came different opportunities for the apostles to bear witness whether it was to the crowds or to the religious leaders who sought to persecute them. They seized each opportunity to bear witness as they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

As we celebrate the Lunar New Year with family and friends, let us be challenged to seize each opportunity to bear witness for the Lord. Even in the way we honour our parents, we can bear witness to them. Let us be challenged to put what we have learnt into practice.

3. Remembering our older folks

Each Lunar New Year, we seek to specially remember and give regard to the elderly like those in our church. It is crucial that we give them our regard and honour, “You shall rise

before the grey headed and honour the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord.” (Lev 19:32)

Giving regard to our older folks is really because we seek to fear God. Let us seek to honour our elderly brethren during our celebration of the Lunar New Year.

4. Caring for the poor

This is also a time for us to remember the poor. We want to give and specially help those who are less fortunate. When we have a generous eye, we would give our bread to the poor. (Prov 22:16)

As we give thanks for the Lord’s blessings upon our lives, let us be challenged to remember those who are less fortunate and who are in need. Let us be challenged to have a wonderful and significant time as we celebrate the Lunar New Year.

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