John 13:35

Having received the Father’s love for us, He then tells us to love one another.

Greetings dear Family!
Indeed, Kum Yan is a Family! That is something we hear often, and most of us agree is one of our most treasured values. In fact, more than a Kum Yan value, this is one of the values of God’s Kingdom. When we were saved, we were immediately placed into God’s family by God’s great love! A Family where He is the Father, and we are His children, and brothers and sisters to one another.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 Jn 3:1)

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” – 1 John 3:1
Having received the Father’s love for us, He then tells us to love one another.
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. – 1 John 4:20-21
This love is not just theoretical or for show, but real! It is expressed through doing life together in cell groups, going through the highs and the lows of life in the longings and loss of family members, friendships, jobs, crises, aging, seasons of life etc.
It requires us to go beyond the normal church programs and interactions, to truly know one another, and not only that, but to lay down our lives to serve one another, at even the ultimate cost of our own lives. As Jesus has done for us, He wants us to do for one another.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. – John 15:13
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. – 1 John 3:16
When we live sacrificially like this as a whole church community, it is one of the ways Jesus told us that we will truly show what it means to be His disciples, and the world will take notice!
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. – John 13:35
So what does being a “Family Church” mean to us today? Is there room for us to open our hearts to know another friend or family more today? Is the Father asking us to build deeper relationships with our congregation family by visiting them outside of church activities? Is God calling us to meet for prayer, for children play dates, for bible study or to serve together in the various ministries of the church?
Or are we feeling the Holy Spirit leading us to smaller groupings of men and women, who journey in life over coffee, jogging, exercise, walking dogs, pottery, singing, volunteering, even short term missions — that even in doing life together in God, we are loving one another, and loving others as well?
May we in Kum Yan take this value of Family seriously, so it truly becomes a Kingdom way of living and loving!