This encounter took place some few months ago.
I was meditating on what to blog and it came up.
I believe it will a real blessing to readers and admirers of this blog.
Once I was seated at lunch with my Senior Pastor, Pastor Yang Tuck Yoong. There was a question burning in my heart out of a blue as I sat with this man I had known for some few years and yet seems like many years.
"What made you have so many friends the world over?" I asked him.
Before, he could answer, I added another "because I have seen you have variety of friends who Africans, Americans, Europeans, Asians, etc". Actually, I had 'seen' something unique and peculiar in this man's heart that I had not seen in many of us in the Body.
He started by saying: "I think I got this from my mother. When, I was young, people used to make the comment, 'he is the son of Jane'............but now the expression has changed to 'she is Pastor Yang's mother'.And then, he added: "I remember also that I was in a meeting, and God birthed LOVE in me, it was real that I knew it..............so whether people do like me or not, I will go the extra mile to love them............".
I learnt an invaluable lesson that day. I looked back to my relationship with this man, I so much love, and I had to pray for God to start this spiritual surgical operation in my heart! Lord, I want to love people, regardless who they are, what they do to me, where they come from, how they treat or mistreat me, etc knowing you LOVE ALL UNCONDITIONALLY (John 3:16)!
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away" (John 6:37) says Jesus Christ our Lord and Teacher.
I was meditating on what to blog and it came up.
I believe it will a real blessing to readers and admirers of this blog.
Once I was seated at lunch with my Senior Pastor, Pastor Yang Tuck Yoong. There was a question burning in my heart out of a blue as I sat with this man I had known for some few years and yet seems like many years.
"What made you have so many friends the world over?" I asked him.
Before, he could answer, I added another "because I have seen you have variety of friends who Africans, Americans, Europeans, Asians, etc". Actually, I had 'seen' something unique and peculiar in this man's heart that I had not seen in many of us in the Body.
He started by saying: "I think I got this from my mother. When, I was young, people used to make the comment, 'he is the son of Jane'............but now the expression has changed to 'she is Pastor Yang's mother'.And then, he added: "I remember also that I was in a meeting, and God birthed LOVE in me, it was real that I knew it..............so whether people do like me or not, I will go the extra mile to love them............".
I learnt an invaluable lesson that day. I looked back to my relationship with this man, I so much love, and I had to pray for God to start this spiritual surgical operation in my heart! Lord, I want to love people, regardless who they are, what they do to me, where they come from, how they treat or mistreat me, etc knowing you LOVE ALL UNCONDITIONALLY (John 3:16)!
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away" (John 6:37) says Jesus Christ our Lord and Teacher.
Can we say this sincerely today from the bottom of our heart? .............Definitely, many of us will welcome people of our race, taste, social status, same or superior educational attainment, etc.
Conclusion: "may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Eph 3:18-19).
May we really know experiencially and embrace the AGAPE LOVE of the Father's heart to really LOVE ALL not just those within the household of faith but ALL God's creatures made in His own image............
In the Picture: From left, Pastor John, Pastor Daphne(Pastor Yang's wife) & Pastor Yang in Eagle Square, Abuja, Nigeria on 29th February, 2008.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Beloved John Ekundayo,
Cornerstone Community Church,
Singapore SE Asia
