By Elder Jeffrey Pang

During the time of the prophet Malachi, Israel was in spiritual decline. Though religious rituals continued, covenant faithfulness had eroded, most visibly in their marriages.

Many Israelites violated God’s covenant by marrying idol-worshippers, leading to spiritual compromise, social injustice, and widespread divorce. Malachi’s confrontation speaks powerfully to our own day, where marriage is often treated as optional, temporary, or redefinable. Scripture, however, presents marriage as central to God’s redemptive purposes: from the first marriage in Genesis to the marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation.

Malachi’s message calls God’s people to recover His design and purpose for marriage, so that the Church may faithfully reflect His covenant love and be salt and light in a broken world.

By Pastor Jason Lim

These verses reveal more fully how God blesses us in the:

1. PAST

God caused us to be born again to a living hope. God gave us the ability to "see" the future glories of His inheritance. And in this we can rejoice, even in suffering.

2. PRESENT

God’s power guards us through faith, enabling us to endure to the end. Even amid suffering, we rejoice in the sure hope to come—this is the supernatural power of God’s gift of faith.

3. PROSPECT

God uses our faithful endurance to bring Him glory, and His gift of faith, love, and hope will one day result in praise and honour to Him. Peter offers no shallow promises, but points us to the gospel—where even amid trials, we rejoice in the sure hope of salvation and keep our eyes on the prize.

By Pastor Jason Lim

After 40 years and long instruction, Moses calls Israel to a decision: choose life -choose God through obedience. In the same way, our faith is defined by the choices we make.

1. THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD

Moses reminds Israel of God’s faithful care and deliverance, calling them to covenant faithfulness. Likewise, God’s goodness toward us is meant to lead us to repentance.

2. THE PRECAUTION FROM GOD

Moses warns that rebellion and idolatry bring judgment, just as Jesus calls us to repent, for the Kingdom is near.

3. THE PROMISES OF GOD

God says, "I will circumcise you". He will change their hearts. Paul will speak of this circumcision and subsequent obedience in Rom 10:6-8.

Will you also choose life? Come to God. Ask Him by faith to circumcise your heart, that you may believe and obey.

By Pastor Jason Lim

We embark on a 20 week journey through the book of 1 Peter today.

1. THE AUTHOR

Peter was a most colourful character in the Bible. And he was also an apostle, probably the most prominent amongst the original 12. And so what we will read is deeply interesting.

2. THE AUDIENCE

This letter was written to the elect (both Jews and Gentiles) in Asia Minor of ancient Rome (modern day Turkey). They were scattered and were subject to harassment, hostility and persecution. And that is the reason for the letter- to urge the believers to live in holiness in the midst of hostility.

3. THE AFFIRMATION

Instead of moping, moaning and groaning, Peter reminds his readers about their blessings in the gospel. He speaks of the Father's sovereign election, the Spirit's sanctifying work in their hearts, and the cleansing by the blood of Jesus. He also speaks of the grace and peace multiplied to God's people.

So, instead of a superficial "things will always get better soon", or a superficial "God is here for your comfort", let us learn the profound goal of "holiness in hostility". Jesus came not to live it up, but to give his life up for God's glory. May we follow Him.

By Pastor Jason Lim

Today we bid farewell to Moses. These 4 chapters reveal Moses' great confidence in God:

1. THE SUCCESSION

As Moses hands leadership to Joshua, he entrusts Israel to God, confident that God, not Moses, will keep His covenant and lead them into blessing. Do we trust God in our own life and ministry transitions?

2. THE SONG

Moses’s song (Deut. 32) is a witness-song: it exposes Israel’s sin and suffering, yet proclaims God’s ultimate supremacy. Do we trust Him when life feels messy and doesn’t make sense?

3. THE SEND-OFF

Facing death, Moses blesses Israel, trusting God’s future goodness. Deuteronomy ends with Moses’ burial but points to the promised greater Prophet (Deut 18): Jesus, the greater Moses, who died and rose and leads us to the true Promised Land.

By Pastor Jason Lim

God commands Israel to make a national pledge when they enter Canaan. They will stand on Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim to affirm the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience.

1. THE GRAVITY OF SIN

True happiness comes through obedience; unrepentant sin brings God’s judgment, so we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

2. THE GAP IN SIN

Because judgment does not fall immediately, we may take sin lightly; yet this delay is God’s mercy, giving us time to repent - and a call to warn and preach to others.

3. THE GRACE DESPITE SIN

Neither Israel nor we can keep the Law, but God provides forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus, so the blessings of heaven come to all who repent and believe in Him.

By Pastor Jason Lim

The 6th–10th commandments teach love for neighbour. Given to Israel, they show how to become a gracious society—a people made beautiful not just by the land, but by the way they live.

1. THE DESCRIPTION

By the last five commandments, Israel is to love one another by honouring life, guarding faithfulness, living generously, and walking in truth: even in the details of daily life.

2. THE DESIRE

God has always desired His people to be a beautiful, blissful people of love - from Eden, through Israel, to the new creation, and His church today.

3. THE DEPENDENCE

The Law could not make Israel beautiful. Only the Lord Himself can. And so it is for us. Only Christ and His Spirit can change us.

By Pastor Jason Lim

1. THE PEOPLE

Five groups are called to purge evil from Israel by serving with righteousness, justice, and impartiality - not self-interest - fearing God and obeying His Word.

2. THE PRINCIPLES

Their role is to purge evil and bless Israel, calling God’s people to submit to His appointed authorities. Leaders must serve with integrity, resist temptation, and be grounded in God’s Word.

3. THE PINING

Israel longed for a day when evil would be fully removed, but never saw it - made worse by corrupt priests, kings, and prophets. So they yearned for a perfect Saviour. 2000 years ago, He came! Jesus is that perfect prophet, priest and king who will purge his people from sin.

By Pastor Jason Lim

Deuteronomy 13:1–14:21 expands the 3rd commandment on honouring God’s name (between commandments 2 and 4), showing what it means to honour Him.

1. DEDICATION

Israel must stay loyal to God by rejecting and removing every enticement to idolatry, just as the New Testament calls the church to guard against false teachers through discipline.

2. DISTINCTION

Israel’s distinct food laws reinforced their holiness and separation from pagan practices, and while these laws don’t bind Christians today, the call to be holy and distinct in a sinful world remains.

Though Israel couldn’t keep the Law, Jesus obeyed perfectly and died to give believers His righteousness, so we are forgiven, cleansed, and saved.

By Pastor Jason Lim

The 4th commandment is about honouring God via rhythms or periods- not just once a week for the Sabbath, but also in regular tithes, feasts and release in Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17.

1. THE CALENDAR

Israel observed regular tithes, a third-year tithe for the poor, a seventh-year sabbatical, and three annual pilgrim feasts (Passover, Weeks, Booths) for all males.

2. THE CHARACTER

These sabbaths, feasts and releases formed Israel in rest, remembrance and relief. May we also live out rest, remembrance and relief in the year ahead.

3. THE CHRIST

Col 2:16,17 says that these sabbaths and feasts point ultimately to Jesus. Jesus is our ultimate rest, reality and release.