03/03/26

Today marks the last day of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebration. And also welcome the celebration of the first full moon of the new year, a symbol of unity and togetherness. Families gather once more for another sumptuous dinner, embracing the age-old traditions that unite us all during this festival season. We exchange greetings and warm wishes, hoping for good health, prosperity and happiness in the coming year. For those who may not be present, we hold them close in our hearts, sending our hopes that they will have their hearts’ desires.

I was blessed with a “super desire” of my own heart. A brief trip for a change of seasons from Singapore to Tokyo en route to Taipei. Two days before the CNY, I attended the local church on Sunday. My entire being was filled with joy and thanksgiving in worship.

My heart sank when the senior pastor asked the congregation a soul-searching question: What is your heart’s desire? With scripture reading from the Book of Roman 1:18-25.

It was not only a spirit-led sermon but also a timely one. The central principle was a reminder that the indwelling of the Spirit has guided us to the truth and directed us to choose what should be our heart’s desire. However, the pull of excessive concern for the world leads us to create our own idols to worship, rather than worshipping our dear Lord God. Jesus..

The senior pastor spent a considerable amount of time using charts to draw comparisons, illustrating how easily we have missed the point- for instance, chasing after human recognition instead of seeking to please God.

It was a Chinese worship service, and the pastor was to expound on the Chinese version of Roman 1:24. He assured that nothing was lost in translation. But we should not read it literally.

Hearing this exposition brought me back to a truth the Spirit revealed to me many years ago during my study of Romans: almost all the grammatical uses of the word “Sin” are as a noun. It is the sinful desire within our minds that ultimately leads to our sinful acts.

As I left the service that day, I was on the busy streets of Taipei just before CNY, and the charts and words stayed with me. But so did that older understanding, now freshly awakened. I looked at the world around me – the decorations, the hurried 一shoppers, the temple offerings. We are all, moment by moment, choosing what to desire, and our desires reveal the condition of our hearts. My prayer becomes simple: Lord, may my “super desire” always be You. Expose the idols I have created from my wants and worries, and draw my heart back to worship You alone. May this be my prayer, not just for the new year, but for days to come.