We are blessed!
Blessed because we got to conduct our Enrolment Service in 2023 as a whole company after not being able to do so for 3 long years!
Blessed because we got to do something we had never done before. After years of doing Enrolment and Awards on the same day, this year is our first time conducting the Enrolment Service only – separating the Awards Day which is to come in November!
Above all, blessed because of God’s gracious favour in allowing us to serve Him in this ministry for 23 years since the company started back in July 2000!
Doing something differently from what we have been used to naturally feels weird at first because we are creatures of habit. Think back to what happened when the pandemic hit.
But it does provide opportunities to see and learn something new.
Doing Enrolment and Awards together, as we had been doing in previous years, is efficient as we only have to plan for one event. But it came with some disadvantages. The biggest is the Enrolment part which unfortunately and unintentionally gets relegated to a bit of a side act because the celebratory nature of the Awards segment tended to command the attention.
The Enrolment is very important for good reason.
During Enrolment, Chaplain Arnold asked these questions to the members, the NCOs and the officers.
Boys and girls desiring to be enroled as members of The Boys’ Brigade, |
NCOs of the 2nd Subang Jaya Company, |
Captain, Officers and Staff Sergeants of the 2nd Subang Jaya Company, |
Each group progressively carry greater reponsibilities.
We respond “I do” to the questions.
The questions we should be asking ourselves:
1) Do we know what we are saying “I do” to?
2) Do we realise what it means to say “I do”?
This “I do” is not unlike the “I do” that couples say to each other when they get married.
It is a promise. It carries weight. It is done in the presence of witnesses.
Above all, the “I do” is to God, not just man.
Matthew 5:33-37 says:
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." |
Saying “I do” means “I agree with the expectations and will do my best to honour it!”. Therefore it is important as we are making a commitment!
What are the expectations?
- Obeying rules of the company.
- Setting good example in words and conduct.
- Serving faithfully and joyfully.
- Supporting one another.
- Taking our duties and responsibilities seriously.
- Answering the call to serve Him and advance His Kingdom.
This spirit is also reflected in the hymn sung “Underneath the Banner”.
When God makes a promise – He honours it!
When man sinned against God in the garden of Eden, as God was proclaiming the curse to the serpent, He said in Genesis 3:15:
And I will put enmity |
That promise was kept and fulfilled at the cross at Calvary where the Lord Jesus was crucified, died and rose again 3 days later. And that is why we observe Good Friday and Easter.
God keeps His promises.
Do we hold ourselves accountable with the same expectation?
If we don’t, why should we have it differently? Shouldn’t we be doing it too?
“But that’s because He is God and we are sinful mortals.” you might say in response.
By our own strength, agree! It truly is IMPOSSIBLE for us to keep that promise or for that matter anything. The Lord Jesus said so Himself when He told His disciples in John 15:4-5:
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. |
That is why Chaplain’s words to us after after the “I do” response is so meaningful:
On the grounds of this promise, |
God’s presence is needed for us to be able to have any chance to keep the promise.
And He, knowing how feeble we are, gives us much grace to try again and again because He knows we WILL fail – again and again and again.
Finally, His approval is the one that matters the most when He would crown us with success in service of Him.
Blessed Enrolment. Blessed Easter!
We are blessed indeed!