What is the purpose of GPS?

Though GPS has many uses, the one I am most familiar with is locating my precise destination whenever I travel. This is very useful, especially when you are lost. This is what they call the navigation utility, where travelers are guided from one place to another.

In giving the congratulatory message to Cavite New Life Presbyterian Church during their 20th Anniversary and Thanksgiving Day, I made use of the acronym GPS for the members of the church to easily remember a message that will remind them how to arrive at a destination of a life worthy of the Lord. I based my brief greeting on Paul's prayer for the church at Colosse, written between A.D. 60–62. You can read this prayer in Colossians 1:10-12.

G Stands for Growth

. . . growing in the knowledge of God . . .

This is the first item in my prayer list for CNLPC. After two decades of celebrating God's faithfulness, He expects them to continually grow in the knowledge of God.

P Stands for Productivity

. . . bearing fruit in every good work . . .

How do you know that a person is growing spiritually? One of the sure signs of a spiritually healthy person is productivity. If someone boasts of great knowledge in divinity, and yet, you cannot see visible fruits, this tells us that either the person is sick or immature.

One way CNLPC celebrates their anniversary and Thanksgiving Day is by bringing fruits. I also observe many fruits in their decoration. The theme of the message is also related. The speaker talks about harvest. I allude to these details when I speak about productivity.

S Stands for Strength

. . . being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might . . .

The Christian life isn't easy. We cannot continue living relying on our own strength. We need the power of God to strengthen us.

And so with the GPS acronym as the sum of my message, I greeted CNLPC with this concluding message:

Happy 20th Anniversary and Thanksgiving Day CNLPC! As you celebrate two decades of God's faithfulness, may you be reminded of Apostle Paul's prayer for the church at Colosse in Colossians 1:10-12. In oder for you to live a life worthy of the Lord, you must grow in the knowledge of God, be productive in your Christian life, and be strengthened by His glorious power. This is the GPS that you need in order to reach your destination of a life that pleases God. May this milestone in the life of CNLPC encourage you to persevere with grateful hearts, continuing the work He has entrusted to you, and joyfully giving thanks to our Father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints. To God be the glory!

Additional Gifts

After the program, we ate together. After lunch, Rev. Chang Bo Yun gave me gifts: a t-shirt, skincare products, a barong, and customized pens.

Grace and peace!