Ever since I heard the teachings of Lord Jesus from Pastor David, God's words have been profoundly impactful and clear to me: "‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" Since it is the greatest commandment, I pay special attention to it, and spend most of my time trying to understand and live out Jesus' commandment.

For the first commandment, I see that even though we acquire much knowledge and skills, there is still much that we do not know. We, as individuals, are so small, and it is only with a heart of reverence for God that we can overcome pride, be humble, minimize mistakes, and draw closer to God. Benjamin Franklin once said, "Pride is the most difficult emotion to suppress. Despite your attempts to conceal it, to wrestle against it with all your might, it persists. If I dare to believe that I have completely conquered it, I may very well become proud of my own humility." We all know of situations where pride has hurt others' feelings, damaged relationships, or caused personal losses. Overcoming pride is challenging, but we can do it once we come to know and revere God. Ultimately, by maintaining an intimate relationship with God we can conquer pride.

The first commandment also taught me to trust in God's guidance. Ten days before this year’s Jason Crabb concert, ticket sales were below expectations. I was anxious and worried. I expressed my emotions to Pastor David, and he said, "I just trust in God." When the concert opened, the audience surpassed last year's attendance and our expectations. The atmosphere at the concert was warm, and one could feel the Holy Spirit.

The second great commandment, which is to love one's neighbor, showed me that contributing to others is the foundation of building trust, and it is a way to spread the Gospel. Therefore, I initiated an English club where I taught classes and wholeheartedly shared my experiences of learning English in Canada. I became sincere friends with many participants, two of whom now engage in church volunteer and worship activities. I also organized a Tai Chi club to serve the community residents, make new friends, and spread the Gospel. This club attracted more friends to join worship at PenTab.

Loving oneself in the context of the second great commandment means taking responsibility for oneself. By maintaining physical and mental health we can better love the Lord and love others. I regularly exercise my body and reflect on my inner self to ensure that I am filled with sincere love for God and others. I also continue to learn so that I can better understand God and serve more people.

In my personal experience, we truly grasp the teachings of Lord Jesus only when we act out our love for God and others. The greatest challenge lies not in loving God and others for a day or two, but in doing so consistently over the long term which requires greater effort.

Thanksgiving and praise be to the Lord, for granting us such precious teachings! I have personally gained immensely over the past year, and I look forward to more growth and experiences as I continue my journey of faith.

by Simon Liu