Dr. Tan Tek Seng

DAILY REFLECTION

"Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life"
Isaiah 43:4

In a world that often measures worth by achievement, wealth, or status, God offers a radically different truth: your value is not earned - it is bestowed. You are deeply loved, eternally cherished, and honored simply because you belong to Him.

Pastor Yoichi Fujiyabu of Shirahama Baptist Church in Wakayama, Japan, lives out this truth in one of the most heartbreaking places imaginable - cliffs known for attracting those contemplating suicide. Recognizing the silent cries of despair, he began a suicide prevention ministry rooted not in programmes, but in presence. He meets people at the edge, sitting with them for hours, listening, and reminding them they are not alone. His ministry has rescued over 1,100 lives, many of whom have found renewed hope and become part of the church community.

What drives him is not strategy, but love. He sees worth where the world sees failure. He offers dignity where shame has taken hold. His presence at the cliffs is a living testimony of a divine promise of redemption, even in the darkest places.

Five years ago, Pastor Fujiyabu was diagnosed with a rare form of abdominal cancer. Yet even in weakness, he refuses to give up. His life continues to proclaim the love of Christ, urging others to believe, to hope, and to live.

Isaiah 43:4 reveals to the believers that God’s relationship with His people is not merely based on duty or covenant obligation, but on genuine, steadfast love. It invites us to rest in the truth that we are precious, honored, and eternally loved by God.

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."