Binhi sang Pagtuo
June 8, 2009
Dear Centralians and Friends,
Greetings from CPU campus!
Our reflection for this week comes from II Corinthians 8:1-9. This scripture text tells us how Paul challenged the church in Corinth by way of illustrating how the church in Macedonia helped in proclaiming the gospel.
Paul challenges us to give six things. If we sum up these six things, we will know that what God is asking of us is our whole being.
First, let us give of our material resources. How is our offering nowadays? Are we faithful with our tithing? Or are we finding it hard to give our materials resources to the church and in the mission of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Second, let us give our faith. Let us not just keep the faith, we must spread it. Our faith is enriched if we share it with others.
Third, let us give our kind words. We cannot catch our words the moment it left our mouths.
Pastor Acosta once told of an illustration about a little girl that shouted “buang” in the mountain. The mountain echoed back “buang” to her. She was infuriated. Her mother told her to shout “gwapa.” When the mountain echoed back the word “gwapa”, she beamed with joy. Let us watch our mouth.
Fourth, let us give our knowledge. Let us train second-liners. Like Jesus, we must have disciples.
Jesus had his full-time ministry for about three years. But he trained not only 12 disciples but also 70 and then 120. The gospel reached all of us because of discipleship.
What about us? Are we training someone to someday replace us in our leadership positions, or are we holding our positions until we die?
Fifth, let us give our availability to serve. We give a lot of excuses to God. Although we really felt that God is calling us to serve Him, we still refuse to listen. We say things like – I’m still young, I’m old, others are better than me, I’m shy, I’m busy, I’m afraid and many more.
Like prophets of old, let us say, “Here I am, send me.”
Sixth, let us give our loving attitude.
Dr. Feliciano Sombito, first President of Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches said in 1935, “Dapat naton usisaon kag suklon ang aton kusog kag kaluyahon… magamitlang sang mga defectos, sa espiritu nga dili pag padiutay apang pagpadaku, dili pagmusmus apang pagbatak, dili paghikay apang sa higugma, kag dili pag patay apang sa pag hatag kabuhi.”
May God bless us all!
Sincerely,
Pastor Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
Assistant Chaplain
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Thanks for your interesting and thoughtful message. Are you aware that your title is also the title of a hymn? You can learn more about it, and the author, on my daily blog, Wordwise Hymns. God bless.
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