Opportunity and Change

I haven’t quite had enough time to have a decent scripture-meditation type quiet time these past few days.  I had a few instances of scripture reading, thanks to my phone’s S60 bible. I am also rereading a book entitled “the man in the mirror: solving the 24 problems men face.” There were also bursts of prayer and petition during the day and at night, not counting mealtimes.

So, what’s been happening these past few days?

• Went to DOST twice for my scholarship spending an aggregate travel and waiting time of 9.5 hours. I went home blessed to have my scholarship reinstated and have last semester’s fees reimbursed, with matching allowance!
• Went to asiantech for a followup regarding my “voided” battery warranty. Had a test of patience and Christ-likeness in patiently arguing and fighting for my rights. Will know the results soon. I pray that my love and enthusiasm for God will be independent of the result of this warranty appeal.
• Spent almost 300 in jeep, bus, and train fares within a span of 3 days.
• Went with my relatives to a pool party in los banos.
• Had bouts of allergic rhinitis, allowing me to miss my saturday class.

So, what am I learning from all these?

• Trust God unwaveringly.
• love Him independent of your circumstances.
• Always remember that people are God’s creation.
• Anyone can be a recipient of grace, and we are dispensers of what we have received from above.
• Humility and temper are inversely proportional.

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Earlier today, I had a friend who was wondering about goals. It’s true that after you have achieved one, you find another, until you find one that you think you can’t achieve. What does God have to say about these things? scroll down.

Q: What is the chief end of man?
A: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

-Westminster Catechism

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Philippians 3

No Confidence in the Flesh

1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

2Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

*taken from biblegateway.org, NI Version. italics, the blogger’s own

I read a book a few days ago about a person who was hesitant about selling her decade-and-a-half-old car because of sentimental reasons. She did not want to part with her old, mechanic-magnet vehicle. The thought sounded OA to me, until I realized that there are some things in life that I want to be non-negotiable. I realized that i have almost closed the doors to all possibilities of being a missionary. I did not want to work in a place away from a city. I wanted a job that advances to the top (read: promotions). I’d be all but joyful to give away my gadgets and clothes. Perhaps I am still a long way from “being conformed to the image and likenss of Christ”.

I know of a person who calls the state of being ready to part with things as suicidal. Whether it be material or abstract, most people hold on dearly to stuff that others might consider as rubbish.

Most people today hold on dearly things and close to their heart. For some people, it may include ipods, dogs, cars or phones. To others, position, a high-paying job, a comfortable lifestyle, or a peaceful neighborhood.

In the above passage, we ca see that the apostle Paul counted his prestiege, position, peaceful coexistence, and  “legalistic righteousness” (which he has worked for in such a long span of time) as nothing compared to knowing Christ. He willfully parted with these things, in order that he may gain Christ. Paul, so to speak, has adopted a “suicidal” view when it comes to things that are of no eternal value.

Paul “lost all things” for the sake of Christ (take note, it’s in the past tense). Did we “lose all things” the moment we turned to Christ? Do we have the same point of view as Paul? Are we willing to relocate to a far-flung, churchless neigborhood for the “sake of Christ”? Can we easily let go of our material possessions without second thoughts? Or are we stuck to a superficial form of Christianity that takes all the rubbish along with the Only thing that matters?

I am not saying that we should give away all that we have and wander the face of the earth with only one set of clothes and some cartons for beds. I am saying that it may be better if we take into account all purchases and decisions we make, and review them in the light of eternity. Perhaps we even need to check if we are severely attached to any object or desire, especially if we consider that object or desire as having greater value than Christ.

Knowing Christ is the only thing that should be non-negotiable. If there are other things on your list, pray hard. Don’t stop until only one is left.

**perhaps i’ll try tagalog tomorrow

It’s been a while…

I’ve decided to post my quiet time reflections here as often as possible. In this way, I accomplish two things:

1. Be forced to do my quiet times daily

2. Share what I have learned to friends and guests alike.

So, here it goes…

Humility

I was looking at my bible one day, and I discovered that I had written something on the front cover’s inner lining, it was a quote from our pastor, kuya Caloy:

“Napaka hirap saktan ng isang humble na person”

At that time, I was having increasing incidences of shouting or getting angry at people close to me. That made me ponder. I remembered Jesus’ quote from the sermon on the mount:

“Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth”

This quote, in turn, made me go to Philippians 2:3-8, where Paul the apostle discusses the humility of Christ:

3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

A lot of thoughts came flashing through mind. Some of them are:

• humility is something you don’t have when you think you do have it
• Even before Leonidas thought that a God could bleed, a God bled to death
• If Xerxes’ getting wounded by a “mortal” was humiliation, what would you call Jesus’ death on the cross
• Humility and obedience go together, and  in Christ’s context, obedience meant lots of grace, patience, and pride-swallowing
• For God to become and and to die at the hands of men is like a man becoming an ant and getting executed by fellow ants (anyone willing to become an ant and die by their hands to save them?).
• I was angry about small things, while Christ forgave those who wanted to take his life. He did not retaliate, even if all the powers of heaven was his to command.

Truly, the Word of God never ceases to bring fresh revelation. Try reading the passage, and you might still find something that I might have missed.

A prayer:

Dear Lord, teach us to be humble like you. May we learn obedience from your example. Help us to not think highly of ourselves. May we forgive those who are against us; just as you forgave those who mistreated you. May we consider others, and not just ourselves. May we be salt and light to the world, as we follow in your footsteps.