Paul’s life as an apostle is an interesting story of transformation. We know of him as a great apostle who until death took faith in Jesus and pulled life through relying on the strength in Christ.
But St. Paul didn’t started the way we know him of. He was actually the Saul quoted in the Book of Acts to be one of the Pharisees who sent to death the people of God and destroyed all the churches because of unbelief. He was totally opposing Christ.
It was when he had a visionary encounter with Jesus that he was able to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. The same reason why he was able to pen almost 75% of the New Testament and why he was able to live a life glorifying the Lord. These amazing works were not at all pushed through by his own effort. In fact, Romans 7:8 tells of how hard it was for Paul to do good things. But when he let himself be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, he was then made able of all these things.
The work of the Holy Spirit is not a one-time, quick and easy step. Not because we let Him transform us, we can then enjoy a life of holiness. Paul actually described the process as working out salvation in fear and trembling. This is why we still sin despite our desires not to. We struggle and we fight in a big battlefield.
Like Paul’s letter to Timothy, we are to fight a good fight of faith. When we let the Holy Spirit work in our lives, we were not assured that we can then be living a peaceful, worry-free and sin-free life because the Holy Spirit works in us. But we may always take hold of the promise that He who began the good work will carry it on to completion (Phil 1:6). Our part is faith. Faith that in any situations, we will believe that God is ever true to His words that he will complete the work he began in us.
In this battlefield, we are instructed to live for the glory of God (1Cor 10:31). But doing this all alone may just make wasted efforts. Flesh gives birth to flesh. And living to glorify God is not the work of flesh but the work of the Spirit that it then needs to born of Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit and His transforming power that begins the work of transformation. Along the way we may fail, but a good fight of faith would always assure us that this work will be completed by Him who started it in you.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Learning Anew
Truly, in our quest to be living for God’s glory, there are things that are still vague. Likewise, maybe it’s true to say that learning is a life-long process. We learn new things everyday.
The 2nd Book of Timothy somewhat works as explanatory devise to check on any long-time Christians of all truth behind the basic.
Since the start of my reading of this book, I was fascinated by several mistakes that I am still in that I am not aware. One instance is in his chapter of 2Timothy, where it was cited that taking a form of godliness but denying its power is actually a sin.
Sad to say, a lot of times, I have denied the power of God through inhibitions, fear and diffidence in declaring His glory through sharing His gospel. I am totally rebuked by this passage that tells of “denying the power of God”.
It is true that along the way, as we pursue good works and instructions of the Lord, God is always there with us that we always have the power to overcome anything. When we share the gospel, we are enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit and we should rely on that. Because everytime we do not do, we deny the power and therefore, we sin.
May it be a learning that God’s words is His own breath that enables us to teach, rebuke, correct and train into righteousness and so make us equipped with good works always. His word is our power, that in any weakness we encounter, His words and promises will be our strength. There may be persecutions, and that is expected in pursuing godly life in Christ Jesus. But take courage, He is with us always!
The 2nd Book of Timothy somewhat works as explanatory devise to check on any long-time Christians of all truth behind the basic.
Since the start of my reading of this book, I was fascinated by several mistakes that I am still in that I am not aware. One instance is in his chapter of 2Timothy, where it was cited that taking a form of godliness but denying its power is actually a sin.
Sad to say, a lot of times, I have denied the power of God through inhibitions, fear and diffidence in declaring His glory through sharing His gospel. I am totally rebuked by this passage that tells of “denying the power of God”.
It is true that along the way, as we pursue good works and instructions of the Lord, God is always there with us that we always have the power to overcome anything. When we share the gospel, we are enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit and we should rely on that. Because everytime we do not do, we deny the power and therefore, we sin.
May it be a learning that God’s words is His own breath that enables us to teach, rebuke, correct and train into righteousness and so make us equipped with good works always. His word is our power, that in any weakness we encounter, His words and promises will be our strength. There may be persecutions, and that is expected in pursuing godly life in Christ Jesus. But take courage, He is with us always!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Encouragement to be Faithful
Life as servant of God is a never easy task. It is a life of tough toils. It is a big battlefield. It is never-resting. Everyday is to humble down despite rejections. Everyday is no compromise to what the majority is doing. Life is isolation.
God did not promise us of good and easy life when we accepted Him to Lord and Savior. In fact, the more we will battle with trials. And the more we will be tested. But through faith that works, Jesus ascended to heaven not living us to work on these tribulations alone. Along with the promise of Jesus has already overcome the world, He also enabled us to continue live in holiness through the power of the Holy Spirit. 2 Tim 1: 7 promises that God did not give us a power of timidity but of love, power and self-discipline. So to say, that we can live through all the never-easy life because we are made able. That through the Holy Spirit that empowers us, we can persevere and endure the world until we are united with the Lord.
There really is suffering for the gospel and shameful responses in testifying about the Lord, but if we will humble down until the end, we will know that God is all along carrying us in His arms of love to make us continue in His light.
Be faithful. Our God is more than faithful to make our lives blessed and worry-free and abundant thru His grace.
God did not promise us of good and easy life when we accepted Him to Lord and Savior. In fact, the more we will battle with trials. And the more we will be tested. But through faith that works, Jesus ascended to heaven not living us to work on these tribulations alone. Along with the promise of Jesus has already overcome the world, He also enabled us to continue live in holiness through the power of the Holy Spirit. 2 Tim 1: 7 promises that God did not give us a power of timidity but of love, power and self-discipline. So to say, that we can live through all the never-easy life because we are made able. That through the Holy Spirit that empowers us, we can persevere and endure the world until we are united with the Lord.
There really is suffering for the gospel and shameful responses in testifying about the Lord, but if we will humble down until the end, we will know that God is all along carrying us in His arms of love to make us continue in His light.
Be faithful. Our God is more than faithful to make our lives blessed and worry-free and abundant thru His grace.
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