Where will your faith rest?

…so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God. 1 Cor. 2:5

"You need more experience to pass." It was a statement I believed for some time. It was a statement coming from a colleague who shared his thoughts on my intention to take the Professional Electrical Engineer's exam. Well, it was a logical rationale. I was teaching full time in college. I had some part time electrical design and consulting practice on the side. I have to have more practical hands on activities. However, deep inside me wanted to submit my requirements and take the exam. Deep inside me wanted to challenge the conventional human wisdom. If God wants me to pass, who will fail me? I decided to put my faith in God's power.

I prepared all necessary papers and got the nod of the Board to move forward in the process. They scheduled my oral interview where three experienced engineer-examiners awaiting my responses to their questions regarding my technical paperwork. Almost at the end of the session, one of the examiners told me that it looks like I will be the first passer for the day after four interviewees.

Boy, did I not celebrate! I was stepping down the ladder of the building wanting to bypass four storey structures and leap to the ground. I knew I needed more experience to pass. Human wisdom tells me I can't pass. But the power of God is no match with that. I can only attribute the accomplishment not on my name but to God alone.

Are you in a similar situation?

Logic tells you, you can't. Human wisdom keeps showing a No. The power of God shouts a big YES.

Where will your faith rest?

Immediately

Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Matthew 25:16

He did not waste any precious seconds or minutes. He went immediately after receiving the loaned talents. He went immediately to double the amount of the talents. One would inquire, "Why the rush?"

I cannot answer for this servant. I can try to retort for us. We can respond to the call of service immediately. Without rolling our eyes, we can take the route to the mission field. Without dilly dallying we can pack and go with confidence. Here's why.

Know the Giver. His love is constant whatever the result of the mission. We know we can depend in His power not on our skills. We know we can stand by His grace and providence. Any mission has its beginning and its end and He is present in all the time with us. We will find challenges along the way, but we will find Him lifting us in every hurdle. When we know the Giver, we can give ourselves immediately.

Know your talents. It's not the same weight as the above but it's important. It's important to know what you can do so you can ask God what He can do. Empower the laborers. What do you possess? Pray to the Giver to bless your gifts. Scan the mission field. Where will you use the talents? Pray to the Giver to bless the receiver(s) of your talents. When we know our gifts, we know what we can share immediately.

Souls are perishable goods. Don't delay. Serve Him immediately.

Eloquence

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning. 1 Cor. 1:17

We imagine Paul to be conversationally convincing when facing the challengers of the faith. We envision him to be in the mold of Bo Sanchez, who translates his speech into printed words, yet he is not. We picture him to be someone who like Bobby Quitain can fire up his audience with power preaching but he is not. And so we thought he speaks well the way he writes.

Paul confesses this - he has no eloquence when proclaiming the cross of Christ. The message itself stands by itself. The message is enough. The message itself is eloquence. 

For you preachers of the word, this is freedom. You don't need the extra pressure to perform your expressive heart pounding verses. You don't need to flex your tongue to play with words of wisdom. You don't need to be cute in sharing the story. You don't need to add anything to the complete meal. You go up there. Stand up. Be clear and concise. Proclaim the salvation in Jesus.

For you hearers of the word, this is freedom, too. You might have been living in this prison fact; you need a Bo Sanchez or a Bobby Quitain to be inspired. The cross is all we need to gain strength to get going. You thought you need someone with stature to proclaim the cross so we can be in awe. Be in awe of the message not of the messenger. You looked forward to the meeting when the best exhorter or great worship leader is scheduled to stand in your midst. Put the cross of Christ in the middle, you can look forward to your future.

Remember when you speak or listen to God's word, it's His word and not anybody else, which when spelled is - E-L-O-Q-U-E-N-C-E.

A Very Special Love

Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." John 19:27b

In the movie "A Very Special Love", starring John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo, there was a part where Layda, played by Sarah, forgets her mother's birthday because of her work. Work was up to her neck, that she forgot the day of the woman who bore her, who nursed her and who loves her.

Who would forget such a special day? Not my family. Not me.

Today is my mother's birthday. She has been dead for some years yet she is still alive in our hearts and life. For many reasons, our mother is unforgettable.

• She spoke when she wanted to speak notwithstanding what others would say about her. At one PTA meeting, she brought her mind to the gathering and she got voted as the Vice-President.
• She would fight for what is best for her children. She sold vinegar and charcoal for her to support our studies. She never mind to smell like the liquid and have black dirt in her hands.
• She brought us close to God. She bugged us to come with her to church and afterward would treat us at the kanto for barbecue or sliced pakwan.
• She never taught about the Bible. But we know she read it, because we read it in the way she lived.
• She reached high school education yet she wanted us to reach for more. Now, we are living our dreams, her dreams were fulfilled.
• She will take the pain so the family won't. When she was at her deathbed, she did not want us to bring her to further medical attention. She knew we were running out of money, but we were not running out of her love.
• She lived with her sister in law, in all her married life. They had differences and we saw how she loved in spite of.
• She encouraged us that there's no time to be wasted, that there is something somebody can do for someone. And that somebody is her.

I can go on and on but let's take that next year.

I join my brothers and sisters in remembering our mother.  As my siblings in the Philippines visit her grave and as I visit her in my heart, we behold her. We behold her for she loved with a very special love.

Full Time

For you know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8

Isn't it an eye opener?

Paul was doing his missionary visits and work while he was also working to provide for his needs and feed himself.  He was not a burden to the flock he was serving. He was serving them not them serving him. He did not eat using their plates. There was no free lunch for the preacher. There was no gratis dinner for the epistle writer. He did not sleep on anybody's bed. There was no free lodging. There was no sleep over or whatsoever. If Paul has a ministry, his is self-paid. If Paul has a mission, his is self-sustaining. He was a full time worker and a full time servant. Imagine Paul writing a fund raising letter addressed to himself. He worked to gain income. He served for God to gain souls.

I am not saying missionaries should find a secular job to sustain their ministry. What I am stressing is this - you can be a full time missionary even if you are employed full time. This was Paul's example.

Let's imitate Paul. You can be a preacher and at the same time go to an office as an accountant. You can serve as a small group leader even as your brain and hands are busy on marketing strategies. You can teach God's word to the church or community while attending to your job as an engineer. You can be a computer whiz worker in parallel with your service as a music worship leader. Your work and service may be two different things in a sense but can be one in service. You don't need to give up your lay job, unless there's a radical call for that, to visit hurting believers. You can keep your work and keep on serving the beleaguered flock. You don't need to be a burden to others, rather be a burden to yourself.

Two extremes exist; you work full time then serve part time or no time; or you don't work full time or part time when you serve full time.

Open your eyes. You can work and you can serve. Full time.

Sign

Ezekiel shall be a sign for you: all that he did you shall do when it happens. Thus you shall know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 24:24

It's important to have road signs. Without signs, we would be lost. No sign means you will go nowhere. A sign gives us identification of the course. It gives us assurance we are on the right way. If you are traveling in a path which is unfamiliar, signs will give you certainty. If you are lost, signs will divert you back to the correct trail. If you are sure of your way, signs will nourish your confidence you are going to the precise direction.

God called Ezekiel to be that kind of sign. A sign that would lead the people back to God. Ezekiel will be a lighthouse sitting on God's bosom.  When people look at Ezekiel, they will see God's way. When the lost would look for direction back to God, they would have their eyes on Ezekiel. If the righteous looks for assurance, they would go the sign- Ezekiel.  And this sign will not be talk about where to go or not. Ezekiel will not be a symbol who is preaching. This sign will be about doing- all that he did you shall do when it happens (Ezekiel 24:24b). Ezekiel will give directions by living a holy life. Ezekiel will point to God by doing not by speaking. His life will direct God's people back to God.

Can you be that kind of sign? A sign who will be steady to provide assurance to the faithful. A sign who will be dynamic to bring the lost back on track. A holy sign who will usher the strength to the weak. A loyal sign who will give hope to the despaired follower. A sign who will be a landmark by doing not talking. A sign whose life says, "This way." A sign whose existence presents, "God is here." A sign who will use not his vocabulary but uses his way of life to show the true route towards God.

Make them know He is the LORD. Be a sign.

Sad

When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Matthew 19:22

He was following the rules. He was fulfilling the obligations. But he was not following Jesus. He did not respond to Jesus' call to sell all and follow Him. Upon hearing Jesus' call for him and knowing he can't leave his possessions for a lifelong devotion, he went away sad.

Scan your life today. Do you have joy or sadness? Are you following rules or are you following Christ?  Are you fulfilling obligations or are you fulfilling a heavenly call?

The passage above gives us a good test. There is no joy in following rules if you don't follow Christ. There is no gladness in fulfilling obligations if you don't fulfill Jesus' call for you.

Magnify

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior..." Luke 1:46-47

To magnify is to enlarge a small object. To magnify is to cause something little appear bigger. This is what we do when we look at the planets or other hanging stuff in the universe. When you look at them, they seems small for they are far. If magnified, we see them nearer and larger. Our jaws drop as we see Saturn's rings. We look in awe with Jupiter's moons. How about staring at the reddish Mars. Or follow Armstrong's footsteps on our moon. Seems small since far yet when magnified we gasped at their beauty and majesty.

Mary is familiar with this. Her soul magnified the Lord. She followed God all her life. Her body made God near. She was instrumental in getting Jesus from heaven to earth. Before she bore Jesus, His people needed a Savior from their sins. Before she had Jesus at the stable, God was insignificant and small among His people, His people have drifted away from Him. God chose Mary to magnify His presence on earth. Ask Jesus to turn water into wine. Bring Jesus to walk with His people. Get Jesus at a family's dinner table. Give Jesus to die for their sins. God seems to be small because His people were far but through Mary, God was magnified and we gasped at His love and mercy.

Will you magnify God in your life? Make Him larger. Make Him near.

• In your home, by your love for your family
• In your workplace, by your words and actions
• With your friends, be with them in their times of need
• With your neighbors, pray for them even if they ignore you
• With your community, when honeymoon relationships are over
• With your church, do the unwanted service with a wanting heart

If God may seem to be small and far wherever you are right now, may His grace give you the conviction. Magnify Him.

Too Close

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them... Matthew 19:13

Have you stop someone from getting near to Jesus?

The disciples did. Kids are being brought to Jesus when they rebuked the people who are doing this. What were the disciples thinking? Maybe they wanted their own time with Jesus. Maybe they thought Jesus was done for the day. Maybe Christ is not for children, the disciples decided. Maybe Jesus is exclusive only for the disciples, they speculated. Maybe they thought neither needed the other.

So, why you did it?

You wanted time for you and Jesus. You were praying or reading the bible when a friend called you on your phone asking for help. You hung up on him and continued your spiritual moments.

You said Jesus has no time for this kind of people. Jesus has time for all. He blesses his children 24/7. His door is always open, never close. His heart always has room for one or more.

You thought Jesus plays favorites. That He has love only for an age level. That He has grace only for a certain race. That He blesses only a specific lineage. Last time I know, Jesus is an ageless and a colorless God.

You claimed Jesus is exclusive for you or for your group. He is not. He is inclusive. Jesus is not under contract with anyone. He works freelance.

Or you did not see they need Christ or Jesus has no interest in them. They are of no use. They are worth nothing. Jesus will let them go anyway. Jesus will not go after them anyway. You saw it wrong. They need Him. He wants them.

Disciples follow Jesus closely. But when you think you're too close to Jesus, you might be blocking someone from getting near to Him.

Dedicate your ears to Christ. Listen and hear Him say, "Let them come to Me..."

Savior

God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. Isaiah 12:2

"We have no money."

That's what my boss told me as I was discussing with him my visa and immigration options. Though I have a renewed working visa, good for one year, I was looking at possible ways to extend our stay by converting my present visa to another working visa. The immigration lawyer hired by the company recommended this scheme. Yet, since the company is feeling the heat of recession, the company is going all out to use funds wisely.

After we've talked, I returned to my cubicle heaving a heavy heart. Questions climb my mind. What about my family's stability? We are slowly adjusting to the life and culture where we are in. What about our long term goals? Our daughters' education and the family's charismatic community life. What about our financial obligations? Our house mortgage and sort of loans.

I can't save the company from recession. I can't save our family from instability. I can't save the world from recession.

Only God can. I can't. God can. I am free from carrying the burden. I am free from fear of instability. I am free from starting all over again. God is indeed my savior.

With God as our savior, we are confident and unafraid. Fear is not a factor. I am confident God has a plan for us. To deepen our roots or to sow us somewhere.

My strength does not lie on the company's financial health. My courage does not depend on my attractive resume. God is my strength and and my courage.

He has been my savior. Countless times, God has shown He is in control. Incalculable moments in our life, God has reach our His mighty hands. Will He not show up and save us now?

Bring it on Mr. Recession.

I have God as my savior.

Never Be Shaken

They shall never be shaken; the just shall be remembered forever. Psalm 112:6

Ely died doing what is right, this is the reason why he is remembered.

He was raised up by his parents to always do only what is right, to do only what is just. He compensated his parents' issuance with life of justice. When he passed the board exams placing as 5th nationwide, he was promptly hired by a construction firm. He was the new civil engineer in a contracted road work in one town in our province when the event happened. He was being prodded by town mates to share some construction materials for them. Since Ely knew he can't do it, he declined their request.  They came back with their guns smoking and killed him. They shot him at the head. I knew all these details for Ely is my brother.

Some people said, he must have let them have their way. Knowing him, his only way is what is just. Some of his colleagues said, he was new and was unknowing of the how road construction works with town mates. Knowing him, even he has spent n years on that job he will only work doing what is right. Some people said, he must have practice compromise. Knowing him, he will stand firm and never be shaken.

Go back your beliefs. Will we stand in the midst of near death threats?

Visit your vision. Are you ready to forever hold your breath for following Christ?

Hammer your heart. Are we nailed to the same cross where Jesus died?

The psalmist pitched, "They shall never be shaken; the just shall be remembered forever." By God's strength, may we be. May we be.