Peter is my Man!

Of the twelve apostles who I have come to know during apostles series in our Dgroup, I liked Simon Peter and John the Beloved the most. They have distinct characteristics that I can relate myself with.  But I chose to delve on Simon Peter because I felt an affinity about this man. It’s like I could not think of any other apostle who I could possibly associate myself with.

Simon Peter was dynamic, bold, likes to initiate and to take charge of things. He was an ardent servant of Christ. But just like anyone else, there was a point in time when he turned his back to Christ for his own convenience.

Just like him, I am a type of a see-saw believer when I was still younger. I used to be vehement in honoring and serving the Lord, especially when things go smoothly. But when things get tough, it’s just so easy for me to deny Christ and turn my back to him--- not just for three times, but for innumerable times.

But God is just so gracious, even after the betrayal that he got from Peter’s denial during His trial. When He came back, He entrusted Peter with so much. He had given him a task and that is to tend his sheep. (John 21:16). When He was given such a task, Jesus also told him how he would die for Christ’s sake. That time, he did not protest to the Lord that it certainly would not happen the way he had about the cock crowing.

Tradition tells us that Peter was crucified, as was Jesus, but in his case he asked to be placed upside down on his cross because he did not consider himself worthy to die the same way as his Lord. So when Jesus said to follow him was he talking about how Peter would die? Yes but I don’t think he meant just Peter’s physical death.

Earlier in his public ministry Jesus told his disciples, “’If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.’” (Matthew 16:24) He also said “’He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.’” (John 12:25) Even if we never become martyrs we are all called to take up our own cross and it will be different for each one of us. What exactly is the cross? In a nutshell it’s death to self.

Another thing that I like about Peter is that he lived up to his name. His name became his character. What kind of a guy was Simon, renamed Peter (meaning “Rock”) by Jesus? His name became his prophetic destiny, as he was a strong pillar to the pioneering (infant) Christian church. When Jesus first knew him however, you might have thought his new name would be “Rash” rather than Rock. He was impulsive, emotional and impetuous--- just like me. Passionate to be sure, like when he “struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear” (John 18:11) in the Garden of Gethsemane.

It’s often said that our greatest gifts are also our greatest weaknesses. Peter is a good example of that. When Jesus first saw Peter and his brother Andrew casting their nets he said, “’Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” (Matthew 4:19) They didn’t mull it over for a month or two or consult with family and friends. “Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” (Verse 20) See, decisive!

It’s good to be decisive but the negative side to that is being rash, hotheaded, reckless and premature. Peter could easily lay claim to those things too. And what came out of his mouth was also the best and the worst. When Christ asked his disciple who they thought he was it was Peter who said, “You are the Christ.” (Mark 8:29) But near the end of Jesus’ ministry it was out of the same mouth that came the words, “Woman, I do not know Him.” (Luke 22:57)

When there was a point in time when I had to decide whether I’ll stay in my previous work or push-through a three-day-evangelistic event, I was so decisive, I chose the latter. I highly believed it was the right thing. At that time, I thought I was like Peter who simply laid down my net. But when my net hasn't gotten any fish right after, I was dismayed and disappointed that I resented God. Saying things like, “Lord, I did it for you, could you just do something for me too?” There was a point in time when I was so hype up but when things got pretty messed up, I just deny the Lord. I was selfish, I just wanted Him for my convenience. I was a radical worshipper and an irrational one at the same time.

When Jesus told Peter that the day would come when others would lead him where he did not wish to go he was telling him that in order to follow him he must give up those very things that made him who he was. God created Peter with a unique personality that was good. But in the end he would have to lay it down. Death to his self, his flesh, his desires and even that which was his best to use for God’s kingdom. That was his cross.

As we choose to lay down our life let us contemplate Peter, a worthy role model in our daily trek to the cross. Then finally, consider this: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18) HE is greater than I.

Faith that Lives: How to Give

Ravi Zacharias once wrote, "The older we get, the harder it is to fill our hearts with wonder"

For a kid, even a drop of a water bottle or a plastic cup for a toy could bring him/her such joy. But for us who are already adults in a very sense of the word, it would take more than just a drop of water bottle for us to have simple joys in life, and perhaps it is our human nature. We have this insatiable need in satisfying ourselves with greater possessions for us to be happy. And the world capitalizes on this human nature. The world capitalizes on our need to be satisfied with things. So how does the world program us? The world tells us, "You want more, we'll help you get more!" As we delve in this worldly pursuit, the higher standard bars we're putting in ourselves for us to be satisfied and for us to be fulfilled and to be happy. Little did we know, those needs, those wants-- they are all temporal. 

In James 5:1-6 it says,  "Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you."

In this passage, James was not actually against rich people; he was only against the way some rich people were living their lives. What James resented was their lifestyle and how they treated the poor people. They were hoarding wealth, but they did not know that their wealth has been rotted, and even their clothes have been eaten by moths. What James was trying to imply is that, the rich people were so focused on temporary pursuits. They focused on their wealth, that they became so selfish. They wanted more, so they got more, even at the expense of the poor people. But their wealth did not give them satisfaction nor joy. Acquisition of material possessions will not make us happy. So what then, will bring us happiness? The answer is... GIVING. 

In the story of Mary pouring perfume on Jesus' feet found in John 12:1-3 it says, "Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume."

 In these verses, Mary GAVE COMPLETELY. She did not hesitate to pour that expensive nard on Jesus. She did not have any reservation. How about us? How do we give? Do we give willingly and selflessly? Do we give our utmost to the Lord and to others? Or are we just giving away our excesses? 

After Mary had poured the nard on Jesus, Judas Iscariot reacted and objected on what Mary has done. John 12:4-6 it says, "4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it." 

Imagine the worth of that nard! One year's wages! If someone earns 15,000 a month, multiply it to 12 months, that will cost about 144,000! That costs a lot! But note, Mary did not hesitate to give what she thought what's due for Christ, her Lord. She gave completely---no hesitations, no reservations. She gave it all. I remember Khalil Gibran once said, “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” 

Another characteristic of the way Mary gave was that, she GAVE SACRIFICIALLY. At that time when patriarchal (characteristic of an entity, family, church, etc., controlled by men)was prevalent, it was hard for a woman to work and to earn money. They were given very slim chances to earn money. I bet a year's wage for her was a huge deal, but that did not stop her from giving something for and to the Lord. She was willing to sacrifice a year's worth of her earnings to honor the Lord. Giving until it hurts is the essence of GIVING SACRIFICIALLY. How about you, what have you sacrificed to give to the Lord and to others? Have you given sacrificially? At times, it is when we sacrifice something (we deemed really important to us )

for the sake of others gives us an incomprehensible kind of fulfillment. 

Third characteristic with the way Mary gave was, she GAVE UNCONDITIONALLY. What's amusing with Mary's way of adoring God was found in verse 3 that says, "she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume." At that time, the filthiest part of one's body was their feet, because they had to walk along sandy roads with only sandals as their footwear. And for women, the most important or they considered most beautiful part of their body was their hair (even up to these days). Guess what, Mary gave off the most beautiful part of her to wipe Jesus' feet. 

For her, her best is nothing compare with the least about Jesus. She gave without any condition. She did not ask for anything in return. She did not count nor calculate the worth of her perfume nor her hair to Jesus. She just gave them away. Generosity is genuine if we give unconditionally. God Himself modeled to us this kind of giving. He unconditionally gave His only Son for us to be in union with Him once again. Jesus loves us unconditionally that He gave Himself selflessly when while we're still sinners, He died for us. 

Let us all remember that a faith that lives also requires a heart that is willing to give---COMPLETELY, SACRIFICIALLY, and UNCONDITIONALLY. 

Not Too Young to Serve

    Have you ever been looked down upon or being underestimated simply because you're young? The words, "You're still young, you can't do it", "Let the elders do it, they know better". Sounds familiar right?

      I myself had experienced that kind of feeling when I was so eager to do a certain task but my age kept on getting in the way. It seemed to me that, you should grow older first in order for you to gain the confidence of people in you. 

      In some many ways, age matters. But there's one thing that we could do regardless of how young or how old we are, and that is ministering to others. 

     Ministry is the result of the overflowing blessings that we receive from the Lord. We are so full, that we could not actually contain it, so we pour it out through our service to God and to people in a form of ministry. 

      I remember few years back when I came to know Christ--who He is in my life, what He has done for me, and what He wants from me. As soon as I realized that, I came to repent for my sins and accepted Him as my Lord and personal Saviour. Since then, I wanted to be near Him and so I had my daily devos, I attended Sunday services, and sought godly counsel from godly people around me. Of course, there were bumps along my walk with the Lord. There were times that I stumbled and went cold towards God. But He was just so gracious because He was constantly pulling me back to Him at that time, even up to now. 

     As I went closer and closer to God, there was an urge in me to serve Him in whichever way I could. I wanted to share Christ to others. I wanted to teach kids in Sunday School. I wanted to sing songs of praises to Him in choir. I wanted to enjoy the fellowship of young believers in youth ministry. That 'burden' or desire to serve the Lord had gone deeper and deeper. By God's grace, He let me serve Him in the ministry with the gifts He had blessed me with. Until such time that a BIG task was given to me about six or seven years ago. 

      At the age of 17, I was asked to deliver a sermon for our Youth Sunday celebration. I was blown away. I was astounded. I could not actually believe that they would entrust me with such a huge and arduous task. I told them I was too young to preach, I was not capable, that someone else could do it better than I would. Until it dawned on me the story of David when he defeated Goliath. He was so young that time. He was actually unequipped to fight with Goliath but God delivered Him, He did not fail David, He was faithful. At the thought of how young David was when He fought Goliath, I was moved and I was so blessed and inspired by Him. He did not hold on to his strength, instead he clung onto God. So to speak, I accepted the preaching task. 

     The moment I told my folks about it, they we're like flabbergasted at the thought of me preaching the Word of God in behalf of the youth ministry. They were too protective of me that it felt as if they doubted me and they looked down on me simply because I was too young for the task. I was saddened by the fact that people who are closest to me were the ones who actually did not believe that I could do it. 

       Then I was led to a verse that made me realized that it's not about the age that matters in serving God. 1 Timothy 4:12 says, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity."  

       I may grew older than I was six or seven years ago, but still I am not yet in my prime days so I am still young, and there are still people who actually find me incapable of doing things simply because I am young. But God reminded me that no matter how young or old I could be, it doesn't matter. He calls me to be a model to believers and to the yet-to-be-believers with the way I speak, think, and behave. He calls me to minister in His name by living a life to the full-- in a God-honoring manner. 

Let not be our youthfulness be a hindrance for us to share the gospel and the love of God to others. But rather, let us use this youth season of ours to serve the Lord at our utmost. 

As the verse in 1 Samuel 16:7b tells us, The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 

You and I are not too young to minister. You and I are not too young to serve the Lord. You and I are called to spread the gospel. It isn't about the age, it's about our heart's desire to honor and serve Him. 

[Author's Note: This is for a devo in youth fellowship of Kabataang Unida Ekyumenikal, a youth ministry in our family church in San Pablo City, Laguna]

Who Am I?

Socrates once said, "Know Thyself". It is in knowing our inner self which gives us an assurance of who we really are. We are secured when we know the inner core of ourselves.

For years, I've been searching for meaning in my life. I longed to know the essence of my existence. I took several personality tests. I even tried using random computer applications regarding knowing your personality and style. That's how I wanted to know who I really am because I've been living a life that measures up to the expectations of  the people around me. I may seem to be outspoken, but there's this voice that was screaming out loud within me. There's this unleashed part of me that wanted to come out but it couldn't, because in the first place, I wasn't exactly sure of what and who I really am. Not until I attended a Singles' event that made a significant impact in my life. 

I came across a page from my B1G8 retreat manual last year, it's about "My Identity in Christ". I was really curious because I really wanted to have an identity of my own and not basing it on how people perceive or expect me to be. And so, God, as gracious and faithful as He is, He revealed to me three main points as to who I really am in His Son, Jesus Christ. 

First, I am ACCEPTED. What the world or the enemy kept on telling me during my growing up days were, "You will never be good to anyone" "No one likes you" "No one will accept you, unless you do this and that". I've been blinded by those deceits and lies. All along, I kept on striving to be at my best at all times because that gave me an assurance that people would like me and would want to be with me. It brought out arrogance and perfectionism (in a negative sense) in me. I was so driven to please others and to do my best in everything. I always wanted to win, I was so competitive that time. Failures and disappointments, were my worst nightmares. I was really afraid to fail, thinking that if I'd do, people would reject me. But then, certain verses affirmed me, that there's nothing I could ever do that would make God love me any less. In heaven's eyes, I am accepted and here are the verses that prove it: 

• I am forever free from countenance (Romans 8:12)
• I am assured that things work together for good. (Romans 8:28) 
• I am free from charges against me (Romans 8:38-39) 
• I have been established, anointed and sealed by God. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22) 
• I am hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
• I am confident that the good work God has began in me will be perfected (Philippians 1:6) 
• I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20) 
• I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound mind. (1 Timothy 1:7) 
• I find grace and mercy in times of need. (Hebrews 4:16) 
• I am born of God. The evil one cannot touch me. (1 John 5:15) 

Second  point which God revealed to me was, I am SECURED. On a facade, people may see me as a confident woman, because I naturally am an extrovert type. But little did they know that behind my outspoken personality is a girl with suppressed thoughts and emotions. I was so afraid of people criticizing me. I was insecure. I am a middle child and an only girl in the family. I used to be compared with my elder brother and I resented that. I wanted to be at par with him or even outshine and outwit him. That's how insecure I was. I wanted the limelight, I wanted to be loved. I wanted to be wanted and adored. But little by little, as I grow in the love of Christ, I came to realize that I don't need to be the best in order for me to be wanted and loved. Because He loves the imperfect me, perfectly. It gave me an assurance. I felt secured that if God is for us, who and what can be against us? I realized that nothing could separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. Having such an encouragement enabled me to believe that I am indeed secured in God. Here are the verses that prove that we are all secured: 

• I am Christ's child. (John 1:2) 
• I am Christ's friend (John 15:15) 
• I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
•  I am united in the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:17) 
• I have been bought with a price. I belong to God. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
• I am a member of Christ's body. (1 Corinthians 12:27) 
• I am a saint. (Ephesians 1:1)
• I have direct access to God. (Ephesians 2:18) 
• I have been redeemed and forgiven (Colossians 1:14) 
• I am complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10) 

Last point is I am SIGNIFICANT. Satan has the habit of inculcating in our finite minds that we are actually individuals without significance. He has his schemes in telling us that we are NOT worthy, that we are NOT essential. But the truth of the matter is that, in heaven's eyes, there are no losers. Everyone, even the tiniest portion of His creation is significant in His eyes. Remember after He finished creating the earth? He said that it was good. Do not believe the lies of an evil. I came across a Facebook status from a friend that says, "WOW- Woman-of-Worth". I was astounded, by the fact that while I was busy wallowing in the pit of mediocrity God's been telling me that I am worthy. He proved it right when He died on the cross for me about 2,000 years ago. Here are the verses that tell that we are all significant:

• I am salt of the earth, and light of the world. (Matthew 5:13-14) 
• I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of Hid life. (John 5:15)
• I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit. (John 15:17)
• I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:18)
• I am God's temple (1Corinthians 3:16)
• I am a minister of reconciliation for God. (1 Corinthians 5:17-21) 
• I am God's co-worker. (2 Corinthians 6:1) 
• I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm. (Ephesians 2:6)
• I am God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) 
• I can do all  things in Christ who strengthens me.  (Philippians 4:13)

Knowing these things made me feel secured of who I am and when someone asks me what my identity is, I'd say, "My identity is found in Christ".