"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Philippians 3:7-8 ESV
Kung nagiging prosperous man tayo financially, galing sa Diyos yun, pero hindi niya promise na he will provide prosperity for everyone. Hindi ipinangako ng Diyos na magkakabahay ka at hindi na mangungupahan, na magkakakotse ka at hindi na magcocommute, na financial breakthrough is around the corner, only if you will believe in God and obey God katulad ni Abraham. That is to mishandle, abuse, and distort this wonderful story.
We live in a world na hindi preferences o script natin ang nasusunod. We are in God’s theater, we follow his script. Drama, hindi lang comedy, merong tragedy. Hindi aksidente, not because he is not in control, but in his sovereignty, kasama sa istorya. It is tempting for us to revise the script. Do you trust him, that what he is writing in history is the most beautiful story—for his glory, and for the good of his people? How about your story—do you trust him that he knows what’s best?
No matter how long ka na na Christian, nagkakasala ka pa rin. Meron pa nga tayong tinatawag na mga habitual sins. Minsan akala mo nagtagumpay ka na kasi matagal mo nang hindi nagagawa, pero dahil sa pressure o stress, bumalik na naman! Buhay pa pala yung kasalanan na yun sa puso mo. Kailangan mo pa rin (araw-araw!) ang biyaya ng Diyos.
Tanggalin natin sa mindset natin yung pag-aakala ng ilan na ang Diyos ng Old Testament ay God of wrath, at ang Diyos ng New Testament ay God of love. No, the God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament. Hindi siya nagbabago. He is the God of love and wrath, grace and justice, mercy and righteousness. Makikita natin ‘yan pareho—mercy and judgment— sa kwento ng pagtupok ng Diyos sa Sodom at Gomorrah at sa kamatayan ni Jesus sa krus.
So for this Sunday and the next, dapat lang na sagutin mo ang tanong na ‘to: Ikaw ba ay kaaway na maituturing ng Diyos tulad ng Sodom at Gomorrah, o kaibigan ng Diyos tulad ni Abraham? This is a more important question kesa sa tanong na may covid ka ba o wala, may vaccine ka na ba o wala.
We don’t take our covenant membership seriously. Yung baptism nga natin noon saka yung significance nito bihira nating alalahanin, as if walang kinalaman yun sa buhay natin ngayon. Yung iba naman nagpabaptize dati, feeling nila it’s all about their personal relationship with God, at tila walang koneksyon yung baptism sa church membership. Bakit kaya ganun? Posibleng isang dahilan ay dahil hindi natin lubos na nauunawaan kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng covenant.
