Wednesday, May 25, 2016

The Greatest Knowledge


What do you believe is the greatest knowledge of all? Everyone has his own opinion with his own reason.

I tell you mine. The knowledge that I am so dearly loved by my Father in heaven is the greatest knowledge of all. I hold on to this truth. By His grace, I (try to) practice it everyday. I have to remind myself of this truth each day, specially on moments where heart is tempted.

Who and what can measure the love of the Father for His children? To try or even think is futile. I rest in His Word instead, and I am satisfied.

I love, love how the Apostle Paul used different terminologies just to explain the depth of God's love for us in Ephesians 3:17-19. Even the great Apostle is out of words.  "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

There is not enough words and no human mind can fully measure the love of God for us. Superlatives are insufficient. The understanding of great minds are puny to grasp. However, the Apostle Paul's prayer is quite re-assuring. People who are "rooted and established in love" can have the power to understand the immeasurable love of God for us, His children. These people are the ones who acknowledge the sacrifice and found the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. People who remained in His love and grace.  Also noticed how he said, "together with all the Lord's holy people." This statement emphasizes the importance of the community of believers coming together. We need each other to understand His love. We cannot perceive His love by ourselves. We need to share the love to understand. The experience of giving, of receiving, of sharing the love imparts us understanding. Not by human knowledge, but by the understanding of the heart. The Apostle clearly spoke, that the love of God "surpasses knowledge." If we try to grasp the love of God just by studying it, our effort to do so ends in vain. Our inner being has to experience His love to understand, for the mind alone is never enough to fully receive the revelation of the Father's love.

What knowledge in our life do we hold dear? Is it a knowledge that stays today and gone tomorrow, or a knowledge that goes with us through eternal? Let us cling to the latter.

Blooming in Grace,
Riza 

Friday, May 6, 2016

What is Your Gift?


Every person is born with a gift -- a special gift from his Creator. One cannot say, "I do not have such gift," for the Father never creates and sends out His people into the world without this gem. The gift that we received from Him we must acknowledge by utilizing it, not for our own accolades, but for the glory of His son, Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:6-8 encourages us to use our gifts. As people who belong to the body of Christ, our contribution to the church is essential. Our local church needs any minuscule help we can pitch in. Most of the time, we look at ourselves of somebody the church does not need. Instead of viewing ourselves as God's instrument to further His kingdom, we belittle our capabilities, and count ourselves unimportant. Thus, we shy away from getting involve. Every personal gift may look similar from other individuals, enough to make us think we are not needed. The thing is, our Father in His infinite wisdom designed every individual a unique, special twist in that gift that no other person possesses. We may not recognize it, but our Creator who formed us, does. 

No one is too small in the eyes of God, specially when it comes to the works of His purpose for the entire world. Our presence and the gift He gave us greatly matter. We don't have to be in the limelight of the church's stage. We can serve behind the curtains and make a huge impact on the undertakings God puts in our hearts. People working behind the scenes are the backbone of the church. Without us, the church is crippled. The church is stagnant, and worse, collapse.

What is your gift? How much are you willing to share of it to the church and to the world? Would you rather keep it to yourself or make use of it for His kingdom and glory? Child of God, you are precious. Far valuable than the any gemstone this world can offer.


Blooming in Grace,
Riza