Categories: uncategorized
Date: 19 November 2005 23:27:02
One of the tasks that Christians are charged with is too ensure that their lives reflect the image of Christ in all things. For me this is a great challenge that is impossible to achieve and prone to personal failure.
We all need to realise is that we can expect too much of ourselves and hurt ourselves when we fail. People will always be there to belittle our achievements and mock us for trying. Living in a way that brings glory to Christ will never be an easy task. Yet it is possible as He's promised to help us.
Yet we still have room in which to allow our own personalities to play a part. God is not looking for an homogenous mass of automatons who all agree and act as one. He created us with free will to enable us to decide things for ourselves. You will never get a band of Christians acting in exactly the same way in any situation. We all bring our own experiences and prejudices to each situation.
For the past 18-24 months I have been undergoing a spiritual resurgence. I know that God is calling me to do something more with my life. What this is exactly, I have yet to discover. It is plain that He wants me too use the gifts I have and doors are opening slightly to give me a glance at the possibilities available but with no clear indication of the path ahead.
12 months ago I would not have believed that I'd be at the stage in life I'm at now. Me, get married after 40 years of freedom and solitude? Not a chance mate!! How wrong I was.... Life has a way of surprising you like that. Meeting my future wife to marriage in only 7 months, something of a record but when you know its right everything falls into place.
The opportunity to begin preaching, becoming a deacon, leading the youth group and now becoming a Campaign Coordinator for Tearfund show that there is work for me to do. I also feel that I want to do more Christian work and less capitalist work. I want to use my talents to help others and to spread God's word.
I'm looking forward to finding out what plans He has in store for me. Who knows what he next 40 years holds? Well, God obviously!! However, I'm not a believer in pre-ordination - that would negate the gift of free will. Whatever plans are there for me He'll help me along and be there when I take the wrong options. Yet I'll still be free to make the decisions and decide whether or not I follow His lead.
I still think that, with my occasional deafness/pig headedness, it would help if He communicated in a more direct fashion. Did He run out of burning bushes and thunderbolts? Remind me to ask Him when I see him.....