reflections

There are 2 posts tagged reflections (this is page 1 of 1).

What is God’s Purpose in your Life?

As I was reading my Bible, I am reminded that whatever plans I have, if it is not under God’s will, it will not prevail.

As what is said in Proverbs 16:1-4 (MSG),

I realized four things just reading this verse:

1. It will be useless to start planning and executing everything if we don’t put God first.

There will always come a time when we will feel so tired doing projects, expecting gains from our investments and constantly rendering overtime to work for our dreams. We are humans and we cannot do everything at once. What is more disappointing is if you’ve invested so much effort then at the end of the day, you’ll never get what you worked for. This is for this reason King Solomon wanted us to put God first in everything. Why? Because God has the last say, and if that is the case, we might want to plan with the person who has the last say in mind.

 
2. We dwell on the outer circumstances, but God focuses on our intentions. 

I always say yes to those that I see are right, or those that would benefit me. But then, He digs deep to our intentions. Why are you doing the things you do right now? For attention? For recognition? For things that are temporary? He knows. But He cares.

 
3. Putting God first in our plans will allow us to see God’s hand move on our behalf. 

This becomes an assurance for me that I don’t always have to worry if after all the planning and executing I’ve done, the results are not what I expect to happen. Nor will I worry too much on how to execute the plans I have determined in my heart. Why? Because I know, at the end of it all, God will put everything in place.

 
4. God has a purpose for the small and big things that happen, even for judgment.

Everything is planned for and has consequences. It could be that appointment you received to sell your house that gave you a blessing you haven’t expected. Or that phone call you received to visit your parents because that could be the last time you’ll see them. Whatever it may be, God is giving us an idea that we are all weaved together for His plans, for better or for worse.

As I remember in another verse:

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 

We may have different likes and interests. My chosen career may be different from yours. But definitely, where your heart is, there your treasure will be as well. If you learn to put God as the caretaker of your treasure, I’m sure He will guard it, make it grow and shine more, and lastly, give glory to His name. Afterall, we are created for His glory. He created us to give Him glory in everything we do.

That, I believe, is the purpose of my life and yours.

Reflections on the Beatitudes of Jesus

Matthew 5:3-12

“Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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 What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Lord, what does it mean to be poor in spirit? They are the ones who value God more than themselves or more than their properties. They are the ones who choose to turn to God instead of men because they believe that it’s all God who matters in their life. They value the relationship that God offers and what God wants to do in their lives.

Who are the ones who mourn? They are the ones who have lost someone special to them, and the ones who still look up to God when these things happen in their life for they will be comforted. They will be embraced by the heavenly Father who knows how it is to lose a son when He gave His to save the world.

Who are the meek? They are the ones who humble themselves before God. Those are  the ones who give their self to God and do not complain because they believe that God will bless them with things they unexpect.

Who are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness? They are the ones who want to make sure that justice is done in the lives of people. Not the justice system of this world but the justice system of heaven. What God teaches us in His word, they hunger for it and thirst for God’s wisdom in their lives. They seek God’s righteousness in everything they do.

Who are the merciful? They are the ones who have forgiven their brother and released the debts their brother owe. They are the ones who fully believed that Jesus died on the cross, that He has already forgiven us of the gazillion sins that we have since our birth; that everything has ALREADY been paid by Jesus Christ and that He has already won the victory. They are the ones who chooses to forgive their brothers as many times as they can for the same offense done to them or the ones who forgive even though the person seems unforgivable and they are the ones who forgive because they know the grace given to them by our heavenly father.

Who are the pure in heart? They are the ones who seek God’s will in everything they do, who do not falter in their relationship with Christ, who chooses God’s way first before others, who chooses to stand up against the crowd of compromise even if it hurts because they know that giving their mind and heart to God is all that matters. They are the ones whom God is pleased because their lives are directed towards him; the ones who love God more than anything and anyone else and does not allow the enemy to contaminate their hearts with the fallen  things of this world. They are blessed because they will see God.

I want not only to be pure in heart. But I want to practice each beatitude stated in here. Because I want to please my Father.

Who are the peacemakers? They are the ones who values the love of God above all else that they don’t argue, they don’t complain and they understand the situation and put it in the hands of the Master. They are peacemakers because they  would rather not offend their brother nor sister nor they do not want to do anything that would hurt anyone but instead they want to practice showing love to everyone even if it hurts. They still do it though it hurts not because they are martyrs but because they believe that Jesus will take good care of the situation and would make sure that everything will be okay.

Who are the persecuted? They are the ones who stands up firm against the principalities of this world yet they receive no recognition; instead they receive mockery and insults from people who do not believe in God. They are the ones who believe that God has something better in store for them when they see Him in heaven that’s why they go on with their lives, giving their all for the glory and the advancement of the kingdom of God. They are the ones who love God despite of their circumstances and believes that the crown of life will be given to them someday.

Rejoice and be glad. I say it again, rejoice and be glad. I’ll repeat it. REJOICE AND BE GLAD. It would take a minute or two for this sentence to register in our minds. It takes repetition for us to understand; to remember. Why? Because great is the reward in heaven. What reward is that?

Those who practice the beatitudes have these rewards waiting for them in heaven:

Theirs is the kingdom of God.

They will be comforted.

They will inherit the earth.

They will be filled with righteousness.

They will be shown mercy.

They will see God.

They will be called sons of God.

Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Whether  or not they receive these rewards here on earth, surely, these things are waiting for them when they go to heaven. These are the things that will be given to them when the time is right of meeting Jesus our Lord. These are the crown of life that we should aim for, not because we want to be holy but because Jesus has shown us mercy and how holy He is. It would be a product of a grateful heart that has been shown love above all.