Reflection # 11

    David Livingstone was explorer, missionary, and doctor. He did great contributions to our church history because through him many people in the Africa were saved from slavery. He discovered the best known falls in the world “Victoria Falls”. He cured many people or used his knowledge of medicine at the same time a missionary. Through his works many people will not forget him because of his passion in helping others.

Sometimes we can feel that we are just limited but the truth God uses our ability to help others. Maybe we didn’t discover it but God will just let us see that we can make great things to others. It might be from us that we already saved them from risk or bad things. Livingstone used his knowledge in medicine so that he can preach to other. So, as Christian we will also think about something that within us that can lead to others to Christ.

Reflection # 10

George Whitfield was just a simple man he desired to go to College so that he would learn lots of things. In his college life he never experienced easy life but instead a challenging life. He became a servitor or servant in that school he entered in. He served others while he was studying so that he can able to continue his schooling. He had a passion for acting theater. And one experienced that really turned him to God when he was very ill. By that illness he cried out to God and become believers of God. He was a great open air preacher as well that gave impact to others. 

God wants us to be humble even we know a lot of things. I know that George was an intelligent man but he chose to be humble and tried his best to serve well the people in the school. God will just reward us in the end if we chose to disregard the pride in ourselves. He will bless us if we have humility. Because of George’s humility he was able to seek God in his life, he didn't consider himself as righteous but he surrendered his life to God though God used his sickness in order for him to cry out to God. I learned also that we will not wait something will happen in our lives in order for us to seek God. As far as early we will directly seek Him in our lives because we don’t what lies ahead, we should do is to be ready. And also I learned that as early we will already tell others about Christ before the time too late, actually we are now in the last days. Let’s preach the good news like George.      

Reflection # 9

Martin Luther was very dedicated priest in Roman Catholic Church. He gave his life for the service of the church and to the people. He was a good professor, and well educated in short he knew a lot. But when he came to the point about the truth of the Bible, he knew the truth and directly humbled himself in confession to God. His life before he found the real essence of Christianity was full of lies and pretention. And when time has come he knew the truth he surrendered his life that he was a sinner. That man is a sinner and man needs God in order for him to saved, not by works or service in the church but by faith. The bible verse that really penetrates to his heart when he read the book of Romans “Romans 1:17, the righteous shall live by this faith”.  

Luther knew that the bible is the only source of truth and when he found it out he was eager to teach that to his student. Even he was persecuted especially from his father and not anymore priest but still he continued. And by the truth he chose to punish himself because he admitted that he was a sinner. And he found out that the church was just using this “good work” to have money or we call (Indulgences) if those people who will give their money or possession they will be saved from their sins. And Luther never neglected that he made a move in order for all to see the truth. And through that he was still firm of his beliefs and excommunicated. 

In our time today many people are trying to deceive us from the truth. Even they are inside the church they are teaching doctrines that will encourage people to believe but the behind that it is not true or came from the Bible. Many people are blinded from the truth and they just want to follow what is happening or norm in our world. That’s why it is important for us to seek the truth so that we will not be ignorant because if we are ignorant from things we tend to be deceived by Satan. And asking God’s help will work because we know that He is true God who s worthy to be praised. Even it is risky to tell other what is truth but still there is firmness of our beliefs because that the very important so that no one will mislead us from the right thing.

Reflection # 12

            During the Spanish invaded in the Philippines they greatly brought changed in our country especially in the religion side. During this time only friars can own the people’s land and resources. They took everything what they wanted from the people. And taught religion that makes them known and earned money for their own benefits. And now we can still see how Roman Catholic devoted to their church, leaders, and beliefs because of the Spanish influence to our country.  

What we do and say can really influence other people even if its good or not it still a remark to other that they might follow. So, as Christian I should influence someone into the right path that he/she suppose to do and according to God’s standard. It is really great if my life will be the best impact for other people because through that impact they can also relate that to other people until it will spread and it can glory God. God wants us to be the best example or model about Christian living so that His word will be the great testimony to everyone. Remarkable testimony of our Christian life would really change someone’s life to Christ likeness.   

Reflection # 8

This week I’m so bombarded with so many people in the past, about their life, contributions, and impact to the church history. And although they were lots but I can still remember their legacy and contributions to our history because of them we learned and amazed of their deeds before. And even until now we are still applying it in our church, practice, and do well to us. So, there is no reason to neglect and forget them because they were part of our lives.

John Wycliffe has a great contribution to us right before and now because he was the one who fluently translated the Bible into English Language. And we benefited to it because it’s a great help to us to understand the Scripture in our second language. Many people attacked and do not liked him because of his beliefs but that beliefs had changed his life and became the reformer and corrected those people who had wrong doctrines that’s why many opposed him. He believed in a great faith to God and that was his convictions that faith alone is needed to be a true follower of Christ. Even in his sickness he never neglected those people who were hungered to listen to the word of God.   

What we are doing simple and not recognized work right now maybe we think it’s not so significant and useless but we don’t know what lies ahead that in our kind heart we already impacted some people and it will became a ripple effect to many people. I learned that I should just be consistent to influence others by loving and have a kind heart. I’m not good at this because I’m so impatient sometimes and I thought I can’t really achieve this good attitude but God is always teaching me to be. God is always challenging me to have this kind of attitude like John even lots of people opposed him but still he continued and stood what is right for the Lord.  I will keep the love and share to others and be kind to everyone even though they are not, I will be more patient to them because even God is very patient on me.           

Reflection 7

I learned many life stories of different people this week. All of them did great significant contributions in our history. One of them was good writer, preacher, interpreter, and dedicated to the work of God. They gave their full effort in learning so that that their own writings will be able to give significant and teachings to all the people even until now. Although not all of them came from Christian family or background but still they pursued to know who God is.

One of the lesson learned I had from the life of Augustine because he was so very honest in telling his life struggles to everyone. He was not a perfect person but he was transparent about his life. And through his teachings I learned that man really needs the grace of God not from the own doing but from Him alone. Although not all of his teaching was right but it is also part of our lesson today that kind of teaching is not the same of what we believe in and we identify the truth through that. He acknowledged that he was converted because of someone’s life and through him he [Augustine] became one of the greatest writer and best known person in the history.

God did not choose those perfect one that will serve Him and follow Him. He used those imperfect ones so that when they knew Him they became better person and they will acknowledge the grace of God in their lives. I’m not perfect but God chose me to be here even here I’m not doing perfect things but still the grace of God continues even I don’t deserve it. And that’s what I’ve learned that I will not be choosy or judgmental in ministering people who are certainly have a good background, good-looking, wealthy, etc.. But no matter who they are like their attitude, their status, their background I will still love and share the grace of God to them because they are still included in receiving the salvation in their lives.        

Reflection 6

This week I learned that the truth would really reveal from the people that God uses. Martin Luther was the one who strive the real truth about who God is. Although he was a prominent priest during his time but he tried to study and learned about Christianity. When he found out that their teaching and belief was against the truth he pursued to tell it to others and corrected that wrong doctrines even many people or like him will question him. Luther experienced and saw the grace of God given to his life because he repented that he was a sinner and he needed a savior to renew him from his sins. He never knew that before he just believed that good works can pay all the sins of man. And that’s why he was called as the father of reformation because through him he reformed what was wrong to what is right.

               
I really believe that God already planned and used someone to transform each one life and will serve Him to expose the reality of His word. And one of these people is to make over the world from darkness to the truth. Without Martin maybe we don’t have this kind of truth that we've learned. Maybe we are already drowning from the wrong practices and depend upon to the person who leads the wrong doctrine not to God alone. But God wants His people to know about Him so I learned that I’m one of the people that He uses to declare that truth.