It’s no secret that one of the strongest foundations of a friendship is common ground. Do we have the same age? Are we studying the same career? Do we work for the same company? Do we like the same things? Do we share the same hobbies? Do we live by the same faith?
Faith can—and should be—the strongest foundation for our relationships. It shapes the way we think about everything else in our lives. It shapes the way we behave and react to certain situations. It produces a supernatural miracle in us, carried out by the Holy Spirit, that transforms us more into the likeness of Christ. And that is a bond that deserves more than a friendship.
THE FAITH BROTHERHOOD
John 1:12 says that “to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”. That means that all of us who share the faith in Jesus should have more than a friendship, a brotherhood [as sons and daughters of God]. Sadly, most of the times, we treat this brotherhood more like a friendship. Continue reading →
I never thought I would be a teacher—much less a high school math teacher. It had never been a career or job option for me. But somehow–very unexpectedly–I got this job offer to be a substitute math teacher for a month, and I strongly felt like this was the direction God wanted for me at the moment. I didn’t understand where He was taking me, though.
But I went with it. And I enjoyed it, even if it was exhausting many times. I, myself, didn’t understand the hard, physical, vocal and mental work that being a teacher requires. If I had known when I was a student, I probably would’ve been more empathetic.
But I know that you still don’t understand that. And that’s why you sometimes talk loudly during class, and I have to strain my throat so that my voice prevails over yours. Other times, I would have to make a superhuman effort to force my body to go to class, because I was really tired. A couple of times, I had to stay up until 3 in the morning preparing your exams for the next day, trying to be as fair and as easy on you as justice would allow. It was hard work, and some times I felt like I wouldn’t be able to make it through the month. But with the grace of God and a cup of coffee each morning, I was able to make it through each day.
And even all the late nights, all the hard work and all the exhaustion I went through wouldn’t ever make me regret taking this job. Continue reading →
These were the words from Jennifer Lopez’s mouth in her first interview after announcing her divorce from Marc Anthony. It came as quite a surprise because they seemed to have a very strong marriage. But it ultimately crumbled down. I don’t know the reasons for the divorce, therefore I don’t pretend to be the judge of her actions either. But all this hype with the divorce got me thinking about marriage.
Out of all people, Christians should most understand the sacredness of marriage. Not only because God established it so, but because these earthly marriages that take place every day between a man and a woman are a reflection of the marriage that will take place between Jesus and His bride (the Church). It’s a covenant that is supposed to last forever or until one of them dies [this is what the bride and groom promise each other during their wedding vows], but somehow, this bond, this promise can be broken. Divorces are getting more and more common, and they seem to me like an easy way out when you don’t want to make things work between two imperfect humans anymore.
Now think about the real marriage, the one humans try to mirror, the one between Jesus and the Church. It’s a marriage that will take place when Jesus comes back again for us. It’s not a marriage between two imperfect humans. It’s a marriage between one sinless, incarnate God and a redeemed, imperfect bride in process of sanctification.
When I think about Jennifer Lopez’s words, “I Loved myself enough to walk away”, all I can think about is: What would have happened if Jesus decided to say those words to us? We are, after all, a bride that fails Him over and over, a bride that can’t love Him the way He loves us, a bride that gets cold feet from time to time, a bride that even cheats on Him with other lovers. If we [as humans] were ever planning on marrying a bride like that, we probably would decide to not marry her after all because she doesn’t deserve our love.
BUT thank God that, even though He’s the only one who truly has a right to walk away from such a bride, HE DOESN’T! He doesn’t give up and walk away! On the contrary, every time we fail Him and sin against Him, He is gracious and forgiving, and He reminds us that there is nothing in this world [not even ourselves] that will break the covenant that He promised would last for all eternity.
A perfect God who had every right to boast on all His glory made Himself a servant, died on a cross and was scorned by those He came to save. He definitely put His pride and His self-love to a side because He wouldn’t walk away from the bride He loves.
When you feel like you are failing God, that you are being unfaithful, remember the love with which He loved you, remember the everlasting covenant He has made with you, and pray so that He helps you love Him the way He deserves. Thank Him for His unfailing love today!
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 8:38-39
I’ll leave you with Chris Tomlin’s “Unfailing Love”.
