This time of year represents a time of endings and new beginnings at our church. This is because in September, many members return home after finishing their studies while newcomers come to begin theirs. I prayed to God seeking his heart for our church at this time. As I prayed ‘Dear God, I ask what your guidance upon our church is’, God answered with the heart of Jesus. The bible shows the heart of God through Jesus. Jesus made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. He humbled himself and became obedient to his death on the cross.
When we look into our minds, it is naturally filled with what we see, hear and experience. This is how our thoughts and perspectives are formed and we end up building relationships with the people with similar minds. We may think materialistic or environmental stability is the most important in life but at the same time, I believe the stability in relationships is just as significant. Although it is important to build strong relationships with good people, we know that this sometimes can get in the way of serving others. This happens when we consider Lord’s blessings higher than the Lord himself.
If you look at Jesus’ disciples, each of them were different in many ways. Each had different personalities, professions, there were some like Zelotes that had strong opinions while one was a tax collector. Among them Jesus was the cleverest and had great wisdom but he still stayed with them and served his disciples. Although he performed the circumcision and the Jewish laws of that time, he was not confined to them. He knew that the need for a system and framework was not to builds standards to measure people but to serve others. Because He was the one who gave the law and knew the heart of God the Father.
There are visible and invisible frames within us as well. Before thinking of what is right or wrong, let us shed light together in the Lord and seek whether we have His heart in ours. A church is a precious place and a gift from God where we can learn to follow his ways before reaching out to others. It is in this spiritual space where we can reach out to Christ and hope to seek the heart of Jesus. As we continue to face new relationships, sometimes there will people with different opinions and even conflicts. It is a time of opportunity to reach out to God and seek to hear his words and heart. A time to learn and practice Jesus’ way and his heart.
With all our heart let us seek His heart. To those who seek and knock on the door, he will lower our hearts and humble us so we can serve others. Let us remember that by becoming lowly, Jesus did not end in death but shone brightly with the glory of His resurrection.
