Baptisms! / Love vs looks
My church just held some baptisms today! It's really nice to see all these brothers and sisters in Christ getting baptised. While we see these baptisms, it's so easy to forget the true significance of these baptisms. Although the baptisms is what everyone else sees, usually it's what goes on deep down inside, what everyone doesn't see, that really made the difference to each baptism candidate.
I was just only reading through the booklet of baptism testimonies and it feels like I'm reading a storybook. But this is no storybook. Each and every story in this booklet is a REAL LIFE story that tells of a life that God has touched in His own way. It amazes me how God can work in SO many different ways. Some of these people have left church before, some of them have struggled with family objections, some of them became Christians in rather unexpected ways. Many of these sharings tell of unfaithful people who either strayed from God or didn't place importance on their spiritual walk, but whom God sought out lovingly and touched them in His own special ways. Wow! Isn't He amazing??
One thing that struck me from this baptism is God's love. As I thought back to my own baptism just 5 months ago on 9 April, I'm reminded of my own story and how God has reminded and assured me of His love in a most touching and unforgettable way. Similarly, He has shown His love to many of these brothers and sisters, and they have responded with this step of faith and obedience. At the same time, as a Christian community, we should love these brothers and sisters and continue to support them spiritually. So often, people leave church because they don't get the support they need. Let's not make this mistake again.
Quite surprisingly, I also had some thoughts about my looks. I've always considered my looks as "cannot-make-it", and reminders do come by now and then. However, when one believes in God, there is more than just what meets the eye. One principle I work by (though it's not biblical) is that if my looks "can't make it", then my character has to surpass that of many others (NOT to say that character doesn't matter if I had good looks). Godly love is the MOST important thing in Christianity, and I've long felt that if people are looking for godly love, why not let them find it in me? People often stick to their comfort zones, but the combination of the lack of a comfort group and my heart for others (especially those feeling alone) has led me to reach out to people within the church. So often, in mixing around, thoughts about my looks just disappear. God has rewarded me with people who feel comfortable with me and often who come to me when they see me. I've got nothing in my looks that will make them come to me, but I know it's due to the sincere godly love that they see in me. Yet, godly love doesn't come from me, but it's God working through me. In this world where looks matter so much, I admit God has encouraged me deeply to focus inwardly and not outwardly, to have a heart that desires to please Him and not to worry about my looks. Thank you Abba Father. :)
I was just only reading through the booklet of baptism testimonies and it feels like I'm reading a storybook. But this is no storybook. Each and every story in this booklet is a REAL LIFE story that tells of a life that God has touched in His own way. It amazes me how God can work in SO many different ways. Some of these people have left church before, some of them have struggled with family objections, some of them became Christians in rather unexpected ways. Many of these sharings tell of unfaithful people who either strayed from God or didn't place importance on their spiritual walk, but whom God sought out lovingly and touched them in His own special ways. Wow! Isn't He amazing??
One thing that struck me from this baptism is God's love. As I thought back to my own baptism just 5 months ago on 9 April, I'm reminded of my own story and how God has reminded and assured me of His love in a most touching and unforgettable way. Similarly, He has shown His love to many of these brothers and sisters, and they have responded with this step of faith and obedience. At the same time, as a Christian community, we should love these brothers and sisters and continue to support them spiritually. So often, people leave church because they don't get the support they need. Let's not make this mistake again.
Quite surprisingly, I also had some thoughts about my looks. I've always considered my looks as "cannot-make-it", and reminders do come by now and then. However, when one believes in God, there is more than just what meets the eye. One principle I work by (though it's not biblical) is that if my looks "can't make it", then my character has to surpass that of many others (NOT to say that character doesn't matter if I had good looks). Godly love is the MOST important thing in Christianity, and I've long felt that if people are looking for godly love, why not let them find it in me? People often stick to their comfort zones, but the combination of the lack of a comfort group and my heart for others (especially those feeling alone) has led me to reach out to people within the church. So often, in mixing around, thoughts about my looks just disappear. God has rewarded me with people who feel comfortable with me and often who come to me when they see me. I've got nothing in my looks that will make them come to me, but I know it's due to the sincere godly love that they see in me. Yet, godly love doesn't come from me, but it's God working through me. In this world where looks matter so much, I admit God has encouraged me deeply to focus inwardly and not outwardly, to have a heart that desires to please Him and not to worry about my looks. Thank you Abba Father. :)
posted by Guangrong at
9:36 pm
