Lessons from the People of the Promised Land
A Pastor friend of mine asked me a profound question when I posted a picture of our BSF activities during my first season in the Book of John. He asked what do we do with the knowledge that we gained from attending the BSF classes.
And his question made me ponder- How do I apply the lessons I learned? For indeed, there is a struggle between applying the knowledge and just acquiring Information. The former speaks of transformation of the soul. And the latter, just feeding the mind. A condition that is seemingly pleasant and favorable yet It hides the real status of the heart.
It is a challenge to live with what i learned, acquiring not just knowledge but More importantly faith as we Go along the lessons.
Far be it from me, if i have been attending BSF classes through the years and yet Christ-likeness is not seen in me.
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And so let me borrow phrases of Words from Paul:
“If I speak about the exploits of Joshua and David, How brave they were and How they fought their battles, but do not have love for those who are oppressed, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I am loyal like Ruth to her Mother-in-law, and as Jonathan was to David, and if I have the humility of Abigail whose quick action had save her community, and have radical faith in God, like Rahab, who had changed like her ugly past to a glorious future,and if I have a faith like Hannah whose desperate unspoken plea as a barren woman earned her Samuel, and wise and rich like Solomon, but do not have love for the lost, I am nothing.
If I give all my time attending the BSF classes and Fellowship, and I give over my body to hardship in answering the discussion notes and watching repeatedly all the lecture videos that I may boast of my knowledge, and active in sharing my inputs during the Group discussions, but do not have love for the broken, I gain nothing.
If i Focus More on the outside adornments than living a life as God’s temple, I am nothing.
and so I pray that with my BSF journey, as He Dwells in me through the Holy Spirit, I Will not dishonor Him and others, that i Will not be self-seeking, like that of Saul, or Absalom.
and that I Will not be easily angered and foolish like Nabal.
and I Will not keep record of wrongs, and vengeful like Abimelech, as no ONE is beyond the saving grace of our forgiving and compassionate God.
And I Will just have to surrender to the Lord in prayer when I encounter difficult people -the likes of Saul, adonijah, amnon, etc. and by His grace will love unconditionally as Christ loves me.
In all these spiritual encounters I have in BSF Class, may I constantly remind myself to be a fruitful and effective disciple of Christ and disciple-maker. BSF is one of the tools that allow us to know more about God and let others know Him as well.
my heart’s desire is when people come in Contact with me, they also would like to join me as I claim my place, my inheritance in my Promised Land in Heaven.
That people would know that I am a resident of the Promised Land in my dealings with them, in my Daily social media postings, in every opportunity God will give me.
Let me also take this opportunity to I thank the Lord for our Teaching Leaders Gugu and Iris, and my Group Leader Tita Anita, whose faith as well as her beauty is worth emulating as she gracefully and finesse serves the Lord at her age, for my group mates who juggled their schedules, their domestic issues and even physical limitations so as to be on time for the group discussions. I thank God every time I remember BSF!
Originally published at http://heartbeatsofeve.wordpress.com on August 28, 2020.
