“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”.– John 15:13 (NIV)

 

Jesus did just that for us , God Himself showed us this love. We know that Jesus is the very heart of God, so in retrospect God laid down His own life for us. What caught my eye about this verse was the word “Friends”. He did this because He considers us His friends, His best friends. See His act and commitment to us was not based upon the kind of friend we have been to Him but the type of friend He is to us. He called us friends before we even knew Him or answered the call. He died not for some low class people but for co-heirs with Him in the kingdom. His act of generosity was on His perspective of us and not our own perspective of ourselves. The Word says:

 

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my father I have made known to you”.– John 15:15 (NIV)

 

Laying down one’s life is not just dying physically but it is also dying to self. It’s choosing someone and their needs over yours. God on a daily basis does this for us. God chooses everyday to protect us, provide for us in every area of our lives, comfort and heal us, He goes to war for us. He chose us before the foundation of the earth and chose us to be His children. In today’s day and age it may not be being crucified on a cross but choosing to sacrifice your time for that friend who keeps making the same obvious mistake over and over. Or maybe that coworker who gets under your skin but you know in your heart that the love of God could change them. Or maybe intervening into a situation that you would really rather stay out of because it is not your business. Or speaking to the homeless person on the street even though you are pressed for time. Laying down your life is about being a friend to the lost, putting their needs above your own and being the light in the darkness of their world. God is a friend at all times, even when we who are His children fall short of being a good friend to Him in return. We too need to be that friend for someone in need. Stretch out your arms today to someone in need of a friend just like Christ did to you that day on Calvary. Friend you are loved.

 

 

 

 

“Nadie tiene amor más grande que el dar la vida por sus amigos”.- Juan 15:13 (NVI)

 

Jesús hizo precisamente eso por nosotros, Dios mismo nos mostró este amor. Sabemos que Jesús es el corazón de Dios, por lo tanto, en retrospectiva, Dios dio su propia vida por nosotros. Lo que me llamó la atención sobre este verso fue la palabra “Amigos”. Lo hizo porque nos considera sus amigos, sus mejores amigos. Ver Su acto y compromiso con nosotros no se basó en la clase de amigos que hemos sido para Él, sino en el tipo de amigo que Él es para nosotros. Nos llamó amigos antes de que lo conociéramos o respondimos a la llamada. No murió por algunas personas de clase baja, sino por co-herederos con Él en el reino. Su acto de generosidad estuvo en su perspectiva de nosotros y no en nuestra propia perspectiva de nosotros mismos. La Palabra dice:

 

 

Dejar la vida de uno no es solo morir físicamente sino también morir a uno mismo. Es elegir a alguien y sus necesidades sobre las tuyas. Dios a diario hace esto por nosotros. Dios elige todos los días para protegernos, proveernos en cada área de nuestras vidas, consolarnos y sanarnos, va a la guerra por nosotros. Él nos eligió a nosotros antes de la fundación de la tierra y nos eligió para ser Sus hijos. En el día de hoy y esta era, puede que no sea crucificado en una cruz, sino elegir sacrificar su tiempo por ese amigo que sigue cometiendo el mismo obvio error una y otra vez. O tal vez ese compañero de trabajo que se pone debajo de tu piel pero sabes en tu corazón que el amor de Dios podría cambiarlos. O tal vez intervenga en una situación de la que realmente preferiría mantenerse al margen porque no es su problema. O hablar con la persona sin hogar en la calle a pesar de que está presionado por el tiempo. Dar la vida consiste en ser un amigo para los perdidos, poner sus necesidades por encima de las tuyas y ser la luz en la oscuridad de su mundo. Dios es un amigo en todo momento, incluso cuando nosotros, que somos Sus hijos, no somos buenos amigos para Él a cambio. Nosotros también necesitamos ser ese amigo para alguien que lo necesita. Extiende tus brazos hoy a alguien que necesite un amigo, tal como lo hizo Cristo ese día en el Calvario. Amigo eres amado.

Ever feel so ashamed and guilty for the sins you have done, even if you have asked for forgiveness. I mean, you’ve prayed about them, started reading your Bible more, you’re even trying not to make the same mistakes again or choose that path. But it’s hard because there is a part of you that was ok with that sin, that didn’t see it as being so bad or maybe you did see it as wrong, and you wonder why you succumbed to it in the first place. You think to yourself ” how could I have allowed myself to be so deceived by the enemy in such a way, I thought I was stronger in my walk with God”. If this plays out the way I think it does, then you will start to wonder if you love God as much as you say you do. You will think to yourself that maybe your not as far in your walk with God as you thought. There is a war going on inside of you, between the flesh which keeps trying to remind you of the good times of that sin and there is the spirit who is trying to resist those temptations. You can’t seem to fix it, no matter how hard you try, some days you will win that battle between the flesh and the spirit but other days the flesh wins. On those days you just want to throw in the towel or better yet throw your hands up. You shout “God I can’t do this anymore, I am trying but I keep falling, I know I am wrong for what I have done.” He responds with…

 

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and WILL forgive us our sins and purify us from ALL unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NIV)

 

It’s so clearly written here in the word of God. If we (meaning its a choice we have) confess our sins (tell God what we did wrong), then He is faithful and just and WILL forgive us. Many of us still feel guilt for so many of our sins because we are still hiding them from God. Or maybe we have confessed our sins to Christ but have tried to fix ourselves. The scripture says He will purify us from ALL unrighteousness but first He WILL forgive us. We are forgiven, we need to let that forgiveness have its way in us. Our job is to seek God, draw near to him and if we fall again confess our sins knowing He is purifying us from ALL unrighteousness. You trying to fix it only keeps you focused on the sin instead of on Jesus. Not confessing your sins keeps you in condemnation and separated from Christ. Don’t try to do what only God can do, just trust Him to do it!!

 

 

Alguna vez te sientas tan avergonzado y culpable por los pecados que has cometido, incluso si has pedido perdón. Quiero decir, has orado por ellos, comenzó a leer más su Biblia, incluso está tratando de no cometer los mismos errores otra vez o elegir ese camino nuevamente. Pero es difícil porque hay una parte de ti que estuvo bien con ese pecado, que no lo vio tan mal o tal vez lo viste como incorrecto, y te preguntas por qué sucumbiste a él en primer lugar. Piensas para ti mismo “cómo podría haberme dejado engañar tanto por el enemigo de tal manera que pensé que era más fuerte en su camino con Dios”. Si esto se desarrolla como creo que lo hace, entonces comenzarás a preguntarte si amas a Dios tanto como dices que lo haces. Pensarás para ti mismo que quizás no estés tan lejos en tu caminar con Dios como pensabas. Hay una guerra dentro de ti, entre la carne que intenta recordar los buenos tiempos de ese pecado y hay un espíritu que intenta resistir esas tentaciones. Parece que no puedes arreglarlo, no importa cuánto te esfuerces, algunos días ganarás esa batalla entre la carne y el espíritu, pero otros días la carne ganará. En esos días solo quieres tirar la toalla o, mejor aún, tirar las manos arriba. Usted grita: “Dios, ya no puedo hacer esto, lo estoy intentando pero sigo cayendo, sé que estoy equivocado por lo que he hecho”. Él responde con…

 

“Si confesamos nuestros pecados, Dios, que es fiel y justo, nos los perdonará y nos limpiará de TODA maldad.” (1 Juan 1:9 NVI)

 

Está tan claramente escrito aquí en la palabra de Dios. Si nosotros (es decir, es una elección que tenemos) confesamos nuestros pecados (le contamos a Dios lo que hicimos mal), entonces Él es fiel y justo y nos perdonará. Muchos de nosotros todavía nos sentimos culpables por tantos de nuestros pecados porque todavía los estamos escondiendo de Dios. O tal vez hemos confesado nuestros pecados a Cristo, pero hemos tratado de arreglarnos a nosotros mismos. La escritura dice que Él nos purificará de TODA maldad, pero primero Él nos perdonará. Estamos perdonados, tenemos que dejar que el perdón se abra camino en nosotros. Nuestro trabajo es buscar a Dios, acercarnos a él y, si volvemos a caer, confesemos nuestros pecados sabiendo que Él nos está purificando de TODA la injusticia. Tratar de arreglarlo solo te mantiene enfocado en el pecado en lugar de en Jesús. No confesar tus pecados te mantiene en condena y separado de Cristo. ¡No trates de hacer lo que solo Dios puede hacer, solo confía en Él para que lo haga!!

God is testing you. He is testing you to see if you really love Him. He wants to see if you have enough faith. He is testing you to see if you would really give him, her , them or that up for Him or are they idols in your life. He is testing you to see if you are going to follow Him, if you really trust Him. Does any of this sound oh to familiar? I am pretty sure it does. Most times not all but most times we hear these from those around us when we are going through a spiritual test or trial. Some people hear the word test and right away begin to panic, I mean there can only be two results right? Negative or positive, pass or fail. Wrong! When God administers test, it is in its truest form. God’s tests results are not that of passing or failing, negative or positive, they are about building us up. There are so many benefits in going through test and trials.

 

Test= the procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something, especially before it is taken into widespread use.

 

⦁ James 1:2-4 (NIV)- Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 

⦁ 2 Corinthians 12:9a,10 (NIV)- My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. That is why for Christ’s sake I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

I read this passage today in one of my devotionals that says: “although trials ultimately work good things in us, they often bring bad things out of us first. They cause things like anger, fear, jealousy, complaining, volatile emotions, and negative thoughts and speech to surface”. The benefit and beauty in that is that we get to see our heavenly Father be our vine dresser , purging us and removing those branches that do not belong to him in our lives and the ones that do He prunes to be even more fruitful (see John 15:1-2,5). If God is testing us to see “if we really love him” or “if we have enough faith” or ” will we give up those things” then it’s like God doesn’t really know us. Think about it….How can we call Him “Omniscient” which means “All-Knowing” yet He wonder these things about us.

 

⦁ Psalms 139:1-2, 4, 16 (NLT)- O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

 

Test from God ar not about us proving something to Him or the opportunity for Him to learn something about us. He is our Father, He knows us very well, for we are formed by his hands. The test are for us, to show us what we are made of, to show us who we are in Him. Test expose our strengths and weaknesses, so we can build on our strengths and let God’s power show in our weak areas. Some of us don’t know who or who’s we are, and some of us don’t realize how far we have really come. A test is another chance for God to show us all the work He has been putting into us. Our TESTimony is what touches the lives of others, it is how they can see God in and through us, not to mention the many defeats of Satan (HAHAHA). If we run from test then we miss out on the opportunity for God to show to the world that He knows He has a winner and He is putting everything into us because He believes in us. He knows our value and wants the world to know it too. So embrace your test, yes God is testing you. He is putting us through a procedure that will establish our quality, performance, and reliability especially before he takes us widespread into the world to use. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Love” a word used so frequently but often times with a meaning not worthy of its stature. We voice this word when we see a pair of shoes we like or our favorite meal. It’s used to describe our favorite color, movie, place, even our relationships. But do we really know what “Love” is? We have all heard the scripture: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered and it keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Cor. 13:4-8 NIV). Other scriptures like: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son…” (John 3:16 NIV). These verses were not describing an emotion but someone. For many of us “Love” is this emotion that we can fall in and out of, an emotion we can turn on and off. Is “Love” not a character? Is “Love” not the very being and core of the God we serve? “Love” is worthy to be praised, adored, worshipped with every ounce of our being. Not something to fall in and out of, but to be loyal and committed to. Not something to turn on and off, but to give freely withholding nothing. “Love” is not just an emotion but the very word of God … “Love” is Jesus! “Love” flows from the heart, the very heart that God put in us when He removed our heart of stone (Ez. 36:26 NIV). “Love” is the very purpose of God that we are to propel with our callings everyday. His “Love” is not conditional or some hormonal emotion that changes with His mood, but sets out to achieve and accomplish a purpose in us. “Love” fights for us, never throwing in the towel. It is not the “Love” of things that moves the heart of God, but the very “Love” of God for His children that moves Him. “Love” redeems us, loves us, blesses us, fights for us, chooses us. “Love” is who God is. He cannot live contrary to His character, the very being of His nature. “Love” is the very driving force behind God’s plan and will for each and every one of our lives. So it makes one think of the many ways we have used the word “Love.” Is what we “Love,” things? We were not called to “Love” things, but the Creator of those good things. When we “Love” people, are we loving them like 1 Cor. 13:4-8? Have we allowed the very “Love” of our life, who is written on our hearts, to change our hearts? Are you giving “Love” the very place it deserves in your life? Brothers and Sisters I leave you with this: “above all BE loving, this ties up everything together perfectly” (Col. 3:14 GW). BE “Love,” don’t just feel it.

 

“Amor” es una palabra que se usa con frecuencia pero a menudo con un significado que no es digno de su estatura. Expresamos esta palabra cuando vemos un par de zapatos que nos gustan o nuestra comida favorita. Se utiliza para describir nuestro color favorito, película, lugar, incluso nuestras relaciones. Pero, ¿sabemos realmente qué es el “Amor”? Todos hemos escuchado las Escrituras: “El amor es paciente, es bondadoso. El amor no es envidioso ni jactancioso ni orgulloso. No se comporta con rudeza, no es egoísta, no se enoja fácilmente, no guarda rencor. El amor no se deleita en la maldad, sino que se regocija con la verdad. Todo lo disculpa, todo lo cree, todo lo espera, todo lo soporta. El amor jamás se extingue”(1 Cor. 13: 4-8 NVI). Otras escrituras como: “Porque tanto amó Dios al mundo que dio a su Hijo unigénito …” (Juan 3:16 NVI). Estos versos no describen una emoción sino a alguien. Para muchos de nosotros, “Amor” es una emoción de la que podemos caer dentro y fuera de, una emoción que podemos activar y desactivar. ¿El “Amor” no es un carácter? ¿No es el “Amor” el ser y el centro mismo del Dios al que servimos? El “Amor” es digno de ser alabado, exaltado, adorado con cada gramo de nuestro ser. No es algo para caer dentro y fuera, sino para ser leal y comprometido. No es algo para activar y desactivar, sino para dar sin retener nada. “Amor” no es solo una emoción, sino que la misma palabra de Dios … ¡”Amor” es Jesús! El “Amor” fluye del corazón, el mismo corazón que Dios puso en nosotros cuando quitó nuestro corazón de piedra (Ez. 36:26 NVI). “Amor” es el verdadero propósito de Dios que debemos impulsar con nuestros llamamientos todos los días. Su “Amor” no es condicional o alguna emoción hormonal que cambia con Su estado de ánimo, sino que se propone alcanzar y lograr un propósito en nosotros. El “Amor” lucha por nosotros, nunca tirando la toalla. No es el “Amor” de las cosas lo que mueve el corazón de Dios, sino el mismo “Amor” de Dios por sus hijos lo que lo mueve. El “Amor” nos redime, nos ama, nos bendice, lucha por nosotros, nos elige. El “Amor” es quien Dios es. Él no puede vivir en contra de su carácter, el mismo ser de su naturaleza. El “Amor” es la fuerza impulsora detrás del plan y la voluntad de Dios para todas y cada una de nuestras vidas. Así que hace a uno pensar en las muchas maneras en que hemos usado la palabra “Amor”. ¿Son las cosas que “Amamos”? No fuimos llamados a “Amar” las cosas, sino al Creador de esas cosas buenas. Cuando “Amamos” a las personas, ¿las estamos amando como 1 Cor. 13: 4-8? ¿Hemos permitido que el “Amor” de nuestra vida, que está escrito en nuestros corazones, cambie nuestros corazones? ¿Le estás dando al “Amor” el lugar que merece en tu vida? Hermanos y hermanas, les dejo con esto: “sobre todo, SEA amoroso, esto une todo a la perfección” (Col. 3:14). SER “Amor”, no solo lo sientas.

 

In Borikén (Puerto Rico) we have a tradition on January 6th called “Dia De Los Reyes”. In Borikén (Puerto Rico) on January 5th the kids grab an old shoe box that they have and fill it with grass for the camels to eat. They place the box under their beds or in front of the fire place. When they wake up the next morning the Magi have fed the grass to their camels and have left a gift in its place. I still do this tradition myself with my parents, as it is for all ages, but I leave out the part of the grass. The Bible does not say if they came to the house on camels, horses or foot but we do know that the journey was long. The word says “the star first appeared when Christ was born in a manger but the wise men continued to follow the star until it stopped over the place the child was (His house)”. The star they were following was God himself “The Bright and Morning Star” and when they arrived they worshiped Jesus. The Magi did not come expecting a gift but giving gifts. The first gift they gave to Jesus was their worship, then they opened their treasures giving him Gold = for Kingship, Frankincense (incense) = for His divine being, and Myrrh (anointing oil) = used to prepare kings for Death or a Burial. Originally in Borikén (Puerto Rico) there were no gifts exchanged on Christmas day because it was a day to reflect on the greatest gift of all: “JESUS”. This day on the Island included things like delicious food, parrandas, friends and especially family. Please do not misunderstand, it is not wrong to exchange gifts, watch Christmas movies, build ginger bread houses or the site seeing of Christmas lights, etc… But if we do not take the time to understand this precious gift of life we have been given both physically (Jesus) and spiritually (our own lives) then we lose site of the life our dear glorious King gave for us (death on a cross). The Magi recognized that Jesus was the Messiah (anointed one). Jesus received these gifts because of who He is. God showed us the end from the beginning in a nutshell; that through Christ’s death on a cross all who accept His sacrifice and proclaim “Jesus Christ is their Lord” shall be saved and will be given eternal life. The Bible says that when we become sons and daughters of God we are born again and become a new creation. Our Savior came as a baby unable to save us at that moment but showing in that moment what was to come – the fulfillment of His promise that in saving us from death we are given the gift of Life!  Not only that, but the word also tells us that “we have all we need for the life that God has called us to.” In the gifts Jesus was given he had what he needed for the life He was called to…Gold supplied His needs, Frankincense was for purification spiritually and physically, and Myrrh for when He died He was anointed and buried as a king in a rich man’s grave. Jesus lacked nothing for the life He was called to live and neither do we. If we follow God, our bright and morning star, He will guide us into all truth and that truth is Jesus Christ! So today give God first your worship and out of your worship praise him with the gifts that He so carefully placed in you. Will you visit the Messiah today?

 

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En Borikén (Puerto Rico) tenemos una tradición el 6 de enero llamada “Día de los Reyes”. En Borikén (Puerto Rico) el 5 de enero, los niños agarran una vieja caja de zapatos que tienen y la llenan de pasto para que coman los camellos. Colocan la caja debajo de sus camas o frente a la chimenea. Cuando se despiertan a la mañana siguiente, los Magos han alimentado el pasto a sus camellos y han dejado un regalo en su lugar. Todavía sigo esta tradición con mis padres, como lo es para todas las edades, pero dejo la parte de la hierba. La Biblia no dice si llegaron a la casa en camellos, caballos o pies, pero sí sabemos que el viaje fue largo. La palabra dice “la primera estrella apareció cuando Cristo nació en un pesebre, pero los hombres sabios siguieron la estrella hasta que se detuvo en el lugar donde estaba el niño (su casa)”. La estrella que seguían era el mismo Dios “La Estrella Brillante y de la Mañana” y cuando llegaron adoraron a Jesús. Los Mago no vinieron esperando un regalo sino dando regalos. Su primer regalo que le dieron a Jesús fue su adoración, luego abrieron sus tesoros y le dieron Oro = para la realeza, Incienso (incienso) = para Su ser divino y Mirra (aceite de la unción) = utilizado para preparar a los reyes para la Muerte o un Entierro. Originalmente en Borikén (Puerto Rico) no se intercambiaron regalos el día de Navidad porque fue un día para reflexionar sobre el regalo más grande de todos “JESÚS”. Este día en la isla incluyó cosas como comida deliciosa, parrandas, amigos y especialmente la familia. No se pierda, no se equivoca al intercambiar regalos, ver películas de Navidad, construir casas de pan de jengibre o ver las luces de Navidad en el sitio, etc. Pero si no nos tomamos el tiempo de entender este precioso regalo de la vida, Se nos ha dado tanto física (Jesús) como espiritualmente (nuestras propias vidas) y luego perdemos el lugar de la vida que nuestro Rey glorioso dio por nosotros (muerte en una cruz). Los Magos reconocieron que Jesús era el Mesías (ungido). Jesús recibió estos dones debido a quién es Él. Dios nos mostró el final desde el principio en pocas palabras. Que, a través de la muerte de Cristo en una cruz, todos los que, excepto Su sacrificio y proclamen “Jesucristo es su Señor”, serán salvos y se les dará vida eterna. La Biblia dice que cuando nos convertimos en hijos e hijas de Dios nacemos de nuevo y nos convertimos en una nueva creación. Nuestro Salvador vino como un bebé incapaz de salvarnos en ese momento, pero mostrando en ese momento lo que vendría: el cumplimiento de Su promesa de que al salvarnos de la Muerte, ¡recibimos el regalo de la Vida! No solo eso, sino que la palabra también nos dice que “tenemos todo lo que necesitamos para la vida a la que Dios nos ha llamado”. En los dones que le dieron a Jesús, Él tenía lo que necesitaba para la vida a la que fue llamado … El oro suplió sus necesidades, el incienso fue para la purificación espiritual y física y la mirra cuando murió, fue ungido y sepultado como rey en la tumba de un hombre rico. . A Jesús no le faltó nada para la vida que fue llamado a vivir y nosotros tampoco. Si seguimos a Dios, nuestra estrella brillante y matutina, ¡Él nos guiará a toda verdad y esa verdad es Jesucristo! Así que hoy, dale a Dios primero tu adoración y, fuera de tu adoración, alábale con los dones que tan cuidadosamente colocó en ti. ¿Visitarás al Mesías hoy?

 

Escrita por Betzi Roman

Our biggest task as believers is to reflect the image of Jesus Christ. To walk among sinners and not sin. To give until we have none left, knowing God will provide. To be people of integrity, even when no one is watching. To not wear our emotions on our sleeve, but rise above them when people hurt us. To stand up for the weak when they have no strength. I have written about reflection before. My desire to continue working on myself will never end. In turn, I must practice the ways of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Not just read about Him in the bible. I know this may seem repetitive and you probably always hear it, but we must apply God’s word to our everyday lives. Love like Jesus loved, unconditionally. Show concern for those who are hurting and consider what they may be going through. Help people to not dwell on their past and remind them of the cross. That Jesus died a horrible death so we could live another day to worship Him and praise Him.

 

My Pastor recently shared a verse in one of his sermons that I have been meditating on for about a year now. Roman 5:19 “For by one man’s disobedience, the many were made sinners; so by the one man’s obedience, the many will be made righteous”. As my Pastor explained the verse, that the one man’s disobedience was Adam and the one man’s obedience was Jesus, light bulbs went on in my head like “Oh, that’s what the verse meant”. Not that I had it wrong but that I referred to the “man” as myself.  God created us to be His image so He expects us to obey so that others will know Him. My thoughts for this verse were that every time I committed a sin or disobeyed God, everyone around me was affected by my sin. Either they would fall into sin or I was a stumbling block for their situation. When I obeyed God’s word, as Jesus did by being crucified on the cross to save us, people were drawn to Him by my obedience. Who does your reflection resemble? Are you an Adam or are you a Jesus? When rough situations happen and life starts to get to you, reflect on Jesus and remember His temperament and how He responded to situations when faced with them. You were made in His image therefore you possess the power to reflect Him. I pray you are able. 

 

Written by: Jennifer Warren

 

 

Nuestra mayor tarea como creyente es reflejar la imagen de Jesucristo. Caminar entre pecadores y no pecar. Dar hasta que no tengamos nada, sabiendo que Dios es el que provee. Mantener nuestra integridad incluso cuando nadie está mirando. No permitir que nuestras emociones estén expuestas, sino elevarnos por encima de ellas cuando la gente nos lastime. Para defender a los débiles cuando no tienen fuerzas. He escrito sobre la reflexión antes. Mi deseo de seguir trabajando en mí nunca terminará. A su vez, debo practicar los caminos de nuestro Señor y Salvador, Jesucristo. No sólo leer acerca de Él en la palabra. Sé que esto puede parecer repetitivo y probablemente siempre lo escuchas, pero debemos aplicar la palabra de Dios a nuestra vida a diario. Amar como Jesús amó, incondicionalmente. Al mostrar emoción por los lastimados y dejar de preocuparse por los sentimientos y las situaciones de los demás que pueden estar atravesando. Ayudar a las personas a no detenerse en su pasado y recordarles la cruz. Que Jesús murió una muerte horrible para que pudiéramos vivir otro día para adorarle y alabarlo.

 

Mi Pastor compartió recientemente un verso en uno de sus sermones sobre los que he estado meditando durante aproximadamente un año. Romanos 5:19 “Porque por la desobediencia de un hombre, muchos fueron hechos pecadores, así por la obediencia de un solo hombre, muchos serán hechos justos”. Como mi Pastor explicó el versículo, que la desobediencia de un hombre fue Adán y la obediencia de un hombre fue Jesús, las bombillas se encendieron en mi cabeza como “Oh, eso es lo que significaba el versículo”. No es que me equivoque, sino que me refiero al “hombre” como a mí mismo. Dios nos creó para ser Su imagen, de modo que Él espera que obedezcamos para que otros Lo conozcan. Mis pensamientos para este versículo eran que cada vez que cometía un pecado o desobedeciera a Dios, todos a mi alrededor se veían afectados por mi pecado. O bien caerían en pecado o yo sería una piedra de tropiezo para su situación. Cuando obedecí la palabra de Dios, como lo hizo Jesús al ser crucificado en la cruz para salvarnos, la gente fue atraída hacia Él por mi obediencia. ¿A quién se parece tu reflejo? ¿Eres un Adán o eres un Jesús? Cuando ocurran situaciones ásperas y la vida comienza a llegar a ti, reflexiona sobre Jesús y recuerda Su temperamento y cómo Él respondió a situaciones cuando se enfrentó con ellos. Ustedes fueron hechos a Su imagen, por lo tanto ustedes poseen el poder de reflejarlo. Te ruego que seas capaz.

 

Escrita Por: Jennifer Warren