I wanted to go ahead and post this weeks blog because on Sunday Di and I will be traveling down to Mandanao to spend some time with our other four teams. But this has been a good week. In between all the responsibilities that comes with being a squad leader I’ve been able to go up to the children’s home and help out in the nursery. I’ve also been able to go to some of the feeding programs, where they pack up a bunch of food and go to the slums and refugee camps to give out food.
Speaking of the slums, this weeks featured R squad blog comes from Jordan Wheeler, who made some good observations while doing a feeding program in a tent village. You can read about it here.
Personally I’ve been doing very well. I was reading in 1 Corinthians and the very last sentence in the 10th chapter has been on my mind like crazy. It says “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” That little sentence rocked me. Thats a very bold statement. I mean, I’m just as “of Christ” as Paul is. So why would I not dare say that in front of my squad? After spending some time thinking about it I have two answers, and I feel that both are just as correct as the other.
The first is my lifestyle. One of the fruits of the Spirit that I don’t necessarily feel very fruitful in is self-control. Which in other words means my flesh rules over me. I cave under temptation and I know it when I do it. And I’m not ok with that. One of the ways I’m hoping to grow my self-control is by increasing my spiritual disciplines. Not in a legalistic or religious kind of way, trying to earn God’s favor or blessing. But as a response to the fact that God already loves me and is very generous with me. So I’ve begun fasting once a week and being more diligent in my journal, all to have dominion over my flesh.
Earlier in 1 Corinthians in chapter 4, Paul lavishes some pretty big compliments our way. Compliments that if you don’t have a good understanding of grace, you won’t fully get. Paul explains that God sees us as trustworthy stewards or His mysteries, that he(Paul) is not aware of anything against himself, and that we are rich kings! If you need a good pick-me-up just read 1 Corinthians 4. But if I don’t understand the fact that regardless of what I do God still sees me as trustworthy and without reason to be ashamed, then I’m never going to be able to live like the king Christ proclaims me to be.
So yeah, more self control and a better understanding of grace and who I am in Christ. I’ll keep you posted. And maybe, one of these days I’ll be able to share something the Lord has revealed to me, and end it with…”Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
