Mankind as God’s Children (Jn 1:13)

Mankind as God’s Children (Jn 1:13)

(Before going back to our spiritual journey, let me take this opportunity to inform you, Dear Readers, that we are shifting back to the Catholic version of the Bible – the New American Bible.  Our use of the NLT version has been fruitful so far.  However, as I continue to read the NAB version, I personally find it more appealing to me and my own personal journey.  So, unless otherwise specified, I will be quoting the NAB version of the Bible, copyrighted by Thomas Nelson, Inc. in 1969, to be more specific.)

In our previous article, we talked about God adopting mankind to be His children through Jesus Christ.  To wit,

“But to those who did accept Him He gave the power to become children of God, to those who believe in His name,”

In verse that follows we read:

“…who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.”

†Father God, we thank you for welcoming us in Your loving arms.  Like children we were hungry for love and thirsty for compassion, we come to You and did not turn away Your face from us.  You welcome us instead, clothed us with Your mercy, fed us with Your love and comforted us with Your peace.  Loving Father, we thank You, that by sending Your most precious son, Jesus Christ, to suffer for our sins, we were given the opportunity to have a home, Your home, with You as our father, Jesus your first born as our brother and the Church our Mother.  We praise and glorify You Father, both now and forever. Amen.†

Expecting a child, especially your first born, is a very exciting and wonderful feeling.  All the anxieties and gladness being mixed together is just overwhelming and unexplainable.  The thought of having another human life being entrusted at your care is a very joyful experience.  I don’t know how to explain or how to describe it.  How could a life that is so precious, so sacred and so fragile be placed at the control of filthy and undeserving hands? What is it that God has seen in me to place such responsibility upon my shoulders?  Nevertheless, the excitement that I have can never be contained nor can it be extinguished.  This child, this baby that my wife is carrying in her womb, is the child that I always longed for.  Blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh. 

If I, a mortal, who have waited only for about two years for my child, cannot contain this excitement and joy, how much more God who have waited for His children hundreds even thousands of years to come to Him? 

Creations. People. Children.

I am yet to find a part of the Old Testament wherein it could be read that God calls mankind His children.  If ever the term “sons of God” was used in the Old Testament, it could hardly be pointed out as referring to human beings.  There are still theological debates and discussions as to who the sons of God are as referred to in the Old Testament.  But, from the New Testament, we know who these sons of God are. 

Verse 13, as we can see above, tells us that mankind reproduces mankind through these three natural causes: (1) by natural generation, (2) by human choice, and (3) by a man’s decision.  Therefore, a human is a child to another human.  But our being children of God is not the result of any human or physical means.  It is by the Spirit of God that we became children of God – first and foremost by accepting Jesus Christ. We do not become children of God by our own merits.  We do not make ourselves children of God because of our choices or decisions, but because it is God who decided to take us as His children through Christ.  Man cannot say, “God make me your son.”  But it is God who calls us, “Listen and accept my son Jesus and you will be partakers of my kingdom, be my adopted sons and daughters.”  We do not become children of God because we wanted it, but because God willed it. 

In John 3:5-6, Jesus explained this to a Pharisee named Nicodemus.  “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit.”

Just as adopted children became part of the family through papers and legalities, man becomes a child of God through Jesus.  This brings me to the question, “If the adopted children share in the responsibilities within their adopted homes, don’t we have roles to play as well as children of God?”  

Becoming the Children of God (John 1:12)

There were children and then there were strangers.  The children almost always have part in the inheritance, but not the strangers, except for a very few.  The children have the privilege of being part of a family where they are nurtured and loved. The strangers, aside from a few moments of generosity and compassion, were not part of the grace reserved for the children.  One would not keep his or her children out in the cold of the night and let some strangers in to his or her home.  That’s not the way of the world. 

But there were strangers, unrelated by blood, who were taken in as one’s own.  They are the adopted sons and daughters, worthy to be called heirs and part of the family.  They were given the rights to call their “parents”, father and mother.   If this can happen here on earth, believe that it is possible, too, in the heavenly realms. 

“But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)”

†Father, we thank you for the gift of life.  We thank you Father for Your grace that You made us worthy to become Your children through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord and Savior. 

Father, touch our hearts today, so that as we read and meditate on Your words, we may fully understand Your message.  Lead us, Father, in a life that will make us worthy to be called Your sons and daughters, children of the Most High. All this we pray, Father, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

From our last article, we talked about how Jesus, being the Light of the world was not received in the world.  He created it, yet He was not accepted by it.  Such were the people living in the dark.  And many of us today are not different from the people of Jesus’ time on earth. 

We love darkness because in the dark, we can be bold and daring and careless.  Compare the crime rate during the day and during the night.  Most crimes were committed at night.  Why?  Because people, like us, who do bad things believe that we are isolated from the light during the night.  We can do whatever we want because no one can see us.  So we gain false courage and dare to be bold.  But you know that is not true, because God, who is ever present and ever powerful, can see us even during the darkest hour of the night or even if we hide in the deepest abyss of the earth.  That’s why many would deny Jesus – and deny God.  We hate the light the would expose our wrong doings. 

No one would want to wave their dirty hands in broad daylight.  Not even me.  So we move away from the light, making us strangers to God. 

But there is hope.  And that hope is in Jesus. 

Many people, in order to achieve the grace of being called child of God have done so many things.  But if we will look at the verse above, we need to do only two things: BELIEVE and ACCEPT.

BELIEVE

We know that there are many who do not believe in Jesus –  as to who or what He is.  So let’s not talk about them.  Let us talk about the many who “believe” in Him. Believing something is associating it as real or true.  If we believe in Jesus, then we believe that He lived on earth and that He existed.  But this “belief” requires more than just acknowledging the fact that Jesus lives and that He is the Son of God.

If we are to believe in Him, then we must believe His works and His words.  You cannot say, “I believe in what you said, but I don’t believe it’s the truth.”  What is the point in believing a lie.  Believing in a person but not in his words is very contradicting in its own.  Such is something we cannot do when it comes to our belief in Christ.  We cannot simply believe that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior, and yet do not believe the words He said.  We cannot also say that we believe Him to be the Christ, but not believe that He died for our sins. 

Many people who are suffering and struggling in life profess their beliefs in Jesus but they live their lives as if He can do nothing about their problems.  Many people believe in Him and His remission of sins, but continue to live their lives as if they can never be forgiven.  They believe in Him, but not His words, not His works.  If we truly believe in Jesus, we will believe what He said and will DO as He commanded. 

ACCEPT

Accepting Jesus means letting Him in into our lives.  You cannot accept and not receive.  “I accept this gift, but take it with you when you leave.”  “I accept you in our house, but you have to stay outside.”  That’s not acceptance. And I don’t know what it is.  We cannot say, “Jesus, I accept you in my life as my Lord and Savior, but don’t meddle in my affairs.  I can do this on my own.”   Accepting Jesus means surrendering everything to Him.  When you ride a taxi, you don’t instruct the driver when to turn left or right, when to step on the brakes and when to change gears.  You just tell him the direction or location you want to go and let him do his job. 

So, when we accept Jesus, we just have to let Him do His job of changing us, from the inside out.  We cannot accept Jesus and then continue on our own “journey” of self-enlightenment, self-discovery, self-fulfillment or whatever you want to call it.  All our efforts, though some may succeed in some areas and for some times, will all end empty and will fall short.  Because only by accepting Jesus we can have the fullness of life.  With Jesus in our lives, we shall lack nothing for He is the Good Shepherd with unfailing love that will pursue us all the days of our lives (cf. Ps. 23).  

BECOME

This not something you can do – this is the outcome of your belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ.  This is the grace of God that is offered to all of us through Christ.  This is made free for you and me because Jesus already paid the ultimate price – His death on the cross.  With His death and resurrection, we can become heirs and be called children of God.  All we must do is Believe and Accept.

Then, what shall we do as we become children of God?  Live like one.

“This includes you who were once far away from God. You were His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions.  Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.  But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. (Colossians 1: 21-23)”

†We thank you, Father, for the love and mercy you have given us.  We thank you for the gift to be rightfully called your children through Jesus Christ.  Without you, we are nothing.  And as a child of the Almighty, we pray that you meet our every needs like a babe helpless and in need of your love and care, every waking moment of our lives.  And when our time on earth comes to an end, welcome us in the gate of heaven, to a place You have reserved for us since You laid down the foundation of the universe.  All this we pray, in Jesus’ mighty name, together with the Holy Spirit, who lives and reigns with You, now and forever. Amen.†

The True Messiah (John 1:6-9)

Imagine you are attending a seminar, a conference or a talk by someone popular.  Or imagine you are watching the Oscars.  Have you notice how much effort the organizers exert to identify the presenter of the Key Speaker or the Best Actor or Actress?  Did you notice all the efforts they have to put in so that they can introduce that special person, that Best Actor or Actress, that Key Speaker very well?  For the Oscars alone, the presenter is almost always an A-Lister in Hollywood.  That’s how special the message is.  That’s how special the person who is about to be introduced.  And it’s never about the presenter.

Just recently, I was invited to deliver the commencement address to the graduating class of my elementary school.  The Principal and almost all the teachers went to our home to talk to me and my parents.  Probably to get a glimpse of how I am at home or the kind of person before the eyes of the people who know me and are close to me.  They asked questions about my current work, the works I had, the schools I’d been, awards, affiliations, etc.   These people wanted to know a little more about me before they present me to the graduating class – before I give my message. 

I think there’s more than just courtesy in there.  I believe that what they've done was due diligence.  Those people wanted to know me better so they can introduce me better.  But to make their work a bit easier, I asked my wife to draft the introduction and gave it to the school as guide.  Who would know me better than the very person I spend all of my time and secrets with. 

Join me as we take a first look on how Jesus was introduced by John the Baptist.

†In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“God sent John the Baptist to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.  John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light.  The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world.”  (John 1:6-9 NLT)

John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin from His mother’s side.  John was a little older than Jesus - by merely three months.  If you are like me who grew up in the province and with closed family-ties, then you might be close to your cousins as well.  Jesus and John did not come from well-off families.  Probably, they grew up together.  I Imagine Jesus and John as kids, playing in the dirt during summer and enjoying themselves running and dancing together under the rain.  I can even imagine the two of them talking about the pretty girls they meet.  They are both humans after all.  I don’t know what was John’s profession but I know Jesus became a carpenter.  They are about thirty years old when something happened.  John was called to be in the wilderness.  He threw off his clothes and dressed in camels’ hair instead.  His food?  Locusts and honey.  John became a mad man in our today’s standard.  A crazy one crying out for the people to repent and turn away from their sins for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Imagine you are in a country under foreign rulers and your prophets of early days promised you of a deliverer, a Messiah that will liberate your nation.  Scholars said that during this time in Jesus’ life, there were a lot of people who claimed that they were the promised Messiah – the one promised to unite and rule the kingdom of God just as David did in his time.  Many of these so called messiahs failed.  Of course we know, that because we know who the True Messiah Is.  

So during those times, John was so bold asking people to turn away from their wicked ways.  Could he just be another one of those so-called messiahs?  Probably that was what the people were asking then.  They came to the Jordan River to see John the Baptist and hear his message.  Many believed in him because we know he had his own disciples.  But I still believe there were skeptics who went there to question if John’s message was true?  If he is the promised prophet who will come before the Messiah?  Or if he is the promised Messiah?  John became popular those days.  We can almost see him both as a hero to his people and a threat to the rulers of that time.  He might have won a few friends but he certainly had a lot of enemies.

People who were desperate for a savior, people who wanted liberation from the foreign rulers, people who were tired of poverty, hunger, illness, and persecution were looking for miracles – looking for hope.   And they thought they found it by the Jordan River through John the Baptist. 

But from among the many nameless faces in the crowd gathering around John, his beloved cousin came silent as a cat.  John was a flickering light of hope during those times, but a “nameless face in the crowd” would change that forever.  John was about to become a channel of a Divine Message far greater than what he had been preaching all this time.  The True Light was about to reveal Himself to the world through “mad-man John.”  And what makes John special to be called as the presenter of the True Light of the World was not any of his heavenly visions or divine appointments, but because he was related to Him by blood.  They were childhood friends.  They probably grew up together.  They knew each other well.  That what makes John the Baptist special to be called to announced the forthcoming salvation. 

In our world today, we see a lot of “John the Baptists.”  These are the people who preach about Jesus.  We see them on televisions, on concert halls, on lavished buildings, hear them on the streets, on radio, and read about them and their messages on books, magazines and the internet.  Today, they no longer shout in the wilderness.  They no longer wear clothes of camel hairs nor eat locust and honey.  Today, many of them wore expensive designer clothes, eat delicious foods and drink the best wines.  They no longer sleep in caves of the wilderness because they own big and grand houses. 

These modern John the Baptists still shout the same cry the first John shouted about 2000 years ago.  “Prepare a straight pathway for the Lord’s coming (Jn. 1:23).”  We hear them alright, but like the people of the old, some of us listened and act, some just stood and wonder.  Is it because we grew too used to their messages or is it because they don’t really know this Jesus they are talking about?

Next time we hear of a modern John the Baptist, care to take some time to listen to his message.  Does he really know who is this Jesus he is referring to?  Would he trade everything he has, put on a camels’ hair as robe, eat locusts and honey, and live in caves to get his message across?  I’m sure there are some who will.  But many will fold.  Why?  They really don’t know who Jesus is because they never had the experience to sing and dance and cry with Him out in the rain. 

Test these voices that cry-out in the wilderness.  There is only One True Light – and He’s not one of them.  So before you put your trust in that flickering light in the dark; listen, think, and search for the One Who Gives Light to Everyone – that’s Jesus and there’s no one else. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  Amen! †

Classes (Re)Start

Most of the schools here in the Philippines opened today.  In my younger days, I always looked forward at the beginning of the school year.  New notebook... new... ?? I think that’s all I had then.  I never had problems using old bags or clothes or even recycled notebooks from the previous years.  New or old, it didn't matter.  All I needed was something I could use.  But of course I wanted something new every start of the year. 

It’s a different feeling when you hold in your arms something new.  It gives you renewed hope that this time it will be better than the last one.  Something new is something you will always look forward to, something you will love sharing and talking about. What’s new inspires you.  What’s new excites you.  But sometimes, it is not always that something or someone “NEW” that will give you the needed inspiration, the needed excitement.  Sometimes, it is the old one being rediscovered.  Finding something different, understanding it deeper, and appreciating it more will lead you to greater joy and happiness. 

The same goes with faith as it is with other things.  You are searching for something that will give you more meaning, more purpose.  You look for answers to your questions and instead of finding the answers, you find alternative “fixes.”  Good for you if can find the answer from a different path.  But better if you can care enough to study more and learn what’s already there.  Sometimes, the answers we’re looking for is not from without but kept within.  Sometimes, change is not even necessary.  Maybe it is just a little effort to look deeper, listen more intently. 

As we’ve invited you in the past articles, please join us as we take this journey of (re)discovering Jesus.  Join us as we take small, baby steps towards Him and get to know the Son of Man better. 

For our reference, we decided to use the New Living Translation (NLT) version of the Bible (©1996), not for any other particular reasons, but merely for easier understanding of the words.  We are still babies, you know, so we need to take “soft” foods for now. 

This is not a philosophical or theological or religious journey.  This is just about a man trying to rediscover his faith in One Man named Jesus.  This is just about a man being in front of the Divine as he tried to see a glimpse of His glory. 

Your Shadow and Your Past

In the office, there's this certain group that has been observing us for quite sometime now.  They're frequent visitors at our workstations, looking over our jobs, timing how long it takes for us to do a certain task, etc.  In short, they're there where ever we are.  That's why we call them our "shadows."

Shadows follow and never leave us.

Have you ever wondered why shadows are black?  Or, why are they always opposite from the light?  Or, can't we just leave our shadows somewhere else?  And, what's their use anyway?

Shadows, like the past, are just indicators of our presence but are not meant to replace who we are or what we are.   A shadow exists because there is a "light" that shines upon us. There are no shadows without light.

Shadows are black so that it will not be given more attention than our being.  In a stricter sense, it only shows that shadows are of less importance than who we are. And so is our past - it only tells us of what we've been before and who we once were. It is not as important as who we are right now.  Who would want to look and talk to a shadow if he or she can look and talk to the living, breathing, caring and loving person?

Shadows are always opposite the source of light.  The same with our past, we cannot look at our future and look at our past at the same time. We can keep looking at our shadows but in doing so, we  are turning away from the light.  The choice is always ours.

Can we leave our shadows somewhere?  Of course not.  The same way, we cannot leave our pasts behind or ignore it every time. But, we can make the conscious effort to set it aside and focus on the more important things - the people around us and the grand future that waits for us.

What's the use of our shadow, anyway? It is a reminder that we exist and are of physical beings. And, it also reminds us that between the shadow and the source of light is where we always stand.  Between the past and the future is the present.  A reminder that among the three - the past, the future, and the present - is a choice we have to make to LIVE THE GOOD LIFE.

So next time you see your shadow, remember to look on the opposite side, and there you will see the "source of light."

Be More....

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14

It's Time for Mid-Year Review

Look it's June 23!  Our last article was published before the end of 2012.  It took us almost six months to have this new post.

We just stopped-by to ask how you've been doing in the last six months of 2013. Have you started your semi-annual review already?

We all know that one year is too long to remember everything, to assess, re-plan and adjust.  School years are divided into semesters, normally two, sometimes three. Businesses do their performance reporting quarterly.  We, too, need to take some time off to review what we've done, where we are in our goals and what else needs to be done.

If you are employed, probably you are already familiar with a process called mid-year review.  Most people are threatened just by the thought of it.  But, you shouldn't be one of them.  Mid-year reviews should be something that you should look forward to.  Imagine, you have the opportunity to evaluate what you've done already and what needs to improve.  You should not be like most people who thinks that mid-year review is the time to point out where other people came short of what's expected of them.  It is not the time to point out what people missed, but a time to point out where improvements are necessary. It is one of those perfect moments to encourage people, including yourself, to keep doing the good things and to motivate them to push harder until their goals are reached.

We do mid-year reviews not just to know where we are, but to understand what else do we need to do to be where we want to be at the end of the year.

So, do yourself a favor.  Take a short break from your busy schedule.  Sit down, get a pen and a paper, or using your computer, write down your goals from the start of the year and have an honest assessment of where you are right now.

Whether you've been doing great or not, you should always make that honest evaluation of yourself.  You can lie to others, but you cannot lie to yourself.  So no cheating.

Do this so you can BE MORE and ACHIEVE MORE.

P.S. It will be wise if you will also ask opinions from people whom you trust and respect.  If they know that you value their opinions and that you are taking these steps to improve yourself and your life, they will be happy to help.

Soon it will be 2013... to Living the "Better" Life!

In less than 30 hours from now, we will be saying our goodbyes to the wonderful year of 2012.   While everyone is busy thinking about their plans for 2013 and reflecting on what 2012 has brought them, allow us to share with you this quick message before the year-ends...

First, to all of you who have shown appreciation for the articles, through comments and "likes", in our facebook page or in this space, THANK YOU!  We are deeply honored by the fact that there are people who read and appreciate our thoughts in BEing More and Living the Good Life. Our first article was published just a little more than a year ago and we are glad to know that you still continue to be with us - through the good and not-so-good times.

Second, we would like to encourage you to continue Being More so that we can continue to give more, live more, and share more of the good life.  If God's willing, we will be giving more regular and frequent "thoughts to think about" in 2013.  By the way, we encourage contributions of articles.  So should you like to share with us your experiences, life lessons and words of inspirations, please send us an email at livdgoodlyf@gmail.com.

Third, we would like to remind you, as you reflect on the year 2012, to please avoid the common tragedy of looking back at life with "what ifs."  It is a fact that in this life, you cannot be anything, do anything and have anything.  No matter how hard you try, there are times when life will not give you what you want, when you want it, and how you want it.  Live with that; and appreciate life instead.

Fourth, we request you join with us as we thank the Lord for He delivered us "again" from another "end-of-the-world-frenzy" last December 21, 2012.  We all know that all things must come to an end, that is why we have to constantly remind ourselves to live a life that's full and worthy so that we don't have to be afraid when it finally comes to the point when we have to move to the next chapter.

Lastly, please be safe as you celebrate the welcoming of the new year.  It's gonna a fresh start for all of us.  Leave all the baggage and regrets behind but keep the lessons with you.  Treasure every moment for there will never be another 2013 in this lifetime.

P.S. >  2012 will soon be over.  What is that one thing that you've really been wanting to do, that you told your self you cannot let go of 2012 without doing it?   You still have time...

For me, it's this: "Iloveyou, Rheena.  And I will say "I DO" to you, over and over again..."


Happy New Year Everyone!  May you have a more blessed and more wonderful 2013 than all the past 2012 years combined....