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Please take this opportunity to share your story, comments or prayers with our readers.
The following is a portion of our site administrator’s story.
I thank God for my story. It has not always been the story that I would wish for, but it is my story. However, the more I grow spiritually the more I see that it is not just my story; more accurately it is a part of God’s story lived out in me. This is a blessing which causes my eyes to leak. A favourite scripture passage of mine, 1 Corinthians 13 has always been a part of my story as a Christian, but as I mature in Christ I see that it is becoming an ever increasing part of my story, my life and my life’s purpose. When I reflect back I can honestly say that the love that Paul speaks of in this passage has not always been as evident in my life as it should be. Like the Corinthians, I needed to hear Paul’s message about our lack of love in the use of our spiritual gifts. But then there is good news! Paul goes on to describe for us real love. From the very beginning of my new life in Christ I felt a love for God’s people and this love moved me to help his people. However, I believe my motives were not always ‘Christ-centered’, but more ‘me-centered’ – at times I was doing things for people out of some misguided personal reason rather than using my God given spiritual gifts for his work.I cannot remember when this all changed or if in fact it was a point in time or over a period of time. The more I came to understand that my story was part of God’s story, and the more I realized what he had done for me, my love for his people changed. Whenever I heard a certain song, or a particular prayer, or experienced an act of his love I remembered that he took me back after I turned away from him, after all my sins he accepted me just as I was and loved me – how could I not share his love with others. I was progressing from thoughttoo action. I was moving from head to heart to hand. And what surprises me the most is that in all of this I have become more humble. As a corporate manager I was well in step with putting on the ‘big show’ and looking to be in the ‘limelight’ for personal recognition. In God’s service sharing the love of Jesus which was shared with me I do not need the recognition of a job well done, but instead I am content to quietly care for his people to his glory not mine.1 Corinthians 13 as Paul says is “the most excellent way;” I say the most excellent way to love one another. My story which lies within God’s story is one of community. His desire for a fallen humanity is to have us restored into relationship within the community of theTriunee God. Over time God has moved me to work and serve within the community of believers at my local church and so Paul’s most beautiful expression of love is an excellent guide for me.Another piece of writing which has had a profound affect on my ability to work within the faith community is Gordon Fee’s quote that everything should be done Alleleonn, One Another” (from his book Paul, the Spirit and the People of God). For me this is the very basis upon which church community should be built: loving relationships. Mr. Fee’s quote speaks of twelve scripture passages which show us how we should minister to one another within the body. They are the things we do with one another, what we should do for one another and what we can give or offer to one another. It seems to me the greatest thing we can do in relationship with one another is share the love of Jesus.
George, British Columbia Canada
