difficulties – Kanisa la Christadelphian huko Anderlecht

Starting to develop a spiritual mind

juin 25, 2024juin 25, 2024 par Marcus Ampe, publié dans Behaviour or attitude towards others, Christadelphian, Thought for today

If we want to form a community of brothers and sisters together, it comes down to having the right attitude towards each other, as God would like to see His children living together.

Those who want to meet in our ecclesia therefore prefer to have that attitude of becoming or being a « Child of God« . If one wants to be a « Child of God « , one must agree to the precepts (or rules of the game) that Jehovah God has set forth. Those who have become « Children of God » are therefore heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him, so that we may also be glorified with him.

« 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. 17 If we are children, then we are heirs also; heirs of God, and co-heirs with Christ, if we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him. » (Romans 8:16-17)

Just because we have become brothers in Christ does not mean we would not suffer more. For every believer, the same comes in life as for an unbeliever. As believers, we do know that the sufferings of this age cannot compare with the glory that will be revealed to us.

« For I hold that the sufferings of this world cannot outweigh the glory that will be revealed to us. » (Romans 8:18)

Purified by baptismal water, we no longer fear pain, suffering and death. The difficulties we face now do not outweigh what awaits us.

« For the temporary light tribulation acquires for us an unsurpassed eternal weight of glory. » (2 Corinthians 4:17)

« But rather rejoice as you partake of the sufferings of Christ, that you also may rejoice when his glory appears. » (1 Peter 4:13)

That’s the nice thing, that we realise that nobody can actually do anything to us. We belong to God and He is in control of everything. Through Him and with Him we live. As baptised people, we have the prospect of a better life than the one we are given for the moment here on earth. But we realise that we must then also live by our faith according to the precepts of God.

Therefore, we must not dawdle but must see to it every day that we, as well as our loved ones, come to live according to God’s Will. To the inner man we truly create pleasure in the Law of God, to which we want to be dependent and have our minds shaped daily so that they can continue to grow according to the Will of God.

Preceding

Continues:

Children and heirs of God

Additional reading

A house with fertile soil full of plants of love

juin 15, 2024juin 14, 2024 par Marcus Ampe, publié dans Behaviour or attitude towards others, Christadelphian, Thought for today

When we come together, be it in a house, hall, temple or kingdom hall, and intend to exchange our thoughts in community about God, His word and commandments, our attitude towards each other must be according to the standards of God.

The ecclesia is a house of God and there is no room for jealousy, envy or jealousy, but there must be mutual love for each other.

Those who gather to attend a service for God are committed to delving into the Word of God, but also into the love of God. Thus they study the character of the Most High and see the character of His sent son. It does not escape their attention that Jesus had an unselfish love. He had a love that « doesn’t envy ». In front of us we see a man who radiated a love that was generous. So must our love be, so that we may see others flourish and rejoice in their prosperity, even if our own affairs are not so prosperous for a while.

It may be safe that we experience difficult days. Days we can even hate. But these must not undermine us. They must not drag us into the depths. Above all the inconveniences and difficulties, we must have such confidence in God that we rise above these difficulties and continue to act as a peacemaker who wants to share his love with many.

The love of and imitator of Christ is one of generosity, the reverse of jealousy and envy, which arise from a perverse nature. This world is overflowing with people who want to reflect on others. Social media is excellent proof of this, how people even go so far as to no longer be themselves towards others. All around us we see people looking forward with jealousy to what others have already achieved or are envious of what they already have and they do not. There, we clearly see the roots of envy, which is selfishness. We must realise that envy will not grow on the root of love.

And to build a good ecclesia we need to plough a fertile soil and sow good seeds on it, choosing to raise only loving plants. In this way, we will keep our thoughts open to warmly welcome everyone who comes by, and have a taste of our hospitality. In doing so, our love will rejoice with those who rejoice, in the prosperity of every good word and work, and in the progress in Christian grace and in the divine service of all who are driven by the divine Spirit.

Additional reading

God’s Words for the Pilgrimage #3 A road on a global scale littered with obstacles

février 5, 2024février 2, 2024 par Guestspeaker, publié dans Behaviour or attitude towards others, Reflection - Meditation, Thought for today

A road strewn with obstacles

And yet the Christian’s path is not a uniform one, without difficulties. On his way, many obstacles will never cease to oppose his happiness and the ‘encounter with God’ which is ultimately the condition of it.

First, there is sin. Present in each of our lives, it is a total or partial rejection of God, and in this way it binds our freedom and weighs on the progress of the whole Church. This is why, in return, the duty of ‘conversion‘ is imposed on us, that is, the turning of the whole life towards the Lord, leading to a new journey forward.

There is also suffering, which is both a burden and a mystery. Suffering of the body, suffering of the heart, or suffering of the soul, it rises up one day or another before man. Then it may be useless revolt; it can also be the hour of « hope« ; hope, « that flame impossible to extinguish with the breath of death », as Péguy said…

But there is also prayer which, in the very midst of suffering, or in the misery of sin, cries out to God our need, our distress, our poverty, and calls for his help.

No Christian is a solitary Christian. On the contrary, he is in solidarity with all his fellow men and women even in his prayer, for it is with them, in the Church and with Christ, in the Spirit who prays in us, that we can only call God « Our Father » and offer ourselves to him in the rediscovered transparency of our souls at the source of this « Living Water gushing forth eternal life. »

A road on a global scale

This is why the path of Christians is also the path of men, which passes through recommitment to the search for justice and peace. Justice and peace are not personal privileges. There can be no true inner peace without active concern for the peace of nations, nor can there be true love for God or for one’s brothers and sisters without an effective will to justice on all levels: individual, social or international.

The Church leads to the construction of the earthly city all those whom she gathers in search of the future city. It is then that his pilgrimage joins that of all humanity.

Preceding