Reflection #2 (No to Conformity)

This week the lesson has been filled with the ups and downs of the spread of the Gospel in the ancient world. The first truth I've learned is that even though sometimes it is hard to accept history, it cannot be altered. It has to be taken as it is. There are truths that we uncover from history that we would rather not talk about. One of the example of that is how the Christians in the past have compromised. I have been one who's so naive about how the early believers have compromised some just to be at peace with the rest of the world around them. The Second lesson learned is that the progress of the gospel was amazing and dramatic. God has used so many people to spread the gospel. He used the martyrs to contend for the faith. He even used the tremendous persecution of the church so people will come to know Jesus. The events that happened to the church was strategically used by God to bring about His purpose in making Himself known to the lost world.

Looking at myself, I have always tried to live well. Yet sometimes I tend to be complacent in being a light to the world. However, upon seeing the lives of the early church I realized that they have done so much so that the church thrived. It made me think of what can I contribute to the vast scope of world evangelization. I realzed that I should not expect of a trouble free life because the Bible does not guarantee that kind of life here on earth. I realized that I have along way to go and I have a task to fill in. Will I leave a commendable legacy in the Christian faith? I have to change my perspective. I have to consider very carefully the impact of my life to the testimony of Christian faith. At the same time I also have to be confident that God is still at work in His church and He will accomplish what He wills. Just as He has done in the past.

In order to achieve what I wanted to change in my life, I will not compromise my faith. I will not be comfortable with the line “It's OK because everybody is doing it anyway”. I also have to forgive myself for failing and be merciful to those who have fallen. I will be faithful to God and to His Church.