As we come to a close of another year, watching the orange
skies at 34,000 feet in the air, I am reminded of several lessons the Lord has
taught me during this 2014. Scripture encourages us to constantly consider our ways,
look back in time, change course, and to evaluate our experiences. Therefore,
allow me to share with you what Jesus has taught me throughout some time now –a las buenas y a las malas.
1)
Give
liberating help
It is interesting how God made humankind. No body is
independent. We all need each other, all the way from a professional level to
an emotional stage. We all have different needs that one or more persons can
satisfy with their different talents, gifts, abilities, and resources. In many
cases they are valuable and needed simply for who they are. God made us that
way and we ALWAYS respond to it one way or another:
a)
Serve deliberately unconditionally without any
reserves
b)
Turn to our dark side and serve our selfish
desires
Jesus stated that there are two principles from which hangs
the Law and the Prophets –in other words, the Bible– Such are: Love God &
love your neighbor. We lack in the latter principle. Furthermore, and more
importantly, the Lord has taught me to serve unconditionally because 1) We do
it to Him & 2) It is how we grow spiritually.
2)
Regardless
of how much good we do there will always be displeased people.
In giving deliberate unconditional service you will feel satisfaction
and a blessing that surpasses understanding. I consider it as one of the
greatest pleasures of life. In many cases you see tears of gratitude, smiles
that cannot be described, and through such efforts and acts of kindness their
life change completely. These souls will forever be thankful with you. However,
you’ll find people who will not be pleased with your work. Some of my friends
call them “haters.” Regardless of
their reasons, we have to keep in mind that the battle between good and evil is
real. In many instances the real person hatin’
behind the curtain is Satan. Therefore, pray for spiritual discernment! After
all, remember that you do not live to please others but God. Even Jesus, who
had thousands following Him, also had haters. It didn’t matter how good He did,
there were many who strongly disliked him.
3)
Be
different
It is not a crime to think differently. Small-minded people
will not understand and will oppose you. But you know what? That is completely
ok. Ask the controversial questions, challenge others mentally, and hold on to
biblical principles and values you have been taught. God gave you a personality
and an identity. You are special and unique; so don’t let anyone try to change
who you are, except God.
1)
“Mind your own business” (1 Thessalonians 4:11).
a.
Personally, I’m getting tired of people trying
to find me a wife. Stop it! It’s normal, ok, and a HUGE blessing to be single. Seriously.
2)
You are the apple of the eye of God (Zechariah
2:8).
a.
Yea. That special.
4)
Praise
God for closed doors
Remember when you prayed for that specific thing you wanted
and didn’t’ get? Perhaps that application you submitted and it was declined?
You ask God’s guidance upon your relationship, and your dreams were shattered?
Let me ask you, because you prayed about it, did you go back in prayer to give thanks?
Well? Wasn’t that an answered prayer? We often confused God’s answers to our
prayers only when he says “yes’, and we tend to forget that when He says “no”
or “wait” these are also God’s answers.
I believe this happens because our perspective of who God is
& what we think is best for us is corrupt. The other day I overheard a
mother saying, “Since when do teenagers know what they want?” Well, this same
principle applies with our relationship with God.
1)
Thank God for shut-doors of opportunities
2)
Remember that Father knows best
5)
Set
time aside for God, family, and friends.
God – God is to be the center of our
lives, and not simply an item in our to-do list, we must set time aside so we
can spend it alone with Him. Yes, life is busy, but Jesus had the same 24-hour
period you and I have & his agenda was overbooked. Yet, he managed to spend
hours with His father in intimate prayer, usually very early in the morning. It
was through such intimacy that He was able to defeat the enemy’s temptations.
In our Father we find our strength.
While
prioritizing is essential, we must be able to prioritize without neglecting;
there is a fine line between these two. Eve blamed the serpent, Adam blamed
Eve, and Adam also blamed God in an implicit way. It is within our nature to
find excuses to justify our actions. Our eyes are opened when someone we care
for treats us the same way we treat others.
Family & Friends –
There are phone calls and text messages that we
ignored for a period of time. We see them in my phone and we make the decision
to follow-up with that person later on that day. Often times we tend to forget
to call or text back. Days later we’re reminded, and feel guilty. When someone
feels guilty it means he/she did something wrong. This is what I call
prioritizing. We, throughout the day, make the decision to what dedicate our
time to and what not.
Do not neglect your time with God and others. God, family, and true friends will always be there for you.
6)
It’s
ok to make mistakes
We are bound to make mistakes. Whether little or big,
life-changing or not, we all make mistakes. Yes, it feels horrible and
sometimes humiliating, but the fact of the matter remains –we all mess up. Todos la cajeteamos.
While it may mess up our day, week, month, or life, I
believe that it is completely normal and ok to make mistakes. What’s not ok and
normal is to continue making the same ones over and over again. Additionally,
mistakes are doors of opportunities to learn, grow, find closure, ask for
forgiveness, rebuild burnt bridges, become a new creature, and ultimately experience
the grace of God. If you have messed up big time in your life than you will
understand the love and grace of God like no body’s business.
In Luke 7 the story of a sinful woman is told. Jesus stated,
“I tell you, her sins—and they are
many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is
forgiven little shows only little love.” What a privilege! Rejoice.
Remember, where sin abounded grace abounded much more.
7)
Self
control
Proverbs 25:28 states that a person who lacks self-control
is similar to a city with broken walls. Well, now days we do not have cities
that are surrounding with walls so it is a bit hard to understand this concept.
But when we dig a bit deeper in scripture we learn that walls were a great deal
back in the day.
For example, the book of Nehemiah chapter four gives great
detail of how much enthusiasm and effort they put in to rebuilding the wall of
Jerusalem. Some parts of the wall had holes, and in others there was simply no
wall at all. Many were opposed to the construction, so Nehemiah set armed
guards day and night to watch out for enemies. With one hand they were working
and with the other holding a weapon ready for battle. The wall was a great deal
because it protected them from their enemies. Let’s remember that for months
the Medes and Persian armies could not take down the city of Babylon because of
their fortified walls.
Therefore, scripture in Proverbs 25:28 uses this “wall”
concept to illustrate that without self control we are easily defeated by our
enemy, the Devil. The adversary is not looking for the gate but for breaches.
He is not stupid, he will not waste his time by going through the front door
where he’ll be easily spotted and identified. He spends time studying you and
your weaknesses, the integrity of your wall. It is through these holes in our
lives that Satan gains access to do what he sees fit.
Read chapter four of Nehemiah, and notice how despite the
fact of their breaches and holes in their wall they were able to defeat the
enemy.
These are some of the many lessons the Lord has taught me in the
past twelve months, and I pray they may edify you. It is my desire that you may
take a moment during these final hours of this year to meditate, look back, jot
a couple of notes down, speak to the Lord, and draw some lessons out of your
own. You will not regret it.
I wish you the best of the best in this 2015! Happy New Year!
I wish you the best of the best in this 2015! Happy New Year!
-Pastor Sergio Ochaeta
