Hausweiler writes: A Life that is worth living

This week, our journey to the studies of Church History has gone through the events happened after the apostolic period and how the Christianity flourished despite persecutions. I have also met "Constantine" who had been the first Christian emperor and who soon implemented the toleration for all religions to be practiced by anyone including Christianity.

God used Constantine so greatly to help Christianity survive through the years of his reign, even up to this time. However, during Constantine's reign, he had come to the point where he chose not to trust on anyone except on God, resulting him to be meticulous in terms of dealing with his soldiers, enemies, even with his own wife. Despite his impulsiveness, God used him to cater the furtherance of the gospel. He fought for Christians and their rights to follow Christ.

I have learned that God can use the least subtle or the most skillful person for His glory. There may be a lot of negatives which a person does but sometimes God allows those to reveal His goodness and His glory to all. As I evaluate myself, I have realized more that God has created all people and chose His people, entrusting each one with different gifts, all to be used for His glory.

I was someone who put my self-esteem so down, not realizing that God, who has created me for me, has loved me and wanted me to glorify Him, not by discouraging myself or looking at my own capabilities. He wants me to offer my life to Him, do my best for Him, and fix my eyes on Him, not merely on myself. My own perspective, corrupted my entire being but since then God has been reminding me that I no longer live for myself. God's perspective is far different than mine. Whenever I think about myself as a nobody, God never stops reminding me and showing me that because of Christ I have become a somebody. A somebody who does not live for herself but one whom God loves; who lives entirely for His glory.

Two ways I can help my self not to look down at myself are: 1) To look at how God values me (Isa. 53: 5,6; Ps. 139: 14), 2) To see how faithful God is in my life (Heb. 13:5; Ps. 4:8).

A Life that is worth living

This week has been a very blessed week. One of the subjects which has given me excitement is "Church History," As I have gone through this study, I realize that I only know a little about Church History. There are two people that I was able to meet during this week's study on Church History. The first person was named Ignatius, who became a student of John the apostle. He was a Christian writer who emphasized loyalty to a single bishop in each city. He was a zeal, passionate athlete of Christ. Because of his faith in Jesus, he was arrested and died in Colosseum wherein he was fed to the wild beasts. The second person was named Polycarp. Polycarp was a dear friend of Ignatius and was also a student of John the apostle. He became a bishop in Smyrna. He was known to have converted many people from gnosticism. He had courage and boldness in following Jesus. Time came he was arrested and was asked to deny Jesus but he never did such a thing instead he courageously stated, "86 years have I have served Him and He has done me no wrong how can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?" He was then sentenced to be burned. By these Christians who courageously faced death, my perspective of serving Jesus has now become so broad and very worthwhile.

How the Christians before died for Christ have really impacted me so much leading me to evaluating my self as a follower of Christ. I do admit that I am so weak in terms of facing discouragements. I easily give up and often times forget my commitment to my Savior. I am blessed by their lives. It taught me that what I am facing right now is just too little compared to the future challenges that God will allow in my life to take place. My perspective about serving God has really become so broad making me realize that my offering  my entire being to God is not yet in full; what I am giving to God right now is not yet enough for me to say that "I have fought the good fight".

There are three changes, I think, that I need to make in the way I behave. Firstly, I should live up my life each day as if it's the last. Secondly, I should endure with my studies as part of God's calling in my life. Thirdly, I should always depend on God and should always ask for guidance from Him every day that my life be glorifying to Him in the way I think, speak, and act, developing in my love for Him and for all the people around me.
In fulfilling these aspired changes, I should have to follow these helpful steps: 1) Always have quiet time for God at 4:00 am, 2) Trust in God and do all my best as a student, a daughter, sister, classmate, friend, and most of all as a child of God, 3) I should think about how God can be glorified in everything I do and must share God's love whenever opportunity  comes, show love to my parents through obedience, show love to my friends and classmates by understanding and respecting them, do the ministry with the right motive, think first before I speak of and act on anything. These might be challenging but by Christ's help I know I can learn and apply this slowly. Whenever I fail again and again, I have to acknowledge it, learn from it, and try to do better. Following these steps with willingness will lead me to grow more in maturity.

The lives of Ignatius and Polycarp have inspired me to live continually for Christ, leading me to denying my self daily. They never thought twice to live for Christ despite its great cost. I have learned that life can only be worth living unless I use it and let God use it for His glory.