roman guevara

RISE UP
Inspirational Readings for Personal Growth

by

ROMAN GUEVARA

“Busy for the Kingdom”

Scripture: When

Matthew 6:33-34³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I remember when i was still a high school student, naging guest namin sa aming Prayer Meeting si Helen Vela.

Para sa mga hindi umabot sa kasikatan ni Helen Vela, nakilala ito, bilang isa sa pinaka kilalang personalidad sa radyo at telebisyon noong late 70’s, most of the 80’s, and until the early 90’s.

Her show “Lovingly Yours, Helen” was a very popular TV production. That when she became a Born Again Christian, nakatulong siya ng malaki, until her death in 1992, upang marami sa mga taga-showbiz, ang makakilala din kay Lord.

I will never forget what she said during our Prayer Meeting.

She said, “nakakalungkot, na maraming tao, maraming christians, even christian leaders, they are too busy for the kingdom, but no time for the king”.

I remember, marami sa amin ang nahamon ng kanyang message, at nabless sa kanyang testimony.

At bakit naman hindi?

Totoo naman, marami naman talaga na busy for the kingdom, but doesnt give quality time for the king of the kingdom, na walang iba kundi si God.

What Helen Vela was saying, is this. Pwedeng laman kalagi ng simbahan. Hindi ka umaabsent sa Prayer Meeting, Bible Study, Cell Group, Worship Service. Pwedeng active na active ka sa Worship team, Choir, Dance, Sunday School, and other church ministries. Pwede ka nga ring leader or elder sa inyong congregation or community. Pero hindi ibig sabihin, malinaw, malalim, at mainit ang relationship kay God.

Maaring may ibang motivation kung bakit nagpapaka religious.

Pwedeng to impress other people. Pwedeng nakasanayan na lamang ito. Pwedeng trabaho nalang kasi nila ang maging christian worker, kaya, praktikalan nalang. Marami pang pwedeng reasons.

However, eventually, lilitaw din, kung tunay at buhay ang ating pananampalataya, sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon ng bunga, ng maganda at matinong character, at powerful and effective anointing of the Spirit of God.

What she was saying was a rebuke to those who are active in the church, but unfortunately, have lost the real meaning of service to God.

Maganda naman dba?

But like all teachings, pag ito ay na mis interpret, ang ending, akala mo, ok lang, na hindi naman maging busy for the kingdom.

Some would even justify why they are not as active in the church as others.

And that is dangerous.

Walang masama, na maging excellent sa trabaho, business, at kung ano pa man ang profession na binigay sa atin ni Lord.

Pero kailangan, alam natin, kung papano sa profession at occupation natin sa buhay, ay mapaglilingkuran parin natin si God.

Walang masama na magkaron ng lovelife, ng hobby, ng friends. Gusto ni din naman ni Lord na tayo ay mabuhay, at mabuhay ng payapa, masagana, at pinagpapala.

At lalong walang masama, at mainam panga, na dapat, maging family oriented ang lahat ng christians. We should be loving parents and obedient children. We should apply God’s word in building a happy, strong, and united family.

Pero.

Pero.

Pero.

Darating ang araw na kailangang ma realize natin, na pagtayo ay naging christian, we are meant to live a life of faith. A life that trusts in God. A life that follows God’s will and direction. A life that serves the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Sometimes, yung gusto natin, hindi pala yun ang gusto ni Lord.

Sometimes, God wants us to give up something or someone.

Sometimes, God wants us to sacrifice our personal dreams, our financial security, our comfort zones, whatever they may be.

But oftentimes, when God comes in a persons life, when a person truly encounters God in a true and powerful way, halos bumabaliktad ang kanyang buhay. Nababago. Nashe shake. Nara rattle. Natra transform.

Some even experience radical transformation and turn around.

It happens.

Nangyayari parin, at dapat nating hangarin, ang isang true, personal, and powerful encounter with God.

Sometimes, sa pamamagitan ng message ng isang speaker or preacher, during a Sunday Worship Service, a Youth Camp, a Couples Retreat, or Revival Seminar.

Minsan, walang message, sa pamamagitan lamang ng Praise and Worship, pero nangungusap ang Panginoon sa iyo.

And there are times, people encounter God afresh, even through trial and sufferings.

God speaks in many ways.

Whatever may catch our attention.

At pag nangusap na si Lord, dapat sumunod tayo agad. Pag nakaranas ka ng apoy ng Espiritu ng Diyos, dapat, maglingkod agad.

Yung iba kasi, antay ng antay for the right timing. Yung iba, ang tagal ng training. By the time na dapat kanang maglingkod sa Diyos, e, wala ka ng apoy. Nasimot na ng mga masasalimuot na pangyayari sa buhay ng isang tao.

Ang diyablo kasi, alam na pag on fire tayo sa faith, gusto nating maglingkod. Kaya, gagawa at gagawa siya ng paraan, para mahinto at mapigilan tayo sa pagserve sa ministry, sa kingdom of God.

Gagamitin niya ang mga simple at normal na bagay sa buhay. Tulad ng lovelife, trabaho, mga kaibigan, at minsan, kahit sariling pamilya.

Maraming mga Youth at Young Adults, gustong gustong mag full-time sa ministry, o dinaman kaya, kahit hindi full-time, mag support financially sa mga churches and organizations. Pero kadalasan, ano pumipigil sa kanila? Sino ang nagdi-discourage sa kanila? You will be surprised, mga parents nila. Kahit pa kamo christian ang mga ito.

Yung mga Youth na active dati, halos hindi mo na makita sa church pag nagka asawa at nagka anak.

Ang dahilan?

Nagka asawa at nagka anak.

Hindi bat kahit nagka asawa at nagka anak, ay nakakapagtrabaho pa din? Nakakapag kita parin tayo sa mga high school at college classmates? Hindi bat hawak padin natin ang ating oras?

Bakit kailangan ang magsuffer, yung ministry natin for the Lord, in the church, yung calling natin to serve God, dahil nagkatrabaho, pamilya, at kung ano ano pang dahilan?

Totoo, dapat ayusin natin ang ating buhay. Kumita tayo ng pera. Tumulong sa pamilya.

Pero.

Pero.

Pero.

Pag christian kana, may calling ka to serve God.

Maybe as a Pastor, or maybe as a Bible Study leader.

Maybe as a Worship Leader, or maybe as a choir member.

Hindi pwedeng wala.

At dapat gawan natin ng paraan, na kahit gaano tayo kabusy, e, naglilingkod parin tayo sa kingdom of God. Kahit saan kaman dalhin ng iyong mga paa. Kahit san kaman ngayon nakatira o nagtatrabaho. Sa Pilipinas man, o sa ibang bansa.

I will not apologize to say, na mas mabuti ng busy tayo for the kingdom of God, kesa naman sa hindi.

Mas mabuti na busy tayo sa ministry, kesa naman na busy tayo sa kalokohan.

Mas mabuti na naglilingkod tayo sa Panginoon, kesa naman na pinaglilingkuran natin ang diyablo at sanlibutan.

Yung iba, alam na nila, na paghuminto sila sa pagiging busy sa kingdom of God, e baka bumalik sila sa dati. Tulad ng bumalik sa bisyo, sa panchi chiks, at sa kung ano ano pang kasalanan. Kaya wise move na para sa kanila, na mag ubos ng oras serving God.

The truth is, maraming busy for the kingdom, kaya sila ganon ka committed at passionate, kasi in love sila kay God. They have decided to follow Jesus. Sabi nga ng kanta, “no turning back, no turning back”.

Maraming busy for the kingdom, in love na in love kay God, kaya they are not holding back. They are giving their everything to the LOrd. Their time, talent and even their very treasures. Wag natin sila agad i judge. Wag nating isipan sila ng masama. Hindi rin madaling maglingkod sa Panginoon at sa kanyang mga sinasakupan. It is not easy to give everything for the cause of Jesus Christ.

Kaya.

As much as importanteng we should grow spiritually, that we have a real and intimate relationship with the King of kings, dapat din, ang bunga nito, ang ating passionate commitment to serve God and his church.

For us to be busy for the kingdom, and not to be busy for the things of this world.

For some people, the time has come.

This is the time for you to follow Him, to make him number one, to make him your priority in all things.

Na kung dati, lagi nalang siya ang huli sa ating priorities.

Na kung dati, laging tira tirang oras at panahon lamang ang binibigay natin para sa kanya at sakanyang kaharian.

Baka panahon na, na this time around, sya naman ang ating unahin.

Baka naman pwedeng, this time around, sya naman ang ating piliin.

Let God speak to your heart.

Let the Spirit touch your mind.

And receive today God’s word that transforms and changes us for his glory.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, please show me the way. The right path to life. Forgive me for my disobedience. Rescue me from deception. Enable me to live a live that truly pleases God. Renew my mind Lord Jesus. Take away any wicked and evil thought. Fill me with your Spirit. Fill me with your passion. Allow me to respond today with faith. Desiring to put you above all things. In Jesus name, amen.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 10th, 2008 at 9:25 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.