blessed easter everyone! although it's not my first year attending the whole series of the easter convention, but i guess this year's convention was more meaningful for me. like i actually felt like i benefitted much from it. i enjoyed the speaker's many interesting stories and the way he presents his points in such a coherent manner. it's easy to follow and i felt like the messages spoke to me.
i've always known the significance of good friday and easter. i know it's the basis for the christian faith but it always seemed to be more of a fact than a conviction. of course the first step is to accept that it's a fact and that's important. but what's more important than that would be what you are going to do having known that fact. and that's the challenge for me this easter, which was what made this easter different from others.
our identity isn't based upon earthly accomplishments or worldly status, it's based upon the resurrected Christ. because Christ has risen, we are empowered to live a new life. we don't need to feel insecure about who we are because the fact that Christ is alive and has overcome death, should be sufficient for us. we can rest secure because our Risen Savior has triumphed over evil and sin. and that same power is within us through the Holy Spirit. so what more can we do but to live out the resurrected lifestyle - no longer delighting in sin but having a changed perspective to life. well, that much is on easter.
something that truly spoke to me at the good friday service was the point on how perseverance is needed for discipling. having been a dgl for only a year plus, i still have a long way to go. and well, i know the journey won't be an easy one because youths being youths, don't seem to be able to grasp the whole concept of a relationship with God. can't blame them, i used to be that way too. so yeah, discipling a group of people is definitely not easy and is sure time-consuming. but what the speaker was talking about was that, it may be inconvenient to have an incarnational ministry, difficult to always be relating to people (which is what discipleship is about). BUT what we can look forward to is the end, where we can present these people that we've discipled and cared for, mature before Christ and share in the glory of God. There is glory that will come and perseverance is needed. it doesn't come easy and nothing comes easy, but with God's strength and the support from fellow christians, it will be fulfilling.
just my thoughts on what i've heard over the past few days. it's quite amazing how the Word actually speaks so clearly and powerfully to me.
side note: my TWC prof was saying that he might include an exam question on "What's the meaning of life". i'm thinking that if that question really comes out, i'll be talking a whole essay on christianity and what it means to me and how that is my meaning in life. hmmm what a good platform for evangelizing. haha.
persevere people! don't lose hope even though people fail you(:
till then,

J.