One Brother intimated about his entry to the community of Couples for Christ. He attended the CLP to please his wife and others that he knew in the Service Team. During the CLP, his mind was always far away from what was going on. He did not like the talks and the way they were presented.
He was so glad that after Talk 12, they had graduated so to say, in a Dedication Ceremony. For him, it was the end of his pretensions. But to his great dismay, it was not the end but just a beginning of his renewal. This was not what he wanted. He did not choose this type of group.
He was assigned to a household led by his friend. He missed a good number of prayer meetings but his household leader was very patient and persevering and never gave up on him. Despite his attitude, he found some meaning in many things that they were doing in household prayer meetings, prayer assemblies, and national assemblies.
Years passed, he remained in the ministry. He grew prayerful, obedient, dedicated the service, consistent to tithe giving and supportive of the work for the poor. Now, he is serving as one of the Chapter Heads.
The reality of our vocation to live and serve God is definitely not our choice. It is God who calls and enables us. St Paul is a classic example. He became a member of the group that he was persecuting. And another one is Jonah who really ran away from the mission, God told him to do. Yet, they both ended up joyful and passionate servants of the Lord.
Our work in God’s vineyard becomes spoiled if we handle it in accordance to our understanding and human strength without referring it to God for His blessing in humble discernment. We will even damage God’s community whenever we run it with our personal agenda and gratification.
The only way to work in our ministry is to ensure that we do it in God’s terms. There is no other way. Thus, the best posture of God’s servants are: self- surrender, humility and holiness.
Self-Surrender
Like Jonah, who ran away from the Lord refusing to do His command; he only ended up following what he was refusing to do. This is the way with most of the Lord’s chosen ones. He loves them and will always be faithful to them. He brings them back to the righteous path.
Thus, if God will never give up on us, we might as well say “yes” to Him at the time we are called and submit ourselves to Him in the same manner St Paul gave himself to the Lord saying: “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” Gal 2:20.
Surrendering our life means:
• Following God's lead without knowing where He is sending us; it is not taking the work of the ministry upon ourselves.
• Waiting for God's timing without knowing when it will come; it is not blindly following timeframes despite the contravening needs.
• Expecting a miracle without knowing how God will provide; it is not losing patience and hope before difficult situations.
• Trusting God's purpose without understanding the circumstances; it is not listening to human evaluation judging the situation as humanly impossible.
CFC life and mission is God’s work, that demand our time, effort, talent and treasure. Doing it solely on our own, will always subject us to human weakness and failure; thus, the CFC prays, discerns, and serves with gladness.
Humility
Humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life. Jesus has said that He came to give us life, and that it would be a life filled with His abundance. Let’s face it, God wants us to be fruitful and do well in this life. But there are certain characteristics we must put on if we are to bear fruit that remains. Humility is one of the most important characteristics we can possess as Christians because it leads us into all of the others.
It is important that we really understand the meaning and the importance of walking in humility before God, because if we don’t, we will find ourselves filled with pride and self- sufficiency which is often manifested in harmful and hurtful ways in our relationships with others. Micah 6:6-8
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10
The question that should be going through our minds at this point is, “Just how do we humble ourselves in the sight of God?”
This year’s theme of Obey and Witness is the most appropriate posture that our community has set before the Lord, as we serve Him. Obedience is the ultimate expression of submission; giving the Lord a freehand to use because left to ourselves, we will only spoil our lives and that of others.
Holiness
To be holy is being sanctified by the Lord wherein God claims us as His own. Our holiness, in action or in habit, makes us subservient to His holy will. St Paul said that without the virtue of holiness, man will never see God (Hebrews 12:14).
Our mission in CFC is to live a life of holiness. It is only this state of life that allows us to become other- centered. Our work for the poor, our ability to gladly lay down our lives for our neighbors is the hallmark of our holiness.
The Blessed Virgin’s wondrous example at Cana and her motherly admonition to “do whatever He tells us..” is indeed one greatest affirmation that Salvation of mankind triumphs not by man’s initiative and choice but rather through obedience to the victor over death and sin.
By Bro Bads and Sis Agnes Ellica
CFC Middle East Full Time Worker
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