Closer Day By Day

Bible Passage:  Acts 23

Craving for a cold drink in this hot weather? Craving for a double cheese burger? Longing for a much needed vacation? Can’t wait to hear the next word your infant blurts out? Looking forward to the next bible study? There! Did you pause just a moment to re-read the phrase just before this?

While surfing www.biblegateway.com, this advertisement caught my eye:

The slogan “There’s so much more to life and faith” evokes a spirit of exploration. We crave for many things everyday.

Broadly speaking, our cravings are triggers to satisfy one of 4 aspects of our growth - physical, spiritual, mental and emotional. With growth, we need to build up and strengthen our physical body through exercising and regular food intake, increase our intelligence by acquiring new skills and knowledge and learn to handle the emotional highs and lows in our day-to-day interactions with people. In spiritual growth, we seek our Maker, draw nearer to Him and explore ways we can carry out His commission.

More often than not, the things we have strong desires for, serve to satisfy only the physical, mental and emotional aspects of our lives once granted.

There is a huge amount of potential in our spiritual growth that we have not harnessed.

Paul, we have been reading on for the last few days, had a very strong sense of duty. God redirected his fervour and diligence to serve, teach and correct and greatly added upon his spiritual growth.

In Acts 23, Paul continues shining for God amidst his own trial. He was a living testimony and spokesman of God even as God was his defence. We see the preciousness of this relationship. It was a two-way relationship - God loved Paul, had mercy on him, and Paul reciprocated by speaking up for God and the truth.

There’s so much more to life and faith.

What is life? How am I living it? Can I do a little something more in mine? What else is there that I can do, and do well? In what ways can I contribute in church to reciprocate the protection of God all these years in my life? And how can I lend a helping hand to the weaker lambs in the house of God?

What is faith? Do I have faith that God exists and my worship is true? Is faith a 90 minute burst-at-the-seams zeal for the Lord or a lifetime of believing, learning, hoping, loving and trusting relationship? If we’re at the beginning of this relationship, let’s treasure it and explore ways to make it grow. If we’ve been in this relationship for a while, let’s think of ways to reciprocate it, to learn, live, laugh and love back.