Every
Christian has a story. A story of
how God met us where we were, deep in sin, deep in failure, deep in living an
illusion of happiness… and changed us, turned our life upside down, and saved
us from our sinful nature. Being a
Christian doesn’t make me better or more selfless than the next person. It is simply a gift that I’ve
received. *For it is by grace you
have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of
God- not by works, so that no one can boast. -Ephesians 2:8-9
*Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility
consider others better than yourselves.
-Philippians 2:3
I
am a Christian because God pursued me, He humbled himself down to my level and
accepted me with all my imperfections.
I am selfish, greedy, vain, judgmental, hateful, wrong, jealous, sinful,
hungry for compliments, and attention seeking. But in God’s grace, He sees past all these things. Grace is being given something that is
not deserved. For some Christians,
it is easy to accept God’s grace, but for others it is a struggle. Society looks down on charity, it’s ok
to give, but not receive. I think that is why it is so hard for the prideful to
deal with God’s charity. We want
to feel like we are responsible for our salvation and take the glory and
credit. But, there is no way a
sinful, broken person could ever earn salvation through works. I would never do enough, never confess
enough, and never physically live up to God’s perfect standard. It is purely God’s grace that saves…
His perfect sacrifice on the cross, Jesus Christ, and nothing less. That realization is becoming more real
and beautiful to me since being on this trip. I can’t imagine serving a more humble God, a more forgiving
God, a more perfect God.
I
have been learning the power of sharing my testimony. Every story is God’s work. Our stories are just as powerful as the stories of men in
the Bible. God loves and uses us
just as much as He loved and used those men. I’ve had the opportunity to share my story with various
people in Imara and on one day three people I talked to committed their lives
to Christ. God used my testimony
to speak to other broken people who were struggling with similar
temptations. A few days ago we
went to a high school in the slum of South B and I shared my story there as
well, along with a few other missionaries. After we shared, seven people accepted Jesus as their
savior. God will use every person,
every story, every passion to grow His kingdom. I am weak, but He is strong, and His strength is glorified
in my weakness.
I
am learning to trust God, to trust that He knows what is best for me and it’s
better to trust in Him than my own understandings. Because when it comes down to it, what do I really
“know?” I learn a lot, but what is
the ultimate value in what I learn?
The only absolute truth in this world is that humanity was created, we
are broken people, God sent Jesus to pay for our brokenness, and He wants a
relationship with each of us. In
return we gain eternity in heaven.
It’s simple.
I
praise God that He pursued me.
There is no way I’d be a Christian by my own power… sin is too exciting
and fun. Jesus humbly came down to
the earth He created and dwelled with the sinful, just like me, and saved them
from their sin. It’s a
process. As my relationship with
Jesus grows, my earthly desires fade.
I am who I am today because of the living sacrifice made 2000 years ago.
Marla
