Who will be model the life of Jesus for the young ones?

I remember growing up in the church.I yearned for a role model (apart from my mom and the elderly women),a young lady who could model out what it really meant to be Christ-like.There were young ladies and I often admired listening to them share the Word during Pathfinder programmes and the likes.But one thing confused me:the same dear ladies who stood up front,were the same ones who made me not get what Pathfinder fairs and Camp Meetings were all about.Pathfinder fairs were about meeting the opposite sex and so were Camp Meetings.It was also about new outfits instead of meeting with the Lord.So in my young mind,I ended up thinking these events were all about looking good and meeting the opposite sex.

After some time,I lost interest in Pathfinder events since they weren’t doing anything for my spiritual life.I got discouraged since I didn’t see much difference from the wordlings and us.
In the end,I thought it was all about beautiful outfits and the company you keep.

When I got to matric,I stopped attending church and I pursued my education-that’s what I lived for.In 2012,I had the privilege of studying at Rhodes University.I now look back and see God’s leading in my being there.I remember being amazed at what I saw at Rhodes SDASM.For the first time,I saw young people who loved serving the Lord,who were so disciplined and so committed to God.Not only were they Christians on Sabbath but throughout the week.They would actually beg me to come to church and the likes.The more time I spent with them,I desired to know the God they were serving,since I had only been a churchgoer and on the 11th of August,I decided to follow God.

And I can never thank God enough for such people and because of their example.And because of the light that God has revealed to me I feel accountable to God and to the young girls and boys in the church.Last year, I attended an AWM programme and there were young girls and some young boys.Some of the young girls were throwing themselves at boys-hugging,making arrangement etc and I was pained.I wondered if this was what God wanted for these young souls.But at the same time I felt accountable,since the young generation is imitating what we do as the youth.

This is my prayer for each one of us as young people,I pray that we may live according to the light that God has given us so that the young ones may be drawn to God through us.As much as we are not the standard,”Christ is waiting with eagerness to see the manifestation of his character in the church” and I believe when we start living for God,the young girls and boys,will be drawn to him and they will seek to have an experience with God.

I feel like Christianity has stopped being a lifestyle and it’s now an event.It ‘s now all about going to church to meet with friends,take pics and post on facebook.We are not even acquainted with each other.We know each other on the surface.We lack love and it’s my prayer that God may give us His love.Love that will make us carry each other’s burdens,love that will make us pray with and for each othe.Love that will find out why the other sister/brother is no longer coming to church.

Young girls need ladies that will model what Christianity is all about.We owe it to them and to God.They need to know what it means to have a ‘”meek and quiet spirit” by looking up to us.We have a responsibility of modelling out what it means to be covered by Christ’s righteousness.By our speech and conduct,they need to see what it means to have the mind of Christ.And so do young boys.It’s not enough for young men to stand up front and preach and sing,they need young men who’d actually resemble Christ through and through.Won’t we ,as young people,start leading the younger ones to Christ by our conduct?

Who are you REALLY following?

So,today I was at the library and a brother from church came to greet me. As we were speaking,our conversation went in the direction of dress reform and another sister,who's not an adventist came in.She was adamant that how we dress doesn't matter.What she said though made me realise how crucial it is for us Christians to know who we follow.Believe me,there's a huge difference in following God and claiming to follow God.She mentioned how one lady wears trousers and she still has her own ministry.All this was her telling me that:if she,a godly woman wears trousers,then why sholdn't she?She went on to say that we're freed and I asked her,"What are we freed from?" and she didn't really answer me.

But here are some things I have to address:

-When we accept Jesus Christ, that means he is a standard for all that we do (1 John 2:6) and so is God's Word-"men shall not live by food alone,but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (paraphrased,emphasis mine).What gets me from this text is, the fact that it teaches us that we are not to only stop at doing the 10 commandments but we are to adhere to every other thing found in the word of God.

-For example, we are told that an elder/bishop must be a male.Are we then going to say because this isn't in the 10 commandments it's not crucial?No!My point is,it doesn't end at the 10 commandments.Every other command must be adhered to.

So,everything we do as Christians must adhere to God's Word.In fact,we are told that the Bible is for "reproof,correction,and is profitable for doctrine" but strangely enough we do not go back to the source of doctrine.Instead,we choose to follow theories of men and women we highly esteem and we forget that they are NOT the standard.The may speak the truth and be examples but we are to be careful not to esteem them more than God's Word and the testimonies.You get people,when commanded to do something that will ask:"Did Ellen White do it?".That's asking the wrong question.I'm learning that as a Christian I'm always to ask:"What says God?"We cannot follow men because the Christian journey is continuous,we arw forever learning.There's never a point whereby we know everything.So,just because someone knows much of God's requirements doesn't mean they know everything.

Also,we fall into the trap of doing certain things because those we highly esteem do them.And these may be good things,but shouldn't be our motivation for doing such.Every action and practise of the Christian is supposed to stem from God's word.Deception is rife and we are like to be deceived if we don't know God's Word.
   

Then there's the second argument that most Christians raise:"we have been freed,the law was nailed in the cross.We are living under grace".But sadly this is partially true.See,most people often make this claim but when I ask if that means I can kill,they quickly say no.Others say the Old Testament has been done away with,but if that's the case,does that mean God didn't create the world?

According to my biblical knowledge:the ceremonial laws and the festivals are the ones that were done away with since they were a "shadow" of Christ dying in the Cross and they were fulfilled in His death hence the "nailing at the cross".But the moral law stands forever!

I now realise my need to study God's Word.Such confusion,when God's Word is so clear.We really need to come unbiased when reading God's Word and we need a teachable spirit.I pray that as Christians we may possess the Spirit of the Bereans.We really need it.


I'm afraid that we sometimes think we know more than God and we are more correct than Him :(.

A plea to you, my sisters:

A dear friend of mine that has recently moved to Joburg called me yesterday. As we conversed, I asked if she had made any female friends. Her replied shocked me! She said No.Not even one of the girls from the church she went to had even bothered to find out who she was .Only the brothers befriended her. Isn’t this sad?

I know I for one still suffer from this syndrome.Manier times when we are at church we are so absorbed to be with our own friends so much that we don’t even bother making the visitors comfortable. May the Lord help us, for this is not love. The Bible says: ^“ by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”(John 13:35).

We are even admonished to “not forget entertaining strangers” (Hebrews 13:2).It is a duty out of love. We sometimes are so consumed in looking good, in being with our “cliques” while there’s a soul that is lonely. Let us pray for genuine love which will not cause cliques/differences amongst sisters.

If we can’t love  each other here on earth, how will that happen in heaven? Most of those who backslide often mention the “coldness” we sisters have. What’s the use of being well-dressed and outward reformation, while the heart is cold and cannot reach to others?

Let’s pray that God helps us. We are all equal to God. Love that shows itself to those that are close to you only is not the love of God. Looking at the Spirit that the disciples and the women had before the ascension of the Holy Spirit: we are told they shared things, they were in one accord and they prayed together. Can we even pray together as sisters? Do we even pray for each other? Do we even share or we are pleased to filled and covered?

Let’s pray for reformation of the heart. Include me in your prayers as I will be praying for you.

SUCH AN HONOUR!

" In every one of His children, Jesus sends a letter to the world. If you are Christ's follower, He sends in you a letter to the family, the village, the street, where you live. Jesus, dwelling in you, desires to speak to the hearts of those who are not acquainted with Him. Perhaps they do not read the Bible, or do not hear the voice that speaks to them in its pages; they do not see the love of God through His works. But if you are a true representative of Jesus, it may be that through you they will be led to understand something of His goodness and be won to love and serve Him. "-Steps To Christ,ch 13,P115

Devotional Thought

^“35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. ³⁶ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”~Mark 8:35-36

This passage tells me, the only source of life is God and none of us is able to save himself or herself. That is why Jesus came to “seek and to save the lost”. And all who believe in him have the promise of eternal life. The only thing or person worth dying for is Jesus and the gospel.

There is no use of gaining the world-its riches, education and more WITHOUT securing your name in heaven. In fact, our pursuit as Christians is to “seek first the kingdom of God and all his righteousness” then the other things will be added.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not steal.” Matthew 6:19

TRUE CHRISTIANITY=GODLY CHARACTER

"It is the character, not the placing of our names on the church books, that makes us Christians. What manifestations will appear when Christ, abiding in the heart, is shining in the faces of those who love Him and keep His commandments. Truth is written there. The man is transformed into Christ’s image. A worldling may pass by and not mark the change, but those who have had communion with Christ discern the expression of Christ in word, in spirit. The influence upon the heart is seen in a habitual gentleness, a more than human love. The sweet peace of heaven will be in the soul, and will be revealed in the countenances."—Letter 6, January 14, 1899, to “Brethren and Sisters in Camp Meeting at Ballarat.~The Upward Look,p28

CHRISTIANITY COMPELS ME:

- To treat others with respect and kindness
-To be on time for my lectures
-To always speak the truth,no matter the consequences
-To clean after myself
-To live in a clean environment
-To help those in need
-To respect those in authority
-To be faithful in my duties
-To share with those who are less fortunate
-To share the good news
-To keep the 10 commandments
-To do everything with seriousness and with the same effort I'd apply in something more vital
-To study my books and read the Bible
-To eat healthy
And to consider God in every decision I take