Favoritism A Sin
Introduction
The last thing that we have discussed about two weeks ago is all about becoming doers of the word and not just being hearers. Today we will start talking about living with a working faith.
Understanding the Case of Favoritism
What is favoritism? Probably some of us are still struggling with the meaning of favoritism. One of the definition in the dictionary concerning favoritism is the “unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of prenjudice. I personally picked this definition, because it does fit to our passage today.
The Tell-Tale Sign
During those precious hours in the upper room after Jesus’ final Passover meal with His disciples, He washed the disciples’ feet (Jn. 13:1-11) and then asked “Do you realize what I’ve just done to you?” (v.12b). And, for the next several minutes He imparted to them (and us) some life-changing truths that will transform our lives, families, church, etc., if we’ll let them.
When He shared more about His upcoming departure (vv.31-33), He knew it’d not be until after His Resurrection and Ascension that they’d finally begin to understand what He was talking about. Their hearts were too heavy and their ears too “dull of hearing” (Heb. 5:11-14) to grasp the essence of His words.
Yet, He probably caught their attention a bit more when He said “A new Commandment I give unto you: That you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (v.34). They knew they were to “love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength” (Mt. 22:37). They’d learned that from the time of a child (Dt. 6:4ff). They also knew they were supposed to “love their neighbor as themselves” (Mt. 22:39). Jesus had repeatedly talked about this during His 3 ½ year earthly ministry (Lk. 10:30-37).
But, now He added a new dimension to all of this: “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples—if you have love one to another.” And, this would later be qualified even more when He said “to love each other AS I HAVE LOVED YOU” (Jn. 15:12). That’s why the Apostle Paul wrote Phil 2:5-11 and I Cor. 13 as “Pilgrim Primers”—for they help us better understand how to do this.
My Way
He commanded Peter to throw the net on the right side of the boat. He told Peter what he should do. Yes, in Jesus’ way. In God’s way. Not in Peter’s way.
Jesus said, ” Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” (verse 6, NIV). He did not say, “Peter, would you like to throw your net on the left side of the boat?”
The Greatest of These
And, remember: The reason Love is “the greatest of these” is because there’ll be no need for Faith and Hope in Heaven (II Cor. 4:16-5:8). We’ll have no need of them because we’re with the One Whom we came to know by faith and longed to see (I Pet. 1:8-9). But, Love will still be there and we’ll have all eternity to enjoy it/Him. Won’t that be wonderful? Glory!!
The Fragrance of His Love
No one has ever loved us like Jesus. Although “for a good man some would even dare to die” (Rom. 5:7)—e.g., soldier falling on a grenade to spare the lives of his comrades—the fact remains that Jesus didn’t die for His friends; He died for “ungodly sinners who were His enemies from birth” (Rom. 5:6, 8, 10; 8:7).
Snorkeling, A Good Exercise and A Good Hobby For Pastors
For the first time in my life I went out for another island to snorkel. Coming along with the team of Tom Smith, after a week a medical mission, the team decided to have an outing escapade to a remote island in Biliran province.
The location is a little far from Ormoc, about 2 and a half hours drive, you will reach Almeria, Naval. There you will see in a distant several isolated islands where you can have a beautiful site of underwater picture of mother nature.
Reaching The School
Tom’s team is not only confined with the medical mission it gives. The team in cooperation of the OLCM also reached the school in Tambulilid. Feeling the need of students who have very limited ability to enrich their knowledge is a great way to reach them. The school lacks library, medical supplies, technical equipments like computers, sports equipments and many other things especially the spiritual need of the children.
FREE Medical Clinic
Part of our celebrations is the Free Medical Clinic. There were five locations where we held our medical clinic: Brgy Tambulilid, Ormoc City; Baybay, Leyte; Brgy. Kambonnggan, Baybay, Leyte, and Brgy. Malitbogay, Javier, Leyte.
In Tambulilid alone, the medical team brought by Tom Smith was able to serve about 250 patients for two days. It was indeed a very busy week for the team since there was a great need of health awareness in the areas they served.
Ordination’s Pastoral Charge: 2 Timothy 2
Ordination is the act of setting apart to an office in the Christian ministry; the conferring of holy orders (from the dictionary).
A reminder though, true ordination comes from God, and all of us Christians were already ordained by God. The fact that God called us to be his sons and daughters, setting as apart from the world, and calling us his “holy nation” is just a mere evidence of God’s anointing of His people. Denominational ordination is just a ceremony confirming the Sect’s affirmation of their pastor’s possessed qualities of being a reliable pastor.
One of the best passages in the Bible concerning pastoral charges is found in 2 Timothy 2. To summarize the passage in verses 1-6, there are several things that a pastor should become.