“Whose mark do you want to hit this year?”
This was such an important question to open up week three with. I am grateful that BSSM saw it necessary to help students prepare for and go through the year successfully.
I believe that I have spent too much time trying to hit several people’s marks at the same time and gotten burnt out. It was vital that I spent time listening to God and defining what success would mean for me at the end of the school year.
This way, I can keep my eyes on my own goal and not be concerned about what another person is excelling at or what others think I can learn from the school.
This goes for our lives as well. It is something we say a lot, but do we actually believe and live that way? Do you know what God has assigned as a priority for you in the season and are you staying focused on them? Understanding the norms and the wise counsel of loved ones and experienced people will always be useful. However, the most important voice in your life should remain that of the Father. Let Him define what your success is.
That said, one of the things I am committing to is a weekly roundup that helps me review the lessons of the past week, highlight key things I have learned, and share some with my readers.
In addition to the above, here are my key highlights for you from week three.
Vulnerability
Vulnerability is one of the tools I’ll need to go through this year successfully. It is a vital life skill that will greatly improve your ability to live life freely, and have healthy relationships. Now, while on the surface vulnerability means sharing your life with people, it goes deeper than that. It is not just sharing what you’ve done or what’s going on in your life, it is giving the person you’re being vulnerable with the permission to step in and help you move things around. If not, the real essence of it is lost and becomes a constant retelling of your own story, from your own perspective, without any real change happening. It is for this reason that we are also told to be careful with choosing who we will be vulnerable with. God is the first person you should learn to be vulnerable with. Are you open with God about your desires, fears, mistakes, and everything in between? Are you ready to hear and see His own perspective on them?
When it comes to choosing people to be vulnerable with, the best thing is to follow God’s lead. You can best do this if you’ve been practising vulnerability with Him. It’s okay to make mistakes with your choices at several points. You learn from them. But as we walk in obedience with God, our discernment grows and we can better make decisions in line with the Spirit of God.
“Do I let people speak into my situation or move things around? Or do I just want to share with them and make them think they are helpful but want to keep doing what I am doing?”
Grace and the Law (The book of Romans)
This teaching can never get old. You’d think you’re coasting on the truth of being saved by grace until your boat gets rocked again when you realize you’ve been working to keep your moral standards and reputation high by your actions!
Of course, it is good to have a good moral standard. It is good to pray and engage in the discipline religion brings, but is that to prove your commitment to God or is that a product of the righteousness you’ve been freely given?
There will always be a lot to talk about when we think of Grace Vs the Law and Relationship Vs Religious practices. But here are some questions I’d like you to study and meditate on.
How did Abraham and Isaac lie about their wives and get covered by God?
How did the midwives lie to Pharaoh and get favoured by God?
How did Abraham, Joseph, Judah, Moses, and Caleb marry foreign women and God was pleased with them even when it was against the law?
What about David and the tabernacle he created to host worship to God in a way that wasn’t accepted by the law?
To go further in this study, read through the book of Romans. Then start studying it slowly. These Bible Project videos will also help.
Overview: Romans 1-4 Overview: Romans 5-16
Humility, Compassion, and Empathy
Finally, there’s nothing as humbling as coming into a deeper knowledge of the awesomeness and majesty of God. The more I know Him, the more I wonder about His wondrous grace for me, and for others.
This grace He extended to me, He also extends to the people who I don’t understand, may not even like, or cringe at their choices. This leads to a new level of compassion that I want to stoke even more.
I am valuable because of who Christ is and what He did for me.
The same goes for everyone else because He died for all.
For those of us who have stepped into an acceptance of this grace sooner than others, it’s not our role to look down on them. Stepping into grace is also stepping into the ministry of Jesus - which is the ministry of reconciliation. This cannot be done without compassion and a desire to see people see how valuable they are as well.
I pray that Jesus will expand Himself within us and help us fully embrace His grace and move with Him to bring others into it.
Love and love,
OTDamilola,
For King and Kingdom