Live Out Christ

"Do not judge from his appearance... not as a man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart," 1 Samuel 16:7, so does what God says to Samuel when he was about to anoint the next King of Israel. He could not fathom the wisdom of God when David was chosen. But it was very clear, what matters to Him is the heart, not the appearance.

We do have doubts of our calling, the feeling of unworthiness. But God has Samuel's to chose His chosen ones. Calling is very personal and specific. We have to answer to our own specific calling, no one can answer that for us. The God who says in Isaiah 43:1-2 have chosen us out of many, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. When you pass through waters, I will be with you;through rivers, you shall not be swept away. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, nor will flames consume you." He chose us not us choosing our roles. So if we think that we are just here because we are capable then we are missing the point because what is important is not being capable but being available. What's the use of being capable if we are not available? The Lord will then equip those whom he called.

Three important things that we can get from the story in the 1st book of Samuel:

1. Anointing - When the Lord called us and we answer, He anoints us and by anointing us He affirms and equips us to be able to do the things He wants us to do. Its very important then, that we believe in our anointing, because when the going gets tough and others will question our anointing, we can stand firm. Satan will always try to put doubts into our mind so that we will question ourselves if we are really the one anointed for our role, in so doing the work of the Lord will be compromised. Beware of his tactics! We also have to believe in the anointing of others, because Gods plan works in mysterious ways even in the people and leaders we don't like. Lastly, we have to be worthy of our anointing. Let's not settle for less, but only for the best for He is best!

2. Stewardship - We are not the owners we are just stewards. When Saul made a mistake of not following the orders of God while fighting the enemies of Israel, the spirit moves away from him and transferred to David. When we start to think that we are the owners not stewards we start to have this kingdom mentality. This ministry in mine, this program is mine, this people are mine! The story of the owner of the vineyard makes this even clearer. When it was about harvest time, the owner decided to send his servants to collect his part of the produce. But the laborers killed them all in order to have the produce for themselves. The patient owner after sending his servants decided to send his only son, thinking the laborers might respect him and give his part of the produce. But the laborers upon seeing the son, said to themselves, this is the heir, come let us finish off this son, so that not only the produce we can have but even the entire vineyard. The laborers of the vineyard decided not just to be the stewards but the owner themselves! Upon hearing this, the King sent his troops and finish off all his laborers to put a claim to his own vineyard. Isn't it sounds the same, when we start thinking that we are the owners, we become selfish to the point even of taking others lives.

3. Consent - The Lord will never coerce us instead He will always allows us to freely chose. The moment we allow Him to use us, He makes marvelous things to happen to us. Like David, blessings upon blessings follows after the consent. We have seen personal victories, lives changed, relationship restored and faith recovered.

Set The World On Fire

With all the blessings we received we are to bless the world as well. We are to share the love of Christ both in words and in deeds. We have to set the world on fire with the love of Christ! We are to proclaim Jesus not just in the comfort of our family, relatives, friends and parishes but to every schools, streets, corners, darkest areas and lonely places beyond the reach of the church, in places and situations where Christ is absent. The faces of poverty is everywhere, Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta said, "We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty."

Ours is not a calling of convenience. Our "Yes" is certainly not a yes of convenience! Mary's yes was not out of convenience because to be a mother of a savior is not convenient at all. Who are we to say that ours will? We go to places beyond our comfort not because it’s easy but precisely because it’s difficult. That's mission!

We go to lead and provide hope. People hope if they see something and so we provide vision, something to look forward to. People follow if we have vision. Our vision, "Families in the Holy Spirit Renewing the Face of the Earth" and our mission of "Building the Church of the Home and the Poor" excites us to do greater things for the Lord. So as YFC's we respond by being "Young People Being and Bringing Christ Wherever They Are". This is who we are! We are to be the bible to those who have not read one. We cannot compartmentalize nor dichotomized our life. If we are good in YFC then the more we should be good in our family, school and society. YFC is not just an organization, it's a lifestyle, and it's in our blood. So we have to live it out as leaders so we can be the "salt of the earth and light of the world" Mat 5:13-14. 

3 I's of Leadership

We are not just managers we are leaders! As leaders we are to inspire others by the way we live our lives. We have to have:

1. Integrity - We must walk our talk. There should be no difference between what we say and what we do. In meetings, we are the first to come and the last to go. 

2. Initiative - When directions are given, we don't need someone to always tell us what to do, instead we initiate. We make things happen!

3. Intent - Our intention should be pure. We say yes to the call of leadership because we respond to the call of God not to the call of egos or of any personal intentions. Our calling is clear so our response should be clear!

An Answered Prayer

As much as our calling is an answered prayer for us, we are also an answered prayer to others. YFC is an answered prayers to parents who are longing to have there kids having an environment were they can grow in Christian faith, hope and love; to the church who longs to have the youth be animated again with there faith; and to the many young people who are searching for meaning and purpose in there lives. Think about this, what a privilege to be an answer to someone else prayer.

So our "Yes" to this mission is no ordinary yes, its a yes that will have an effect even a thousand years from now, much as Mary's yes has an effect on us a thousands years after that faithful announcement of an angel. 

Live Out Christ! Our call is a blessing. This is where the Lord puts us because this is where He will bless us and use us. Don't just bloom were you are planted but bear fruit that will remain! Don't just be contented with one parish, one Catholic school and one university, and certainly not just to Filipinos after all we are to be "Families in the Holy Spirit, Renewing the Face of the Earth". The Lord has given us the whole world to evangelize! Are we up to the challenge? Stand up now and be a leader!

by aats