Experiences Enlarged

When I was much younger in the Lord I would love the cherishing with praises of others for any matter whatsoever. In fact, such applause would even enthused me to do more supplementary deeds seeking the praises of men and secretly glorying in the complements of novices alike. Not nullifying all these, as they were apt for those days of such as I was, but now, by the Lord's mercy, having grown a bit more and learning more lessons of life, I would go before the Lord and humbly acknowledge His grace if there is anything praiseworthy; not mine own, but His.

These days, the lessons I have been learning are mostly with the critics within and opposers without. To both the pandemic and the panacea is "Christ, and Him crucified." I only have to care for being one Spirit with the Lord. If this condition is met from my side, all is at rest. For the opposer would only be opposing Christ and the critics would be criticizing Christ, not me, for I am in Christ, one with Christ. In fact, the Christian life is just this; being in Christ and living Christ.

Of late, I have been experiencing the bitter sweetness of being opposed or criticized. The grace of the Lord has been abundant enough to bear whatever the negative speakings, for all were misconstrued, taken out of context and blown out of proportion. In such incidents I went before the Lord and do "health check-up" and listen to what the Lord has to say. Most of the time, the Lord's smile was with me and I have not veered from His will. As long as there is a perfect peace and joy of the Lord within, what others say does not really mean anything, and must all be taken to the Lord in prayer. Unless the Lord specifically leads, not even an iota of thought should be entertained for vindication. A must remembrance, we are still men in the flesh and should not trust in ourself. Leave all matters to the Lord; He knows best: what to do, when to do and how to do.

The Lord has been gracing me enough to smile and take all attacks and criticisms as much as He allows. When an elder brother of my father's age bluntly points finger at me with all fabricated assumption, some half truth and mostly false allegation, I listened to him in pin drop silence with not a word of reftation, for I reckon it folly to do so. Deep within, I only pray that the Lord will grant him the grace to see the reality of what the Lord has been doing these days. In fact, the Lord's blessing is pouring which he fails to see. And in time he will see and glorify the God of glory from Whom are all things and to Whom are all things.

Such cases are nothing new to me, as my own father had done years ago until he finally received the Lord and I had to baptise him on his request. And since then, he stopped all negative speakings. The same seems to happen now and then with somene who does not really see the reality of all that has been happening these days. Little am I bothered by such, as I am assured that in time, all will be well as it is already well.

These are some experiences on the negative side, the Lord allows for my growth and perfecting in serving Him. Without the cross, there can be no resurrection; without out death, there can be no life released; and without suffering, there can be no genuine transformation. The fiery sun only helps the harvest ripens as only birth pangs brought forth a new born.

To all these wonderful experiences enlarged, I give glory to God and praise Him for all His multifarious wisdom. As much as His grace graces me, the more the better.

Lord, enlarge my experiences of You.