Seeking to be an A+ student
Steffi Gerber
As the father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. John 15:9
In a dream at night I saw myself in the final exam to become a pastor. The task of the exam was to preach exactly what my heart is passionate about. I had a few minutes left to think before it was my turn. I had no idea what my passion was. Should I preach about God the father? Jesus my friend? About Mission? I started to panic. I don’t know what is truly important to me – something that is worth living and dying for. And then it was time to walk to the pulpit. Standing on the pulpit and looking into the face of the listener I knew exactly what my heart is burning for: “………………”
I remember waking up with racing heartbeat but also with this deep peace and joy in my heart! I knew what is worth for me to live and die for! I know what my message is! I know, I will not fail this exam.
When I search my heart, my thoughts, my doings – what is worth keeping? What needs to be adjusted and done or thought differently next time? God is helping us finetune our heart’s desire. And he gave us already a guideline to evaluate myself safely attached:
Faith:
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God”. John 6:68+69
I believe in God the father. I believe in Jesus. To Him is given all power. I believe that I am His child and for this I am called to live with Him.
This solid faith is the foundation of our life. In a picture language using a boat, its course and its captain – faith could be the course of the boat.
Hope:
Be on guard; stand firm in the faith: be courageous; be strong. 1 Cor 16:13
Hope builds on this foundation of faith and is like the boat in our picture. It follows the course through the storms and calm water. Without the course the boat is lost. But the boat trusts the course and because of the course the boat can be brave and courageous.
Love:
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hears by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Rom 5:5
The course of the boat is correct, the boat takes courage and does what faith is telling but it would not go well for long if there would not be this eye-contact to the captain full of love. Sometimes the boat has carried hope bravely through a storm and looks with excitement into the eyes of a loving God. Sometimes hope went overboard and we look downcast into His eyes – still loving.
How did I do today? Which action, statement, thought, decision was build on faith, carried out by hope and securely attached in his love? Where did I lose my anchor (hope)? Where did I betray my Lord (faith)? Have I lost connection with the captain (love)?
God in his character is love. And when we find in our actions shortcomings, we can practice our faith and hope and turn to the LOVE OF OUR FATHER GOD.
To me that makes someone an A+ student.
What is your heart burning for?
And now these three remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:13