Following Christ's ExampleExemplo

TO BE PURIFIED TO THE IMAGE OF JESUS

INTRODUCTION

A few months ago, the world was surprised by a virus attack called “wanna cry.” This virus does not attack the human body; it attacks data in our computer system. It causes all data in our computer to disappear. It is even able to drain money through our credit cards. No wonder this virus is called wanna cry because it causes us to cry due to loss of data and money. 

There are many things in this world that cause us to cry. It could be our job, our relationship with others, our failed relationship with boyfriend/girlfriend, our loss of money, our job’s termination, etc.

Have you ever heard the story of Job in the Bible? Job was a rich man. What was Job’s wealth? Let us read it in Job 1:3, “and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yokes of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.”

One day, God allowed Job to experience bad situations. A disaster happened to his children that caused ten of his children to die. He lost his wealth then he had a terrible skin disease. His wife even mocked him. What was Job’s response towards all of these disasters? Instead of complaining, Job kept living in holiness so that God restored his situation and returned double the amount he had lost. 

SHARING

What is our response or attitude when problems happen to us? Some of us might ask, “God, why does this problem happen in my life?”

Let us think about the lessons that we can learn from each problem/difficulty in this life:

1. The problem is there so that we know that God is the perfect way in our lives

Yes, problems may come anytime without invitation. Why? Because our God is powerful, He could allow anything to happen in our lives. However, God has a solution for our problem. The most important thing for us as believers is to allow God to reign in our lives. Problems or difficulties that happen in the lives of believers are God’s way to restore our situation and bless our lives. 

2. God wants to shape us 

The faith of believers should experience growth, and there is a level in the growth of faith. We have to experience the test of faith so that we could experience the increase of faith. Without a test, we are not able to experience the increase of faith. Sometimes during the test of faith, we do not hear the voice of God. It is the same thing that happens when the students are having a test. Do we hear the voice of the teacher in the classroom during the test? Of course not. 

He wants to see our heart’s attitudes. Every sermon or God’s words that we listen to is our preparation to have the test. After the test is over, we will be surprised to see restoration and changes that happen in our lives. Our character is changed to be beautiful, just like Jesus. We become more patient and more loving. Therefore, be willing to experience the process as God is perfecting His plans for our lives when we are in the midst of a process. 

3. We are shining like the pure gold

Do you know that gold could only become pure gold if it is burnt until 1064 degrees Celsius? If it has not reached this temperature, the gold will still have other metals inside it. Only when the gold is burnt until 1064 Celsius, the other metals will be separated from the pure ones. 

The characteristics of pure gold: 

- Flexible 

Malachi 3:3-4

Pure gold is flexible and easy to be shaped. If our heart is just like pure gold, it is easy for God to shape us according to His will. 

- Rust resistant 

The pure gold is separated from the other elements so that it becomes rust-resistant. It is also necessary for us to be separated from worldly elements/contamination of fleshly desires. James 1:27. Therefore do not misuse the “free will” that God has given to us. Do not be tied with materialism (=everything is measured with wealth and money)

- Just like Jesus 

The glass is translucent. The more translucent a glass is, the clearer we can see the things inside the glass. The more our heart is like a glass, the clearer people are able to see the things inside our hearts. They could see Jesus in our hearts. 

DISCUSSION

Let us discuss the following questions with our cell group members:

1. What is our response or heart’s attitude when we face a problem?

2. Why must we be willing to accept a process or a problem or a test?

3. The worldly elements must be separated from our lives. What are these worldly elements that must be separated from our lives?

4. What is the purpose of sermons and God’s words that we read or hear?

We aren’t called to be like other Christians, we are called to be like Christ.