We walked out of the church. The message was about love and doing and caring. The children commented that the preacher radiated this in his life. When he asked how things were going, he did so with compassion and was always ready to help, wherever he could. 

What a beautiful testimony. One day his epitaph would probably say: He practised what he preached. 

The people Peter wrote to also had a beautiful testimony: 14And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers—such vitality and strength! God’s word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One. 

This testimony of their lives radiates many things. In this one verse, we see that they know God personally. They have inner strength, put evil in its place, and display God’s message through what they do. 

Only when we have a personal relationship with our Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit can we get our lives in line with Their purpose for us on earth. Then our vocation becomes crystal clear. 

Through this relationship, we discover ourselves. We learn our capabilities, identify areas for growth, and recognize what doesn’t align with God’s plan. 

Through this relationship, we become stronger and slip and slide less. Without knowledge, we stumble blindly. The first wave knocks us off our feet, and we struggle to stay afloat.  

Muscles don’t grow naturally. They require exercise and healthy eating. My son always says that the triathlon and ironman actually consist of four disciplines, namely, swimming, cycling, jogging and nutrition. No matter how hard you train, without proper nutrition, you’ll eventually run out of energy and be unable to keep going. 

That’s why it’s so important that we “eat” the Word of God daily. This is where we strengthen our inner selves to stand strong against the attacks of the devil. We learn his tactics, know how to counter them, and defy his attempts to lead us astray. 

We must actively cultivate our identity as God’s children. Remember, we need a lot of work to be restored. The fall has severely damaged us all. We cannot and should not be satisfied with the state in which it has left us. 

Let’s identify the areas where we don’t fully fit God’s picture of us and take steps to rectify them. It’s a lifelong process and will only be complete when we see Jesus with our own eyes. 

Let others see our strong stand against the devil and recognize our close relationship with our Father. May our actions tell God’s message and may others also yearn for such a relationship with God. 

Scripture
1 John 2:10-14

Reflection
Do you know God personally?
How steadfast are you against the onslaught of the evil one?
Do others see God in your way of doing things? 

Prayer
Father, I still have a lot of growing to do. I wish I could spread Your Word through my actions. Would You please help me to do it? Please. Amen.