Our True-self

Romans 1:7

“To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people.”

The suffix “ism” additionally provides a specific meaning of a distinctive practice, system, or philosophy. The word also annotates a collective allegorical implication on the ideology of self-reliance, which can be understood as a core value of who we are as a social member.

With the senses, do you agree with the following formula of the collective American value?                                  

Americanism = individualism

Are we, as Americans, identified as the intrinsic stance of individualism? I am independent. I am self-reliant. I am unique. Do these phrases represent the principle of individualism?

I do not intend to go deeper into the meaning of secular individualism here. There is actually no “secular individualism” because it is another form of egoism or selfishness. True individualism finds its root in the scriptural principle.

• You are uniquely created in the image of God.
• You find your true value in the Lord. 
• You, as a member of society, use your gifts and talents for the people who are in need.

Martin Luther found this individual value in the scripture, Romans 1:7 and proclaimed in his book On Christian Freedom (1520),  “A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to everyone.”

We, as individuals person, find our true selves in the Lord and use our value to serve others. This is true individualism.

Today, we must exercise our individualism. Think about how your actions greatly influence others. As an independent person, you can thoughtfully feel what others are going through and share your ideas and thoughts on how we can live together.

We should not detach ourselves from those who suffer from all types of sickness. We, the uniquely created beings in the image of God, should participate in the struggles of those people with our humble attitudes and observe all the safe guidelines to protect ourselves and others. This is true individualism: you and I live together.

Our Life is Music

Ecclesiastes 3:1 "For everything has a season and a time for every matter."

I am a self-learner of playing piano. When I was young, I went to a local church in a small town. Since the church was open all the time during the day, I could go into the small chapel and use the piano there. Touching each key with my two index fingers was my first initiation into learning how to play. In about seven months, my piano skills were good enough to play simple hymns in a high school service on Sunday. One day, after listening to me play, one of the church members, who was a professional pianist, offered me a free lesson once a week after the Sunday service. I was so excited and expected to learn a high-level skill. But instead of teaching me any fine skill, she asked me to practice keeping exact time on each note. She said I had to follow a proper measure, including all the rest, to make beautiful music.

There are different seasons in your life. You have a season of working hard or resting. Sometimes, your life goes slow or even on pause. Oftentimes, you might feel frustrated when your life schedules seem to be at a low speed of progress compared to others. However, God uniquely created your life. Your time signature in your life has a completely different pattern of beat from others. When you have a whole rest, others might have a half rest. At a certain time, your life might proceed in a sixteenth-note rhythm, while others are in the length of the eighth note. You have a different note and time measure because God put it in that way to make your life the only one of its kind. God does not want you to compare your life journey with others, but He wants you to enjoy your life no matter where you are. Then you can make beautiful life music and bring great joy into others' lives. Remember, God composes a different life note for you and orchestrates it.

Being Persistent

1 Cor. 3:6 "I planted, Apollos watered, and God gave the growth."

 

We all know about one of the world's best-selling novels, "Gone With the Wind," written by Margaret Mitchell in 1926, which was later turned into a movie.  The way that book was born was quite unexpected.  Margaret had a car accident the year before and was recovering from her injuries, but the healing process was taking longer than expected.  She was frustrated and even depressed.  So she started to write something from her imagination to pass the monotonous time of staying at home.

 

After finishing the book, there was no one willing to publish her book.  So she stubbornly kept pleading to Harold Latham, the editor of Macmillan Publishing.  He didn't even open the book at all.  Margaret knew that Latham didn't read her book, thus, she would wait for him at a train station while he was traveling, and persistently sent him many postcards to wherever he went on his business trips. In April of 1935, Latham happened to open her book and saw that it could be a best seller.

 

In this story, I can see two important connections to our Christian life.  First, sometimes a good result comes from an unfavorable or negative situation.  Second, a good result also could come from our enduring attitude.  And God works in both cases and controls the results.  Paul had a different role than Apollos.  Paul would plant and Apollos would water.  But it is God who can give the best results.  This is the reason why no matter the circumstances, we should not be discouraged, but hopeful that God would turn around the undesirable case to a joyous one.  Keep being persistent by praying and trying.  And expect great things in whatever you do.  God will bring the best things into your life.