The Discipleship Example of Jesus

" So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere." - Luke 9:6

Somebody needs you Find them! Move towards them!

Jesus did not just stay in one place and waited for people. He went to the marketplace He went to the seaside He went to the synagogue He went to the homes of people. He went everywhere. He did not just stay in one place and waited for people to come to him. He made himself reachable and and available to people by going to them. In fact, Jesus did not just go to places, but he went to people and built relationship with them He went to the blind, the poor, the wealthy. He even talked to the learned, ignorant, hungry and thirsty.

Jesus left the comfort. He left the presence of angels and His heavenly Father He willingly walked into an atmosphere that was unholy and imperfect He stepped out of a magnificent and perfect kingdom into a world that was stained, confused and deadly. Jesus was willing to give it all for the cause of discipleship. 

How about us, what is keeping us from reaching out towards others? Is it an inward fear or dread that we may be rejected or turned down? Are we intimidated in some way? Discipleship is far more important than rejection.

That is why the great commission says "Go!" We have to get out of our comfort zones, step out and reach out to people, leave the familiar and let go of insecurities. Going for God sometimes even means having to leave our geological location, our culture, and our job but what is there to lose when Jesus already gave it all for us?

That Thing Called Love

LOVE. It is one the most commonly used word today and often times they hold a lot of different meaning, I love my journal and pen collections. I love my dresses. I love my family and friends. But do I love them all the same way? To the same degree? Of course not! Yet, I can use the same word in all situations.

When I was in high school, I learned that in Greek language, there are four different words to describe love.

My cousin-in-law, Ate Tina and her daughter, Tintin

The first one is Storge. They say this is the natural kind of love like the love of a parent to their child. Storge is used almost exclusively as a descriptor of relationships within the family. I can proudly and happily say that I've been lavished with this kind of love not just from my parents but from my siblings and extend family (cousins, uncles, aunties, nephews, nieces). But I have also seen this kind of love at work in my cousin-in-law and my niece. I love my niece very much! But there are things that is beyond the capacity of a tita to do like cleaning her up after she poops or be patient with her when she gets all noisy and nosy. I honor this kind of love. I just know that when this kind of love is properly showed to children, they will become a people of great character and right motivation when they grow up.

With some of my churchmates during my 21st birthday celebration

The second one is Philos, the friendly kind of love. According to Aristotle, this kind of love requires virtue, equality and familiarity. This love holds true when I say "I love you" to my friends. Out of Philos comes my genuine concern for them. Because of this kind of love, I have the ability to pray for them, spend time with them and share lives with my friends. It is also because of Philos that we have the ability to overlook offenses, choose to forgive and look pass our differences. 

I specially appreciated  Philos when I realized how different some of my friends and I can be in terms of attitude and personality yet we choose to be friends and stick with each other through thick and thin. I am also glad that I can detect Philos from Eros (which I will be talking about later) because it helps me be secure and confident with the friendship that I have with my guy friends. Knowing the distinction between these kind of love saved my heart from false assumptions and wrong hopes and unnecessary heartbreaks.

Oyo Sotto and Kritine Hermosa-Sotto

Like what I've mentioned earlier, the third one is Eros. It is an intense physical or sexual type of love. Now this is the romantic type of love that most people misuse now a days. It is sad that it became way too easy for one to say "I love you" romantically without fully understanding what they are saying. Eros kind of love is meant to be beautiful and treasured. We should not just give this kind of love easily. It ought to be protected and nurtured. People mature enough for Eros  know that love entail commitment, responsibility, faith and sacrifice

The last one, but definitely not the least is Agape, God's kind of love.

Agape love is so incredible! It's unconditional - no strings attached. It's unselfish - totally giving. It's unending - it never tops. It's forgiving - no grudges here! It's love that is based on commitment, not wishy-washy feeling. It's a God kind of love 

The word Agape is used throughout the New Testament to teach us how to love the way God loves. See, love is a huge deal to God. It is the very core of who he is and who he wants to be. The amazing thing is, we too can learn how to love God's way because the Bible teaches us what love is in God's standard. The Bible descriptions of love is Holy Spirit empowered! It is beyond what we can muster up on our own. The Holy Spirit working in us helps us to love in these supernatural style. Want to be truly loving? Learn to love with absolute Agape!

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails."

- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8