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Written by Lisanka Martínez, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Venezuela
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. (Ec 3:1 NIV)
Knowing how to wait on God, trusting He will always give us what He knows we need in His time, and He tells us what we should or should not do, requires practice and our firm commitment.
In my early Christian life, I had only a faint idea of how to tell others about Jesus. I also had a hard time volunteering to pray publicly for fear of making a mistake and giving a bad testimony (more than just stage fright). Even though I was always willing to serve and help in whatever was asked of me and wherever it was needed, I knew that I was not giving all of me. n my home I spent very little time in prayer or study of the Word. Nevertheless, I continued to read the Bible occasionally, attend classes, women’s gatherings, Sunday service, and teach children’s classes.
As we all know, God shapes us step by step through good and bad times as we accumulate experience. In my case, I am ashamed to confess there were moments when I failed and doubted my faith, the affection and interest of my brothers and sisters, and even the meaning of life. However, I kept attending, I kept serving, I kept trying to understand, and I kept taking my family to church activities until I understood what a commitment to Christ is.
In the past if someone asked for prayer, I thought, "Let's pray now." When someone needed comfort, I was there even though I only repeated the usual phrases and struggled to express myself. But now that I am more fully committed, I also pray even when they don't ask for it, and I continue to do so until I see an answer to that request. If I see that someone needs comfort through a hug or a kind word, I will give it to them, and if I am far away, I communicate with heartfelt phrases of empathy and love. In the past when physical effort was needed to do something, I did it, but only mechanically. Now due to my current health condition, if I want to support an activity that requires physical effort beyond my capacity, I know I can ask for help from others, and I collaborate in everything I can. I am now encouraged when I have the opportunity to knock on doors and invite others to a church campaign or activity. I go with enthusiasm and I love to look for the lost. My commitment has become stronger.
Knowing exactly when my commitment to Christ increased is a difficult thing—it may have been when I was disabled and had to leave my job as a preschool teacher. However, at that time I increased my involvement in Sunday school work. It could also have been when my girls left the nest, sadly, because I could have been a better example for them. But during that time, my health kept me very busy and mostly focused on prayer. Then came the time of the pandemic where, thanks be to God, my husband and I were able to dedicate ourselves to reading and studying the Word daily, contacting brothers and sisters from other places. Thanks to the technological resources inspired by God, we were learning, having the desire to study more every day, practicing what we had learned, and sharing it with others.
I now understand that committing to Christ is a pleasure, that we must feel love, accept responsibility, have enthusiasm, dedication, and desire to learn and feel very good with each step we take in that direction. I also know this commitment will sometimes tempt us to try to overcome obstacles on our own and fatigue or discouragement may result. It is a task that tests us many times and does not always give the expected results.
If we dedicate our time to working for the Lord, He will bless it. I know I should not give up when adverse situations arise. My health is going through hard times; I pray while I cry because of the pain, but I also praise very strongly. When I want to attend an activity but my economic situation prevents me from doing so, I ask those who attend to send me photos, audio, or videos of the activity, and I share them, feeling grateful for the technology. Every day, I share with someone about God and the Gospel of salvation.
Do you think we should commit only when physically and emotionally well? Does your financial situation influence your work for the Lord? Let us remain committed even when we are faced with challenging times.
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Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries
Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1Pe 1:17-19 NIV)
In the following chapter, the apostle Peter encourages his friends, the people of God, to live their lives as foreigners and exiles (1Pe 2:11). Sinful desires surround us, bombard us, implore us, distract us, confuse us, and wear us down. However, they also attack in much more subtle and deceptive ways.
While living as a foreigner in another country, especially at the beginning, it was immediately obvious what belonged to the local culture and what belonged to my home country. Confronted by my own cultural biases, I was forced to step outside my comfort zone. It was a challenge to determine when I was clinging to my own perspective, which areas were uncomfortable simply because they were different, and what things were based on a goal of Kingdom living.
Prayer was my lifeline for support and guidance. I did not navigate things perfectly, at all. As
time passed, I assimilated into the local culture and became less attentive to identifying any important distinctions. I needed to be intentional about striving to live not as a North American foreigner in a South American country, but rather as a redeemed Christian foreigner, living in this perishable, broken world.
Our time here on earth is short, a vapor or a mist (Jas 4:14). We are merely a dot on the length of a timeline. Kingdom time and Kingdom living keep the trajectory of our lives and how we live them in perspective.
Kingdom time “makes the most of every opportunity” (Col 4:5).
Kingdom living has a “mind governed by the Spirit” (Ro 8:6).
Kingdom time beats to the rhythm of eternity that He has set in the human heart (Ecc 3:11).
Kingdom living dies to self and lives for Christ (Lk 9:23-24; Gal 2:20).
Kingdom time goes and makes “disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that [Jesus] commanded you. And behold, [He is] with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:19-20).
Kingdom living “walks by faith, not by sight” (2Co 5:7 ESV).
Sisters, may we remember and proclaim, “I’m a foreigner living on Kingdom time.”
How are you going to use your Kingdom time to be all about Kingdom living?