CF Retreat part 2

As promised, I would like to share some of the things that I learned from the trip. Firstly, the trip itself was significant. Having a trip to just leave all the worries and the burden of the world is hard to come by. Heck, I wouldn’t even think that I would want 1. But then, with God’s provision and guidance, I attended it. It really pays to just leave your burdens and take a good rest for a while. Physically, it recharges you. Emotionally, you can be more stable and spiritually, if you are going with your church members, then you can get to enjoy the refreshing of the Holy Spirit.

Through the workshop that was organized and conducted by Bro. Matthew, a theme occurred. It is about surrendering our all. In my case, it’s about surrendering my whole life. When you come to think about it, Jesus Christ seems to be totally out-of-this-world. He is God, willingly coming to earth, to be human, and then, although blameless, was willing to bear our sins, and be crucified on the cross. At that time, dying on the cross was only for the filthiest criminal ever. And yet, He chose that death. Good news was, He didn’t stay dead, for on the 3^rd day He was resurrected and conquered death. He said, that He is the Way, The Truth and the Life, none can go to heaven except through Him. It truly is different from the world. The world says, ‘Keep your life, get whatever you want’ and He says,” Deny yourself, forsake your life and follow Me’! As we have decided to accept Him as God and Savior, He demands us to surrender our all. The world could not understand, but those who have experienced His loving mercy and grace, would. In the midst of the teaching about surrendering our all, Jesus also mentioned about the attitude of serving. In the Bible, Jesus washed His disciple’s feet.

They were reluctant because washing someone’s feet means that the person that does the washing is the lowliest of all servants. And yet, Jesus did it. This is the perfect example for us to follow. He didn’t just talk the talk, He walk His talk. As how He has served, we are therefore urged to follow. In essence, it is having a humble serving attitude. Are we willing to let go of our pride, cares and worries and just give our all to God? Bro. Matthew washed our feet that night. Yet, what’s more important, we realized that we ought to do so in the same manner of service to those around us. We may be working or studying. One thing is therefore certain, wherever God puts us in, we are to serve and glorify His Name! Bro. Matthew demonstrated to us what it really meant. Yes, he washed our feet, in the hope for us to understand what it means to humble ourselves and serve others. How to forsake our own selfish ambitions. And I could say, with utmost certainty, we had learned it. Now, the time comes for us to apply it.

--And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me--

Luke 14:27 (New Living Translation)