Trinity Methodist Church

To be positive in everything is not an easy thing to do. I have difficulties when things happen and are not according to my expectation. I struggle a lot and sometimes I blame myself. Nevertheless when I look back every single thing that I have encountered is good for my spiritual growth. I begin to appreciate all of it, without blaming anyone. Because each experience makes me more Christ-like. See in James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”.

Recently I met a friend who was having a very difficult time. I asked him about his feelings having gone through the very difficult time. At first I thought he would blame one person or another. But he did not blame anyone. Rather he said “God has a purpose for me”. He continued, saying, “I need to remind myself to think positive otherwise I will fall into the bondage of depression, tension and worry”. After listening to him I said to myself that I too need to think positive in everything. Being positive will help us in the following ways:

 

Firstly, positive thoughts will give us joy to serve in God’s ministry. Remember brothers and sisters, in God’s ministry we can’t avoid facing challenges, opposition, hardship and difficulties. The devil is uneasy to see us growing in our spiritual lives with God. In order to stop us from growing in God, he will load on us as many difficulties as he can. Our downfall will begin to take place when we take things negatively. We can see from Adam and Eve’s example, that each of them kept accusing the other for causing their fall [Genesis 3 ]. Brothers and sisters, being positive in everything we do will help us to keep from becoming depressed when serving in God’s ministry.

 

Let us teach ourselves to see things positively; to look at every aspect in our lives positively; and to take the initiative to get rid of all negative thoughts from our mind. Negative thoughts will keep us in difficulty. It also causes in us “bitterness, anger, hatred and loneliness”. That is why we need to think positively in everything we do. By having this good attitude we can enjoy serving in God’s ministry.

 

Secondly, positive thoughts will enable us to work well with others. A division will start to take place in the church when our feelings are led by negative thoughts.  Let us rid ourselves of all negative thoughts which may control us. The reason I say this is because, negative thoughts will hinder us from working well with others.  It will also cause us to mistrust others. That is why we need to teach ourselves to think positively in everything we do. Positive thoughts will enable us to work well with others.

 

Unity can last if we have positive thoughts about others. That is why the Bible reminds us “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” [Philippians 2:3-4 ]. The reason why we should think others are better than us is so that we do not fall into the sin of pride or selfishness. To stop ourselves from falling into this sin we have to be positive in everything we do. Otherwise we will allow ourselves to become arrogant. Being positive will make us better able to work with others. This will also help us to build up a trusting relationship with others and make it a joyful experience for them to work with us.

 

Thirdly, positive thoughts will help us to be mindful of the value of others in God’s Ministry. Many times we don’t look at a person in a positive light; rather our views can be quite negative. I too have fallen into this sin many times. That is why I dare to share all this with you. Whenever we look at the negative side of someone, we are automatically led into the sin of pride. Our mind will limit God’s power in using others as He uses us. In a team, we need to teach ourselves to values others even though they may not be doing well. How do we appreciate them? By valuing their labour, effort and presence.

 

I want to share one of my experiences in Bible school. As a lecturer in Bible school, the chance of falling into the sin of favoritism is very great. One morning during my devotion, God clearly rebuked me about my sin of favoritism. Prior to that I was unaware that I had built up the spirit of anger, rejection and rebelliousness in my student’s heart. I chose a student to follow me on an outside ministry based on my own tests. For those who always caused difficulties to me I didn’t want to include them, I always harboured negative thoughts about them.  Because of God’s graciousness to me, He rebuked me so that my attitude would change. From that moment I repented and changed my attitude to thinking of everyone as important in the eyes of God. I began to value them.

 

Only with God’s help can we value others. Because to God every one of us is special and no one is better than another. See in 1 Corinthians 12:21-26 :

“The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" ²²On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it”.

 

To conclude my sharing I would like to highlight a passage from Philippians 4:8-9 . It says “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you”.

 

“God gave us individual talents and spiritual gifts so that we can work together as a body. There are no unimportant members in the body of Christ”. Julie Ackerman

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