101. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. He was melted in the crucible.
24 January 2021
Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons
1 Timothy 3
10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
1 Timothy 4
8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
A crucible is a melting pot used for extremely hot chemical reactions — the crucible needs to be melt-proof. Literally, a crucible is a vessel used for very hot processes, like fusing metals. Another meaning of the word is a very significant and difficult trial or test.
Let me share my reflection 8 October 2017 which I have updated.
"Crucible. Tested to come forth as gold.
1 Timothy 3
6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.
Apostle Paul emphasized the fullness of time, ripeness in time.
Following 1 Timothy 4:8 above.
1 Timothy 4
9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.
10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.
Moses, after living and being educated as a Prince of Egypt for 40 years, spent the next 40 years as a shepherd in Midian before reluctantly obliging to God's command for him to bring the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. The Israelites stayed in the wilderness for 40 years before entering the Promised Land.
Apostle Paul after his encounter with the Risen Lord, went on exile to Arabia for 3 years and back home in Tarsus for 7 years before being sought out by Barnabas to be missionary to the Gentiles, later planted churches of the 1st century and wrote much part of the New Testament through severe persecution, imprisonment, and then he was martyred.
"Lord, I know I must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts (Psalm 139:23). Lord, I must always remember "I shall have no other gods before You" (Exodus 20:3). I must "Love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength and with all my mind" (Luke 10:27). Lord, I must "Watch my life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if I do, I will save both myself and my hearers" and "Be diligent in these matters; give myself wholly to them, so that everyone may see my progress" (1 Timothy 4:16,15). Lord, You know the way that I take; when You have tested me, may I come forth as gold (Job 23:10); purify my heart by Your Spirit, may You find me faithful, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.""
Proverbs 27
21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but people are tested by their praise.
It's great to be considered a "self-made" man.
Sharing here in part the devotion I had during church prayer in May 2020.
"Helpless, that's what I did not want experiencing while growing up and when I started to have my family.
I wanted to stand on my own feet.
But later in life, I changed paradigm. I embraced the life of being helpless, contradicting that of being totally dependent on my ability, I would say my God-given ability.
Married and starting to have children, back then I was doing well in my job. Took a loan to build our house, the children going to private school.
Everything in life seems to be in the proper place.
Until things changed for the worst, things went upside down.
I was out of work. At age 37 and 40, twice I was separated from employment.
At the start there was money from the separation pay.
Until in a span of 5 years, in gaps, half of that period I was not earning. I defaulted on payment for the housing loan and the property was to be taken by the bank. The cars were gone.
I was getting crazy. The children were to start college. I was at my wit's end. I suffered severe stomach spasms due to depression and was sleepless and restless.
I shied away from family and friends.
A friend of my wife, Marlou, said a pastor will be visiting me at home in Lipa. I was trying to resist because I know Christians do away with images, I had a sacred heart image I bought from Paete Laguna. I needed to be able to open up with somebody and I obliged. Pastor Dan visited me, and later we together with our children started to attend Lipa Bible Christian Church.
Cutting short, I was able to get back a job offer which had suddenly disappeared about two years earlier. I recovered, l learned to cry out for help. The Lord heard my prayer, the prayer of my heart, wordless, groaning, ungol, luha kasama ang sipon. I became a born again Christian at age 44.
During that period of crisis, the Lord provided for college for my three children, in tuition fees that should be more than a million pesos. Our two daughters went to Ateneo all the while that I was not earning. Family and in-laws and friends are God-sent for help. I am forever grateful to them, and my prayer is that Lord continue to bless their kind hearts.
That humbling experience made me affectionate of love ones. I did not grow up expressive, yet it became so easy for me to hug Tatay and Inay, my siblings, my in-laws.
At the hospital, weeks before my father-in-law passed away, I took his hand and I said if I can pray and he nodded. I said, Lord maraming salamat kay Daddy because when I had no work, he never said, Picoy saan ka kukuha ng ipagpaaral ng mga anak mo. I thank the Lord for those unspoken words I could have heard from Daddy. My mother-in-law was hearing my prayer and she was in tears my wife told me later.
The house was gone to pay off debts. We have no house. The words of the Lord Jesus is contentment enough for me. In My father's house there are many mansions, I look forward to that mansion.
Let me read part of Lamentations 3.
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
My children became Christians on their own choice. I thank God for that, if I will go through such affliction again I would not decline for the Lord restored my life.
From what I have shared, I suggest you read the Book of Job.
Admittedly we are all helpless amidst the pandemic. Helplessness is a cue to prayer. To call upon the God who made the heavens and the earth."
Proverbs 17
3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but the Lord tests the heart.
One day, my children's children will say, "Wala ka sa Lolo ko. He was melted in the crucible."
Be blessed. May you find encouragement with God's Word.
Maraming salamat.
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