Many people reject religion because they do not understand what they are rejecting.  True religion is about one thing:  a Divine Relationship.  This divine relationship begins when we invite God into our lives with faith and trust and that relationship grows as God nurtures us with His love day-by-day.   Our divine relationship with God influences our relationships with one another; it influences our priorities and choices; in short it influences our entire life purpose.

Jesus calls Himself the vine.  He says: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”  John 15:5

Our relationship with Jesus Christ, Our God who came down from heaven to become Man, is all about trust and intimacy.  Jesus wants us to believe in Him and to Trust in Him knowing that He will never abandon us. Jesus wants us to trust in His mercy and to come to Him for forgiveness and healing. Jesus wants us to know Him and to follow Him and we can only know Him through His Word as revealed in the biblical scriptures.   Jesus wants nothing less than an intimate relationship with us, such that we walk with Him moment-by-moment every day of our lives, discerning His will and doing His will.

Jesus Christ is Our Lord and Saviour.  To reject Our Lord and Saviour is to reject the source of our existence and the destiny of our souls.  If all people could look into the eternal horizon and see eternity it would be easy to discern the importance of every choice we make in this lifetime.  All people are God’s precious possessions and God wills to save each and every soul.  Those of us with faith have a responsibility towards those without faith.

Let’s reflect on this responsibility as we consider are we doing all we can to help God in His plan of salvation?

For the past two years I have been suffering more than I ever have in my life.  If you are willing, please pray for me.  I am offering my pain to Jesus in the hope that He might take my suffering and use it for good in His plan of salvation.  I am also hoping and praying for the restoration of my health so that I may give God even greater glory.  Either way I love Him and accept His will.

I recall the Words of St. Paul “Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.”  Colossians 1:24

Let’s reflect on what St. Paul is and isn’t saying.

Firstly St. Paul isn’t saying that there is anything missing in the atoning power of the sacrifice of Our Lord.

St. Paul declared:

“For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.  He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone…”1 Timothy 2:6.

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2.

“Christ…offered one sacrifice for sins, an offering that is effective forever, and then he sat down at the right side of God.”  Hebrews 10:12.

So if the sacrifice of Jesus Christ atones for all sin, then what did St. Paul see as ‘lacking’?

I believe what was lacking in the days of Christ and in our current day is faith and repentance.  Jesus died to offer us the ‘gift of salvation’.  His Passion and Death opened for us the promise of forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life, but it did not instantly bring people to repentance and faith.

All believers are called to fight for souls and when we do we carry them to Jesus, Our Lord, so they can receive the gift of salvation.  St. Paul was suffering to bring souls to Jesus.  He was suffering to help them to believe, to repent and to be baptized into a divine relationship with Jesus Christ.  In short, St. Paul was suffering to help form the Church, a body of believers, that would live God’s message to love as He first loved us.

All believers are called to continue the work of building up the Church (the body of believers) and we do this through our prayers, by witnessing to God’s love and serving God in any way we are called.  This of course is only accomplished as we live in the Divine Relationship with Jesus Christ allowing Him to work through us and help Him to convert souls.

To assist God in His plan of salvation, let us offer everything to God:  our sufferings, our joys, our hopes, our good deeds, our prayers, our trust, our every moment and every day. Let us offer God our remorse for our sins and let us pray that He will receive our life offering for His glory and for the salvation of souls.  Let us forgive others as He has forgiven us and let us pray without ceasing that we remain ever united to Him, in a divine intimate relationship that will bear fruit.

The name Jesus means “God saves”.  There is only One Saviour, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our salvation.  We who believe are called to assist Jesus in His plan by surrendering our lives to God for His pure satisfaction.

Let us live persistently discerning are we doing enough to give God glory?

I would like to invite you to join a global prayer movement that is uniting believers of Jesus Christ in prayer and remembrance of His Passion and Sacrifice every day at the Time Jesus died for us, 3pm (in your local time zone or any time zone that is convenient for you to pray).  We call this prayer movement The Mercy Movement because we are uniting to pray for God’s mercy and for a dramatic, positive change in our world through the Holy Spirit that moves peacefully and powerfully in the hearts of those that will receive God’s love with faith and hope.

Jesus said to St. Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” … To this St. Paul responded:  “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

We are God’s followers and we are called to live in a divine relationship so God can work through us and create the change He wants to see in the world.  Although we are small and weak, He is infinite and all powerful.  Let us trust in God’s awesome power and love.  The world is in need of God’s endless mercy.  Rejoice in His love for you!  Give Him everything!