Practical application Course 3 & 4_website - Kanaan Ministries

A NOTE TO COUNSELLORS
YOU ARE THE TESTIMONY
God is teaching us about entering into His rest. Once we realize the freedom which we
find in serving Him, we will be truly efficient as workers in His Kingdom.
We should not try to “perform” (i.e. be motivated by fear), but let God's love motivate our
efforts.
Somehow there is a deeply rooted perception that our achievements determine who we
are, i.e. a pastor shepherding a fairly large church with all its programs running smoothly,
would be regarded as a successful pastor.
Or, if you are earning a good income to supply in all the material needs of your family,
you would be regarded as a success in the eyes of the world.
Eventually you end up with a never-ending list of things which you feel compelled to do in
order to "qualify" - keeping your home spotless, jogging 10 kilometers or praying for 10
hours daily, etc…
If this is how one sees life, one could get caught up in a pattern of continuous
competition, trying to please everybody of significance, for example Mom, Dad, the
Boss, my Pastor, God, or myself.
Whenever we testify, we always say what "we" have done for God, without realizing that
we are in fact justifying ourselves instead of glorifying God.
Dear fellow-pilgrim, this represents a misconception concerning the Christian Walk,
since it is based upon and motivated by our own religious pride (own achievement) as
well as by fear of rejection if we should fail to “perform”.
This is not the freedom unto which God has called us.
Your value is not determined by what you can do for God; what we are, is because of
what He, in His great Mercy and Compassion, has chosen to do in us through Jesus.
We are the living-proof of the fact that Jesus lives and reigns as King of the Universe.
Jesus, who initiated the good work in us, will also complete it (Phil. 1:6). He transforms
us from being lost, rejected and filled with fear, unto the glorious position of redeemed
sons and daughters of the Living God - new creations in Christ.
The testimony of Jesus is the work which He has done and is still doing in us. By the
power of His Love we are daily being transformed into the image of Christ. This
self-imposed labour of love has its beginning and end in Jesus.
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