We are to make decisions ourselves instead of asking for signs or leaving them up to the discretion of the ministers! Such was Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider’s appeal. Nevertheless, a mature Christian will allow himself to be led by the Holy Spirit. How does that work?
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Photo: NAK Nordrhein-Westfalen
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Photo: NAK Nordrhein-Westfalen
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Photo: NAK Nordrhein-Westfalen
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Photo: NAK Nordrhein-Westfalen
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Photo: NAK Nordrhein-Westfalen
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Photo: NAK Nordrhein-Westfalen
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Photo: NAK Nordrhein-Westfalen
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Photo: NAK Nordrhein-Westfalen
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Photo: NAK Nordrhein-Westfalen
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Photo: NAK Nordrhein-Westfalen
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Photo: NAK Nordrhein-Westfalen
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Photo: NAK Nordrhein-Westfalen
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Photo: NAK Nordrhein-Westfalen
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Photo: NAK Nordrhein-Westfalen
“Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.” The divine service on 30 August 2015 in Tbilisi in Georgia was based on this Bible text from 2 Thessalonians 3: 5. Some 200 members from all around the nation as well as the neighbouring country of Azerbaijan took part.
Goal and will
God has a goal. “He wants to redeem us. That is the work that He desires to complete,” explained the Chief Apostle. “In this work of redemption it is all about you—all about you personally. And anything that applies to you also applies to me and to our neighbour.”
“God always leaves decisions up to us. He never wants to force us into anything. You and I are absolutely free. We can decide what we wish to do.” Nevertheless, “He desires to lead us. He speaks to our hearts. Through His word He shows us the love of God and the patience of Christ.”
Love and patience
As examples, Chief Apostle Schneider listed three points by way of which the Holy Spirit shows us the love of God.
- “In His love, God desires to lead you back into fellowship with Himself.”
- “Out of love for mankind, God came to the earth in Jesus Christ in order to serve.”
- “God gives us this for free, out of pure grace. — No human being is good enough to deserve this.”
The Chief Apostle likewise listed three points with regard to the patience of Christ:
- “Jesus Christ died for you. But it is because He loves you that He endured until the end.”
- “In His love, God gave His Son the strength and help that He needed.”
- “Even when human beings are unfaithful, God remains faithful and continues to help them.”
A good foundation
Now it is up to us as human beings to make our own decisions using the free will God has given us. “God expects us to be mature children of God.” There are many, he said, who may desire to do the will of God, but ultimately leave the decision up to someone or something else, be it a random page in the Bible or the point of view of a minister.
“This is immature,” explained Chief Apostle Schneider. After all, anyone who acts in this manner abdicates his own responsibility. “We are to make the decision ourselves. But we are to do this by thinking about the love of God and the patience of Christ. And then we will make the right decision.”
Good decisions
The Chief Apostle listed the following as good decisions made on this foundation:
- “I want to serve God because I love Him.”
- “I will love my neighbour because he is so valuable to God.”
- “Then we will look for the right kind of help”—and ask God, “Please also give me the strength to bear my cross.”
- “Then we will also endure to the end.”
- “Then we will also be patient with our neighbour.”
“Those who make such decisions will come closer to God.”