CHPL 598 week one response
Hello, Heather, I agree with you that God expects obedience and humility from His followers. Our obedience to God shows recognition of His sovereignty. When an individual agrees to follow God, it means that one has dedicated his life to let go of all the worldly pleasures and live for God’s glory. Failing to obey God will not allow one to witness the blessings and miracles of God. Our relationship with God was compromised after the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. However, God is concerned with man, and he has offered us a way to regain our relationship with Him. The sovereignty of God is shown by His sacrifice to send His only son Jesus Christ so that we could gain salvation. It is through seeking forgiveness and praying through Jesus that our relationship with God will be renewed. It is only through spiritual maturity that individuals can effectively face the challenges and interact with God. Individuals without spiritual maturity face difficulties when given leadership roles. God’s sovereignty can be witnessed when one has matured spiritually because of self-understanding. When serving others, it is essential to understand your strengths and weaknesses while also recognizing that God is powerful and will enlighten you.
Hello Seth, I agree with your provision that we are expected to give our all body to God. One cannot say to know o understand God’s work while their actions contradict the provisions in the scriptures. Hence it is essential to give ourselves altogether to experience and witness the work of God. The work of chaplains is challenging because they serve in the diverse community, as highlighted by Dr.Keith and Dr. Davidson. Self-discipline is paramount for chaplains to effectively deliver God’s message and enhance growth in the Kingdom of God. The work of chaplains requires self-understanding and emotional stability. Dedicating our life to serve God means that we will obey and trust in God for guidance in all decision making. You have also highlighted the fact that, as humans, we are imperfect. The scriptures portray Jesus as a sinless despite living amongst men. It is through seeking forgiveness that we will be able to enter the kingdom of God. The scriptures highlight that it is only through Jesus Christ that we will enter the kingdom of God. Hence seeking forgiveness means that we recognize the sovereignty of God. Spiritual maturity is essential for chaplains to gain self-confidence and approach the challenging conditions.
Hello Patrick, you have had a challenging journey in which a weak heated person would have given up. Thanks to the guidance of God almighty, you have managed to conquer all. Your reflection serves as a motivation to my life because there are circumstances that I find myself in and wonder what God is trying to tell me. You have also highlighted a strong point regarding the sovereignty of God. Unlike humans, God sees things from a different point of view. What we see as evil or bad might be good in the eyes of God. Your divorce, for example, might have been a point where you felt that something was wrong. However, God had other intentions by allowing you to experience the separation. It is important to note that God has a destiny for us no matter what we experience, and our God is God of goodness who will not allow his people to suffer. If God was able to guide the children of Israel through the wilderness despite their transgressions, we have an opportunity to seek forgiveness and guidance to reach our destiny.
Hello Ashley, I agree with your point that God is sovereign, as witnessed in our current situation. The pandemic has taught me that life is short, and we should be thankful for every minute that God grants us. Through prayer, God has managed to safeguard us from contracting the virus and provided the essential workers with the energy and commitment to help others. The work of doctors and nurses with other essential workers shows the importance of obedience in God’s sovereignty. Through their obedience, God has allowed us to receive effective services and reduce the virus’s spread while caring for the needy in society. I also agree with your statement that God comes to our lives when we least expect. Through the sovereignty of God, God shows the best version of us and gives us the strength to overcome the challenges. Witnessing the sovereignty of God starts with one establishing a lasting relationship with God. We are born sinners; hence we should seek forgiveness and align our character towards righteousness. Living righteously shows that we are willing to obey the commands of God and help others to experience the power of God. Like the essential service workers chaplains have also helped people to see that there will be a better tomorrow because pour God never fails.
Hello Cherie, I agree with you that Jesus showed obedience by accepting to take human form. God is sovereign but He has also offered all humans with the free will. It is upon humans to decide whether to obey the calling of God or neglect. A good example is that of Moses and the burning bush which marked the turning point in his life. This incident shows that through obedience we are able to experience the sovereignty of God. It is through obedience that we share the same purpose with God and allow Him to use us to achieve His mission. You have also highlighted that forgiveness causes a shift in lens of an individual on the authority of God. It is through the perception from such lens that one will recognize the power of God and trust that God wishes the best in their life. On the point regarding spiritual maturity, you have highlighted that it is the individual who is impacted rather than the sovereignty of God. It is however crucial to remember that God expresses his work through humans as seen in various instances in the scriptures. We are the representatives of God on earth that is why Jesus had to be in human form for God to work on Him. An individual who is matured spiritually will seek guidance from God and help in growing the Kingdom of God.