ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD!
Sotero Sonza
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I believe that “all things work together for good to those who love God,, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). During the feast, we learned from a brother from the south of the country some interesting revelation.
He related that sometime in 2001 the elder in charge of a church of God for the whole Philippines suggested me to those higher up to help him in the Iloilo church, he being based in another island. To his dismay an older man was chosen by the American regional director as local elder for Iloilo. Being humble and submissive, he never complained but related this to our brother from Davao, that his suggestion should have been considered because it was he who knew the members of his jurisdiction. Apparently, he said that some sort of maneuvering had happened.
In a sort of consolation on my part I was ordained deacon together with the older man as local elder. The position I held faithfully until now innocent of the behind the scene happenings.
When confronted by the brethren regarding the lost opportunity, my reply was, no opportunity was lost. Instead, I thank God for His intervention that I was not made local elder for if it happened that I was ordained elder, the possibility of my being in the Church of God, In Truth now would be nil.
To be in God's Church is worth everything that a man could ask for. This is the “Pearl of Great Price.” Therefore, I now believe that “...all things work for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Now I also believe God has called me for a purpose, so, in all my ways I'll acknowledge Him and He will direct my path.
I marked a verse in chapter 20 of the Acts of the Apostles, that reads,”Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood”(Acts 20:28). That verse hit me as a personal command from God, but later realized the message was for all of us here in the Philippines. We understand that the apostle Paul was the apostle to the gentiles as he said in Romans 11:13, “For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry.” The apostle is speaking spiritually to all gentiles reminding all to heed [Strong's# 4337, prosecho, pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to] to ourselves first and then to the members that God had called. This is our command! The Church of God, In Truth is just forming in this part of the world, we who were called ahead are given this commission to attend to, and to shepherd the flock of God in our jurisdiction.
If the Holy Spirit opened our minds to be serious about our calling and our obligation, the physical children of Israel are also being admonished by the apostle Peter and the elders of the Church of God, In Truth are being admonished, “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over these entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” ( 1 Peter 5:1-4).
“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints” (Col 1:26).