John Wycliffe

John Wycliffe - the man who first translated the Bible into English. He had that passion in Him to help people understand the truth. He emphasized that in order for people to understand the truth, one must read the Bible and understand it with their own language. At that time, only the clergy and the people who knew Latin was able to understand the Bible. Wycliffe saw this important need and started translating the Latin Bible into English. I learned in his life that whenever we are dedicated to something we want to do, we will achieve it. Even though it's hard and it would seem like it's impossible, we must not give up. Though he was not able to finish translating the Bible into English, he did not gave up, until he died. After his death, his disciples were able to finish it at last. And that is why we have an English Bible nowadays.

I realized that it is really important to understand the Bible through using a language that one can understand. What John Wycliffe did was truly glorifying to God. Though English is not our primary language, it is still important to translate Bibles into English, because Filipinos understand English. Then they can translate the English Bible into all the languages used in the Philippines.

Just like Wycliffe, I want to let my students understand the truth. That is why when I communicate with my students, I use the language that they can understand. It is really important for them to understand the truth, because if they won't then they will still live their lives in the darkness. I have a plan to go in another country and be a missionary there. First thing I would really do is to learn their language so that they would understand me and I would be able to understand them also. Then I would share to them the truth with the use of their own language. If God wills, one day, I will go to Japan or to Korea and become a missionary.

The Unseen Battle

This week we still tackled about the Crusades and watched a video about it. I learned that people in those times were really pitiful. They were always fighting and killing each other and I cannot imagine how tragic it is to witness something like that happening around me. As  I thought of that, a lot of things were running in my mind. Then I was reminded of a battle. A battle that is not seen. There is indeed a war within the spiritual realms that is happening constantly without us knowing.

Christian life is really not a life full of leisure time or a life in a playground, but is a battle against the evil forces of this world. That's why I was able to evaluate myself if I have been wearing my full armor nowadays. I tend to have time to just relax for everything and not mind about other people. There are times when I just become passive and ignore the conviction of the Holy Spirit within me. And most of the time, I am easily distracted with the worries, fears and doubts that are ringing loudly in my head. But I thank God because He never leaves me nor forsakes me. He is my strength and my shield, my ever present help in times of need and in Him will I only trust.

With the things that I have learned, I will apply it by making sure that I will put on the full armor of God everyday of my life. I will depend on God always and let Him fight the battle for me. Knowing that my life is not a playground, nor a joke that should be taken for granted, I will always remind myself that I must not live my life lightly, nor relaxed, but I must be fervent all the more to serve Jesus because I know that I am brought with a precious price, the blood of Jesus.

Be an Influence

Two lessons that I have learned this week are about St. Basil and about the Crusades. I've learned that St Basil the Great of Cappadocia originally planned to be a lawyer, but because of his sister's influence of monastic life, he became a monk and founded monasteries. I also learned about the crusades and it was interesting to learn what it was about. Their goal was to take Jerusalem, the Holy Land away from the Muslims. In the end, they failed, and the crusade has done no good, it only killed a lot of people. Because of the crusade, the trade increased, and kings gained more power. The knowledge of Muslim culture spread throughout Europe. And because of the crusade, relations between Christians and Jews increasingly strained.  But still, God had a purpose for why that happened. God was not finished with them yet.

Just like St. Basil, I originally planned to take another course, I planned to take up nursing. But because of my sister's influence of being a BTCian, I wanted to become a BTCian too. God has worked in ways I could not perceive at that time, that I was really not able to take up the nursing course. I only realized now that the reason why nursing was discouraged at that time was not only because nurses are very many, but because God wants me to be in BTC and be trained for the ministry He plans to use me. And now, I am graduating as a BTCian and I don't ever regret choosing BTC than nursing.  And I know that God is not finished with me yet. This is just the start of the journey with Him in the ministry He has assigned to me. Now that my preparation years is almost done, I'm truly thankful for God's faithfulness and working in my life. Truly, without Him, I would have nothing else to thank about. It was all by His grace and by His power I was able to endure.

So I have learned that whatever may come in my life, and no matter how strong the trials and temptations are in my life, I won't give up. For I know that God is with me and He won't give up on me also. I will trust and depend on Him on whatever circumstances I will face. I will also use the lessons and trainings that I have learned from BTC in the ministry that He has entrusted to me. I'll apply the knowledge of the Word of God to grow more in Him. Aim also to shine the light that is within me and be able to influence others to shine their light also.