¿Cómo sabes si tienes un amigo(a) verdadero?

“Son más confiables las heridas del que ama, que los falsos besos del que aborrece.”

 -Proverbios 27:6 RVC

 ironsharpensiron555x268

¿Usted ha sido herido por un amigo(a)? ¿Cómo se siente? A nadie le gusta oír cosas desagradables sobre a sí mismo. Pero, si tienes un amigo(a), esa persona va a ser honesto contigo y te va decir la verdad (aunque te duela). Sinceridad es una cualidad importante a buscar en amigos. Un amigo(a) sincero siempre te dirá las cosas tal como son, porque se preocupan por ti y te aman. Y ese amigo(a) no tiene miedo de decirte la verdad, porque sabe que te hace más daño a no decirte la verdad. El no tiene miedo de perder tu amistad, porque el se preocupa más por tu bienestar. El sabe que al final del día, te resienten más por no ser real con ellos que por decir la verdad (no importa lo feo que puede ser). El amigo(a) real sabe que adulación (definida como alabanza excesiva o insincero) perjudicará a más largo plazo. Proverbios 29:5 RVC dice, ” El que prodiga lisonjas a su prójimo sólo está tendiéndole una trampa.”. Adulación lastima las personas más que la verdad, porque les da una vista de aire inflado de sí mismos. Un ego sobrevaluado perjudicará a una persona más que la verdad, porque piensan más de sí mismos de la que debieran. Romanos 12:3 RVC dice, “Por la gracia que me es dada, digo a cada uno de ustedes que no tenga más alto concepto de sí que el que debe tener, sino que piense de sí con sensatez, según la medida de fe que Dios repartió a cada uno.” Por supuesto, no hay nada malo con felicitar a un amigo(a), si es verdad y usted sinceramente quiere compartirlo con su amigo(a). Pero, si encuentra a un “amigo(a)” a quien solo elogios y alabanzas le da, debe de tomar precaution. Tal vez, esa persona no es un amigo(a) verdadero. Si ese individuo es siempre de acuerdo con sus opiniones, motivos (quizá egoístas) y acciones; que dé usted aún más razón debe evaluar su “amistad” con esa persona. Sin embargo, si encuentras a un amigo(a) que le dice las cosas tal como son, entonces eres afortunado de haber encontrado a un verdadero(a) amigo(a). En ese caso, debe ser receptivo de lo que tiene que decir. Proverbios 17:10 RVR (1960) dice, ” La reprensión aprovecha al entendido, Más que cien azotes al necio. “. Le advierto, sin embargo, que no siempre es fácil oír la verdad. Sin embargo, ser capaz de tomar franca reprende, exhortación, crítica (constructiva), y consejo de un amigo(a) real no sólo fortalece/mejora tu relación con ellos, sino también fortalece/mejora a ti como individuo. Proverbios 27:17 RVR (1995) dice, ” El hierro con hierro se afila, y el hombre con el rostro de su amigo(a).” Un amigo(a) va a empujarte a la mejor versión de ti.

“Amor puede perdonar todas las enfermedades (debilidades) y amar aún a pesar de ellos: pero amor no puede dejar de querer su eliminación.”

 – C.S. Lewis

Señor Jesúcristo, por favor darnos el discernimiento para saber la diferencia entre un amigo(a) real y un amigo(a) falso. Por favor, darnos todo lo necesario para ser totalmente receptivo a lo que tienen que decir. Y, por favor, ayúdanos a ser amigo(a) reales, que “afilan” (mejoran) los que nos rodean. Amén.

 

 

 

How to be Ambitious Without Falling into a Trap

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”  

-Matthew 16:24-26 NIV

tightrope

What does it mean to deny yourself? I think denying yourself means being willing to give up your life desires and ambitions. What are ambitions and aren’t they good? 1 Thessalonians 4: 9-11 NIV says, “Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other…. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life…” This is a very different picture of ambition than what the world paints for us. The world portrays ambition as aggressively pursuing riches, power, and recognition. It almost justifies chasing after earthly ambitions or relentlessly climbing the corporate latter: not stopping until you have the best job, the best house, the best car, the best of everything, and all of the fame and admiration from the those around us. But, God didn’t intend it to be that way. God gave us gifts and talents to bring Him glory by pleasing Him and serving others. 2 Corinthians 5:9 NASB says, “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.” God gave us passion and drive to use our talents for His glory, not just for our own gain. Of course we need to work to provide for ourselves and our families, but He doesn’t want us to become so caught up in our talents and our abilities, that we fail to remember where they came from. This reminds me of walking on a tightrope. We need to be ambitious, but not so ambitious that our goals, jobs, accomplishments, and fame become more important to us than serving God and others. But, I do understand that sometimes humans fall into the trap of using their gifts and talents to gain recognition, approval, and/or attention from others. And in these cases, if others cease to give us that attention, we end up feeling empty, unappreciated, unsatisfied, insecure, and/or angry. But, we never should have been relying on other people’s approval in the first place (we were mistaken into seeking human approval over God’s approval).

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”- Galatians 1:10 NIV

Furthermore, Philippians 2:3 NIV says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” We must strive to use our work and ministries as an opportunity to bring glory to God and improve the well being of other’s lives.

“My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise—Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame”

-Hillsong United

Dear Lord Jesus, please help us to use Your gifts and talents to bring You glory. Please help us not to use your gifts solely to receive recognition, praise, and approval from others. Help us to remember, that You gave us unique gifts and talents to serve You, and not solely for our own gain. Amen.

 

 

How do you say the word “forgive” in American Sign Language?

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

-1 John 1:9 NIV

This week, we are having Vacation Bible School at my church. The children are learning a song with American Sign Language (ASL) signs, that mentions the word, “forgive.” I remember learning this word in the past. I’ve always thought the word was very meaningful in American Sign Language.
hands ASL IMG_5984

To do the sign for the word “forgive” you must: “Hold left hand in front of you, palm upward with fingers pointing away. Hold right hand with palm facing down and brush fingers across left hand, starting at palm and moving toward fingertips. Repeat motion a few times.” (“ASL Dictionary of Religious Signs.”) The motion done reminds me of something being wiped away or erased. And, that’s exactly what God does. He wipes away (expunges) all of our sins forever.

“Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.”

– Acts 3:19 NLT 

“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake,                    And I will not remember your sins.

-Isaiah 43:25 ASV 

 References:

 “ASL Dictionary of Religious Signs.” Deaf Missions:. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Aug. 2016. http://www.deafmissions.com/?PageID=18&SubpageID=27

“The Lord’s Prayer.” The Lord’s Prayer. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Aug. http://www.geocities.ws/frankcchurch/lordsprayer.html