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Firstly, God delights to let His children partner with Him in His work. We can be His instruments in helping others – no matter how insignificant we may think we are. God can work through you if you are “FAT\u201d, that is, Faithful, Available and Teachable. And in the process, you grow in faith!\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Secondly, through Ananias, Saul was able to connect with the disciples in Damascus and experience the love of God through His people. There is no one-person church or stand-alone believer in God\u2019s kingdom. As much as Saul was well versed in Scriptures and zealous for God, he needed to be part of God\u2019s Family in order \u201cto comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge\u201d (Eph 3:18-19)\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The role of Ananias in Saul\u2019s conversion might seem small, but it was significant. How can we be like Ananias – to touch another life for the Lord, in simple obedience and with gentleness?\u202f\u00a0 Daniel 11:32 says: \u201cThe people who know their god shall stand firm and take action.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Daniel and his friends, they knew they were taken into captivity because of God\u2019s purpose \u2013 that God was the one who gave them into the hand of Babylonian king (Daniel 1:2). God also gave them favour and compassion in the eye of their enemy (1:9) and God gave them learning and skills (1:17). They understood that God is the One who reigns and raises up kings and removes kingdoms.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though they had to serve in an ungodly kingdom, they did not follow the way of the ungodly (1:8). When they were told to worship the king\u2019s golden image or refrain from praying to the Lord, they stood firm in faith and did not compromise despite threats to their lives (3:16-18; 6).\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because they knew God wanted them to be His catalyst for righteousness in the world and to speak His truth to the ungodly, they did not shrink from delivering God\u2019s word when being asked and they served their appointed roles in Babylonian kingdom with an excellent spirit such that even their enemies could not find fault (6:3-4).\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n We too are called to be God\u2019s agents of change in this world to shine as light, to be in the world but not of the world. It starts from knowing God and aligning ourselves to His purpose.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n As parents and educators, we have the privilege to help our children know God and discover their God-given potential.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps some of them will grow up to be like Daniel, or like Ananias, to proclaim God\u2019s truth and impact many lives. We may not see the fruits immediately but as we faithfully sow seeds of truth and water them with love, let us trust God for the harvest to come!\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n How would you react if you hear someone say bad things about Jesus? Would you be seething with anger if your friends make fun of your faith as a Christian? Our first instinct when someone provokes us is usually to lash out using harsh words or rough actions. You may be thinking, “What\u2019s wrong with that?” After all you are defending Jesus and your faith.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus doesn’t want us to defend him and our faith using violence or harsh words. He wants us to stand firm in our faith and defend him with love and gentleness. Choosing to respond in love and gentleness when we are provoked is not easy. However, we have the Holy Spirit in us which we can call on to help us. Every day, let us choose to stand firm in our faith in love and gentleness.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Know God, stand firm and take action \n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6019,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[61,195],"class_list":{"0":"post-6016","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-devotional","8":"tag-devotional","9":"tag-gentleness","10":"cs-entry","11":"cs-video-wrap"},"yoast_head":"\n
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We can look to another example in the Bible \u2013 Daniel.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ourlearningjourney.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Screenshot-2024-06-11-at-10.34.41-AM-1024x752.png\")
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Reflect and Respond<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Read with your child<\/h3>\n\n\n\n