Heluhelu Baibala/Bible Reading

Mai noho ʻoukou a hoʻohālike me ko ke ao nei; akā, e hoʻopāhaʻohaʻo ʻoukou ma ke ʻano hou ʻana o ko ʻoukou naʻau, i hoʻomaopopo ʻoukou i ko ke Akua makemake, ka pono, ka hōʻoluʻolu, a me ka hemolele.- Roma 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.- Romans 12:2
 
He Manaʻo o ke Kahu Kalani Wong, KS Maui
The final Christian Education assignment for the KS Maui seniors is to write a devotional that will provide a lesson or insight into how ke Akua has been a part of their lives.  I ask them to write it for those who are coming up after them as an encouragement to keep striving.  As we discuss possible topics, the haumāna feel they have nothing to write about, nothing that anyone would be interested in.  So, I remind them about when they were going through a difficult time and what some of the emotions they were struggling with. Then I help them to see where they are now and how they had God by their side all that time.  That’s when they realize just how much they’ve grown, how much they have matured, all under the watchful eye of God.

Life begins when we have an open mind and can see beyond our limited vision, to be able to grow in ways that spur us to be people who thirst for more knowledge, more wisdom, more life.  This means that we renew our minds so we can have a fresh approach to all that is around us.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee who came to Jesus one night about how he could do these signs unless God was with him.  Jesus told him, “ “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?”  Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ “ (John 3:4-7).  Nicodemus was limited in his view of what God intended for everyone.  He didn’t have an open mind to grow in his faith though he was a religious leader.

In the book of Acts, we read about what happened when people’s minds were open to truly living life in a new way, “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46-47)  This first church was able to truly be the body of Christ as they viewed life through transformed hearts.  Take time to have that growth mindset which takes you beyond your limited view of life and see the beauty of what God has in store for you.

TAGS
our faith,daily devotional,christian values

CATEGORIES
Kaipuolono Article, Themes, Culture, Community, Hawaii Newsroom, KS Hawaii Home, Kapalama Newsroom, Kapalama Home, Maui Newsroom, KS Maui Home, Newsroom, Kapalama, Maui, Preschools, Faith, Hawaii campus, Kapalama campus, Maui campus

Print with photos Print text only