Tagalog Daily Devotion

Companions in the Journey

SCRIPTURE:
1 Mga Taga-Tesalonica 1:2-4

Lagi kaming nagpapasalamat sa Diyos dahil sa inyo at tuwina’y kasama kayo sa aming mga dalangin. Binabanggit namin sa harapan ng ating Diyos at Ama ang inyong mga gawaing bunga ng inyong pananampalataya, ang inyong mga pagpapagal dahil sa inyong pag-ibig, at ang inyong pagtitiis dahil sa inyong pag-asa sa ating Panginoong Jesu-Cristo. Mga kapatid, nalalaman namin na kayo’y pinili ng Diyos na nagmamahal sa inyo.

LESSON:

“We’re pilgrims on the journey of a narrow road,” sabi ng kantang “Find us Faithful” ni Steve Green. Ang pagsunod kay Cristo ay paglalakbay sa makitid at bako-bakong daan. Makitid because Jesus’ teachings are opposite sa values ng mundo. Bako-bako dahil maraming temptations to make us stumble. We live in a world that is either hostile or indifferent toward the Christian faith. Kaya imposibleng tahakin nang nag-iisa ang Christian life.

We need friends who will take this journey of faith with us. Thank God sa kaibigang nag-share sa atin ng Good News of salvation in Christ! Siya rin siguro ang nag-akay sa atin while we took our baby steps of obedience to His Word. Or, baka ibang tao ang ginamit ng Lord. Thank God sa pagdala sa atin sa Bible-believing church that shows us how to follow Jesus in a community context. Here we learn to worship as the Body of Christ—in singing, listening to His Word, praying, and giving.

As we grow in our newfound faith, we discover our inner circle of friends. In this small group, we open our lives to one another. We find a safe place where we can be our truest selves—maaari tayong magpakatotoo without fear of judgment or rejection. Tanggap nila tayo at tanggap natin sila. We learn to listen dahil pinakikinggan din tayo. Nagtutulungan tayo sa personal struggles. We endure in times of trouble dahil “sa ating pag-asa sa Panginoong Jesu-Cristo” (1 Mga Taga-Tesalonica 1:3). And when we have doubts, we seek answers in God’s Word together. Pinagpi-pray natin ang isa’t isa—as a group, and on our own. We discover “how good and pleasant it is when brothers [and sisters] live together in unity” (Psalm 133:1 NIV).

Sino-sino ang companions mo in your faith journey? Pasalamatan mo ang Lord for each of them. Kung wala ka pang friends who share your faith, ask God for them. Also, ask God to make you a friend to a fellow believer.

APPLICATION:

Send a “Thank You” card or private message to one of your friends who share your faith.

PRAYER:

Panginoon, bless me with friends who will be my companion in my journey of faith, and help me to be one. In Jesus name Amen.