It was late November of 2016, while I was living in South Korea, when I recommitted my life back to God.
I was truly broken over my sins and at a spiritual rock bottom, as I remember wondering, "How did I get to this point, where I have strayed so far from God?" I questioned if I even really knew God to begin with. That was the first time in my life that I truly understood the meaning of repentance and the gospel became truly evident to me as “Good News.” It was also at this point in my life that I completely surrendered to God’s will and God’s way. In that season it was as though God hit the reset button on my walk with Him, as I was unlearning and relearning and renewing my mind in His word daily. And it’s not that I have arrived now, because I am still growing and learning, because after all, this is a journey.
That chapter in South Korea was indeed a monumental one for me.
It had always been a dream of mine, ever since elementary school, to be a teacher and this was my very first role in the field; coupled with the fact that this was my first time living on my own in a totally new continent. But, the number one reason I believe Korea was an impactful season in my life was because God really used that opportunity in my life to draw me back to Him, bring me back to His church, and into community with other believers. Overall, God used that season to rebuild me from the inside out. Before then, I was focused on doing different kinds of ministry on my own strength and will, without fully letting God do a work in me or letting God work through me.
I grew up in the church and was involved in different ministries and teams. I did so because I felt like that was what I was supposed to do, and I was trying to do the most without being deeply rooted. In that season, while I was in Korea, everything was new to me and I was far from my typical environment. Nevertheless, God was setting me on a straight and narrow path.
I started to see and understand the importance of knowing who I am in Christ, of walking in my identity in Christ, and becoming all that God has called me to be.
When I think of my journey of becoming and what it means to me, I think of the story of Martha and her sister Mary found in Luke 10. I love how that story is not just a contrast between the two sisters, but also about the one thing that Jesus deems the most important. Martha was busy serving, while Mary was worshiping Jesus. My journey of becoming started with me being like Martha, in the sense that I focused on serving more than anything, but eventually becoming like Mary, in the sense of learning to sit at the feet of Jesus.
In Luke 10:38-42 we see the contrast between the two, “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”
For me a journey of becoming is about prioritizing being at the feet of Jesus and being all that God has called me to be, which translates into doing what He has called me to do.
I call it a journey because it is not something we necessarily arrive at, but rather, a journey of becoming that is always ongoing.
It is a constant renewing of the mind, a process, and a work in progress. It is imperative to know how to serve and how to sit. They are complementary to each other. Sitting at the feet of Jesus equips us to serve Him better, while serving Him requires us to be filled with Him. So much can be gained from sitting at the feet of Jesus such as our purpose, direction, peace, wisdom, and knowing our identity.
I truly believe that when we know who we are in Christ, then we will confidently operate from a place of acceptance, rather than trying to be accepted for our performance.
When we know who we are, then we will know our why, and when we know our why, no matter what happens or how hard it gets, we will overcome in Jesus Christ. A ever-present reminder of this is when Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
My name is Bethel Demeke. I was born in Egypt and grew up in Canada. I was told my name means "House of God," and the promise of God's presence in my life has proved true time and time again. I’m here to love God and love people. I serve in the children’s ministry at my home church at Global Kingdom Ministries in Toronto and host my own blog at ajourneyofbecoming.com.
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