In the Gospel today we are told, Christ healed a Blind man. The question of sin came up in the Gospel account, who sinned? And Jesus’ answer was “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”
You have enormous potential in your life, to achieve all you desire to be, the works of God. Jesus then went on to say, “as long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Every aspect of our life, should be a reflection of our faith in Christ, Who is the Light of our life.
Potential is a gift from God, and it’s one that—with some effort—you can grow and maximize. You can begin this journey by taking full advantage of these 6 principles: inclination, inspiration, influence, innovation, initiative and instruction, as long as God is guiding you. You must be setting your sights and life, on God, in order to see, what He has in store for you; if you are praying daily, reading Scripture daily, reading the lives of the Saints, then your far-reaching Godly Potential, through Christ’s strength, will and can be achieved.
Yes, that means, being totally devoted to Jesus the Christ, in every day and hour of your life. Submitting your will to His Will, and if you truly, and that is key, if you are Truly His, then you will reach your full potential, just as the Blind man did in today’s Gospel, when he was healed and Glorified God Almighty.
So let’s take a quick look at these 6 considerations, and attempt to see how they can fit into our world:
Inclination. Allow your natural gifts and talents to develop and mature. We each have them, and we find our highest place of usefulness, when we put them to use. Embrace what you’ve been given, and steer away from imitating others who may have different gifts than yours. Yes, God given gifts and talents, not our own desires and wishes. If we embrace Him, He will lead us to Him and away from others.
Inspiration. Look for inspiration in others who have your best interest at heart. They can be a great source of encouragement on your pathway to purification, to come to a Likeness of Jesus. You shouldn’t allow other people’s fears or negative opinions, prevent you from fulfilling God’s Will in your life. So who are these others who should inspire us? Our Orthodox Saints – read about their lives, daily. Don’t listen to others who do not understand where you are at, in your walk with God, those non-believers, who think they know better, however, they have no idea.
Influence. Seek out people who can provide wise counsel and who have the capacity to influence you in molding your character, development and behavior. The Apostle James tells us, “5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Find those who see the best in you, when others look for the worst. Allow yourself to be influenced by Orthodox individuals who will ignite the fortitude, you need to succeed in life. Orthodox Christians who are leading an Orthodox life, leading toward God.
Innovation. Look for new ways of doing things. Look to your Orthodox friends, your Church family, and family members who are Orthodox, who are willing to assist you in seeking Godly ways to achieve your goals and reach your full, God given potential. And don’t give up, when encountering closed doors. Instead, find Orthodox options, to achieving your goals which should be in line with the Will of God for your life. Come to Church and participate in worshipping God, with your family.
Initiative. Don’t wait for someone to push you. Learn to encourage yourself, push forward. You can make the most of your potential if you’re willing to look inward, self-reflection, and take advantage of your own resourcefulness and drive. Another words, Repentance and receiving the Sacraments, such as the Eucharist.
Instruction. Be willing to learn and receive instruction in areas where you’re unfamiliar. If you’re inexperienced with something, don’t hesitate to receive counsel from competent Orthodox Christians who have experience and expertise in those areas. This is not your peers. These should be ones who have been Orthodox and leading their life in an Orthodox manner, for many years, not a babe in the Faith. Proverbs 13:20 states, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.”
Your Spiritual Father and your godparent/sponsor, wish to share their knowledge and wisdom, gained by years of prayer and God leading them. Without proper instruction and guidance, you can find yourself wasting time. Maximizing your potential through instruction, means more than seeking help from those who are wise, informed and familiar with what you need, you must also be teachable.
A quick thought on godparents/sponsors — if you are working toward being Baptized, you need to find someone who has been Orthodox for a number of years, and has demonstrated they are truly living an Orthodox life, not just someone who comes to church and sounds good, but one who is actively confirming their life in Christ on a daily basis for a number of years.
These six principles will help you maximize your potential and allow you to see Spiritual fruit from your efforts with confidence. A farmer plows the field but still needs rain to get a harvest. It’s in the same manner that your labors will be in vain, if you aren’t willing to seek and receive the benefits from these 6 Godly principles.
