Basilea Schlink shares how recognizing personal pride and embracing God's love can transform relationships and bring true fellowship.
In this heartfelt testimony, Basilea Schlink recounts her personal journey from struggle to transformation within a diverse sisterhood. She reveals how Jesus exposed her pride and enabled her to love her sisters genuinely. Through this story, Basilea emphasizes the power of God's love to break down barriers and calls listeners to embrace unconditional love in their own relationships.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today. If you can witness to his reality in your everyday relationships with people, you are really fortunate. But what if just the opposite is true? Listen to the testimony in today's meditation called How the Turning Point Came.
When I came from Switzerland and entered the sisterhood in 1968, there were sisters from Holland, Finland, Sweden and Germany who also joined the sisterhood at the same time. I'm not a very sociable type, and soon I thought I couldn't live with my sisters from these different countries. The Dutch sisters seemed to me to be so loud, the Finnish sister was so slow, and the Swedish one so inefficient.
And the way my German sisters could talk, how could I ever put up with them? A turning point had to come. But with my nature, it was inconceivable that the problem would ever be solved. Previously, if I didn't like people, I would just stay out of their way.
But here, there was no escape. And then the turning point came. Jesus told me the truth about myself.
He showed me my pride and stubbornness. Now the faults of my sisters no longer bother me. When I look at my own sin of pride, everything else seems insignificant, and I can only be astonished and grateful that my sisters have put up with me for so long.
Now I no longer need to look at the faults of my sisters and let them bother me. No, now I can love my sisters. Only the Lord Jesus could do such a thing.
If He had not set me free, I could never live in a fellowship with other people. Ever anew I praise Him for this wonder. God's love doesn't have any barriers.
He calls to all of us, Come, follow me. Don't erect any barriers between yourself and other people. Don't set a limit to your love, no matter what the other person has done to you.
By doing so, you erect a barrier between yourself and God. Give me. Lord, hear my prayer.
My earnest cry, my plea. That you may soon your image see in me. Give me your love, Lord.
Love comes from you alone. Oh, having saved me, would make me all your own. Lord, love like this give me.
You have been listening to a program written by Basilea Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N dot org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet.
If you do not have access to the web, please write to God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099, USA. God bless you.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Challenge of Fellowship
- Difficulties living with sisters from different countries
- Initial desire to avoid conflict
- Recognition of personal limitations
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II. The Turning Point
- Jesus reveals personal pride and stubbornness
- Realization of own sinfulness
- Shift from focusing on others' faults to self-reflection
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III. The Power of God's Love
- Freedom to love others despite differences
- God's love breaking down barriers
- Call to follow Jesus and love without limits
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IV. Prayer and Commitment
- Earnest plea for God's love
- Desire to reflect God's image
- Commitment to love like Jesus
Key Quotes
“Jesus told me the truth about myself.” — Basilea Schlink
“Now the faults of my sisters no longer bother me.” — Basilea Schlink
“God's love doesn't have any barriers.” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- Reflect honestly on your own faults before judging others.
- Ask God to fill you with His love to overcome barriers in relationships.
- Commit to loving others unconditionally, following Jesus' example.
