• English

Lično svedočanstvo

Rođena sam u porodici u kojoj se redovno, svake nedelje, odlazilo na službu u crkvu. U toku nedelje, posećivale su se aktivnosti organizovane za članove crkve, poput proučavanja Svetog Pisma, molitvenih sastanaka i slično.

Neka od mojih najranijih sećanja vezana su za vreme odlaska na spavanje. Tada sam, zajedno sa tatom i starijim bratom, na kolenima u molitvi zahvaljivala Bogu za protekli dan i molila Ga da nas čuva i u toku noći i da nam da dobar odmor.

Kada sam imala pet godina, tata me je poveo u „nedeljnu školu“ – veronauku za decu.  Bio je to prvi čas veronauke organizovan za decu u našem gradu. Veronauka se održavala svake nedelje u 10 sati, u isto vreme kada je u crkvi počinjala služba za odrasle. Ovo je bila dobra praksa, pošto je stvarala naviku kod dece da u nedelju pre podne odlaze u crkvu. Sa dvanaest godina prešla sam u tinejdžersku grupu, a kasnije u omladinsku. Sve ovo se dešavalo kada društveno uređenje nije bilo naklonjeno crkvi, a posebno crkvenim aktivnostima usmerenim na decu. Često bih doživela ruganje i podsmeh zato što sam išla u crkvu. Podrška roditelja i prijatelja iz crkve je bila važna da svi mi kroz ove stvari lakše prolazimo.

Međutim, kao i kod većine tinejdžera, i kod mene je došlo do zasićenja. Znala sam dosta toga o Bogu i Njegovom Sinu, Gospodu Isusu Hristu. Znala sam da je Njegov Sin Isus Hristos umro na krstu za grehe svih ljudi, ali nisam Ga lično poznavala. Nisam bila svesna da je Hristos umro i za moje grehe.

Jednog nedeljnog poslepodneva, kada sam imala trinaest godina, otišla sam u posetu kod dve drugarice, koje su bile sestre, i tu se srela sa ostalim članovima omladinske grupe iz crkve.

Neko je predložio da pokušamo da saznamo šta je Božija volja za naše živote. Način da to saznamo bio je da svako nasumice otvori Sveto Pismo i da pročita prvi stih na koji mu padne pogled, i smatralo se da je to Božija poruka za onog koji je pročitao te stihove. Kasnije smo saznali da to baš i nije dobar način da se ispituje Božija volja. Iako Bog to ne čini često, On može da iskoristi i pogrešne stvari i da ih preokrene na dobro. Učinio je to i onog nedeljnog poslepodneva.

Kada je došao red na mene, otvorila sam starozavetnu knjigu o Jovu, 24. glavu, 1. stih: „Zašto svemogućem nisu sakrivena vremena? I koji ga znaju, ne vide dana njegovih?“

Osetila sam da mi se kroz ovaj stih Bog lično obraća. Shvatila sam da, iako sam znala dosta stvari iz Svetog Pisma, nisam poznavala Autora, nisam poznavala Boga lično. Do tada, Bog nije zauzimao ozbiljno mesto u mom životu.

Tog nedeljnog popodneva rešila sam da prepustim Bogu da upravlja mojim životom. Počela sam redovno da čitam Sveto Pismo i da se molim. Moji odlasci u crkvu i na omladinske sastanke više nisu bili samo navika, već želja da budem u društvu onih koji veruju u Boga i koji Mu zajedno iskazuju poštovanje i divljenje, proučavaju Njegovu Reč, iskazuju poverenje i zahvalnost kroz molitve, i slave Ga kroz pesme.

Sledeća prekretnica u mom životu bio je izbor škole. Posle završene srednje škole molila sam se da mi Bog pokaže sledeći korak. Njegov odgovor je zapisan u knjizi proroka Amosa 5, 4.6: „Tražite me, i bićete živi.“

Način na koji sam odlučila da tražim Boga  bilo je trogodišnje biblijsko studiranje. Ovo studiranje mi je omogućilo da učim, otkrivam i saznajem mnoge važne stvari o Bogu. Takođe, dalo mi je i dobre osnove za rad sa decom i tinejdžerima u koji sam se uključila još za vreme studiranja, a nekoliko godina kasnije ova služba postala je i moj punovremeni posao u okviru Udruženja za decu i porodicu „Dečija misjia“.

Nije mi Bog govorio samo ova dva puta koja sam pomenula. Kroz svoju Reč, kroz druge vernike, kao i kroz okolnosti, Bog svakodnevno vodi i usmerava moj život.

Božija Reč – Sveto Pismo – je neiscrpno. Ako samo pročitali celo Sveto Pismo i pomislili da ga poznajemo, onda smo tek zagrebali po površini. Pred nama su velike dubine Božije Reči koje treba istraživati da bi bolje upoznali Gospoda Boga, Njegovog Sina, našeg Spasitelja Isusa Hrista i Svetog Duha, našeg tešitelja.

Ovu moju priču – moje svedočanstvo – želim da završim odeljkom iz jevanđelja po Jovanu, 6. glave, od 64. do 69. stiha:

„Jer znađaše Isus od početka koji su to što ne veruju, i ko će ga izdati. I govoraše:  – Zato sam vam rekao da niko ne može doći meni ako mu ne bude dano od Oca moga. Od tada mnogi od učenika njegovih otidoše natrag, i više ne iđahu sa njim. A Isus reče Dvanaestorici: – Da nećete i vi da odete? Tada mu odgovori Simon Petar: – Gospode, kome ćemo otići? Ti imaš reči života večnoga. I mi smo poverovali i poznali da si ti Hristos Sin Boga živoga.“

Da li si i ti poverovao i poznao da je Hristos Sin Boga živoga? Ako nisi, čitaj Sveto Pismo i iskrenog srca moli Boga da ti kroz svoju Reč govori.

Bog je obećao: „I tražićete me, i naći ćete me, kad me potražite svim srcem svojim.“ Jeremija 29:13

Potražite Gospoda svim srcem svojim još danas!

Katarina R.

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English

Personal Testimony
Katarina R.

I was born into a family where attending church services every Sunday was a regular part of life. During the week, we would take part in various church activities, such as Bible study, prayer meetings, and similar gatherings.

Some of my earliest memories are connected to bedtime routines. Together with my father and older brother, I would kneel in prayer, giving thanks to God for the day that had passed and asking Him to watch over us through the night and give us good rest.

When I was five years old, my father took me to “Sunday School” – a religious education class for children. It was the very first such class organized for kids in our city. Sunday School was held every Sunday at 10 a.m., at the same time as the service for adults. This was a good practice because it built a habit in children of going to church on Sunday mornings. At the age of twelve, I moved into the teen group, and later, the youth group. All of this took place during a time when the political and social system was not favorable toward the church, and especially not toward church activities aimed at children. I was often mocked and ridiculed for going to church. The support of my parents and friends from church was very important in helping me get through those times more easily.

However, as with most teenagers, I eventually became weary. I knew a lot about God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I knew that Jesus Christ had died on the cross for the sins of all people, but I didn’t know Him personally. I wasn’t aware that Christ had died for my sins.

One Sunday afternoon, when I was thirteen, I visited two sisters who were my friends, and we met up with other members of the youth group from church.

Someone suggested that we try to find out what God’s will was for our lives. The method proposed was that each of us randomly open the Bible and read the first verse our eyes landed on. That verse would then be considered God’s message to the person reading it. Later, we learned that this isn’t really a good way to seek God’s will. But even though God doesn’t often work this way, He can use even misguided efforts and turn them into something good. And that’s what He did that Sunday afternoon.

When it was my turn, I opened the Old Testament book of Job, chapter 24, verse 1:
“Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days?”

I felt as if God was speaking directly to me through that verse. I realized that even though I knew a lot from the Bible, I didn’t know its Author—I didn’t know God personally. Up to that point, God had not held a serious place in my life.

That Sunday afternoon, I decided to let God take the lead in my life. I began to read the Bible regularly and pray. Going to church and youth meetings was no longer just a habit—it became a desire to be in the company of those who believe in God, who worship and honor Him together, study His Word, express trust and gratitude through prayer, and glorify Him with songs.

The next turning point in my life was choosing a school. After finishing high school, I prayed that God would show me my next step. His answer came through the book of Amos, chapter 5, verses 4 and 6:
“Seek me and live.”

The way I decided to seek God was through three years of biblical studies. That period of study allowed me to learn, discover, and understand many important things about God. It also gave me a solid foundation for working with children and teens—a ministry I got involved in while still a student. A few years later, this ministry became my full-time job through the “Children’s Mission” association for children and families.

God hasn’t spoken to me only those two times I mentioned. Through His Word, through other believers, and through circumstances, God leads and directs my life daily.

God’s Word—the Holy Scripture—is inexhaustible. If we’ve read the entire Bible and think we know it, then we’ve only scratched the surface. Great depths of God’s Word lie before us, waiting to be explored so we can better know the Lord God, His Son—our Savior Jesus Christ—and the Holy Spirit, our Comforter.

I want to end my story—my testimony—with a passage from the Gospel of John, chapter 6, verses 64–69:

“Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say,
“This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered him,
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Have you come to believe and know that Christ is the Son of the living God?
If you haven’t, read the Holy Scripture and pray sincerely that God would speak to you through His Word.

God has promised:

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
—Jeremiah 29:13

Seek the Lord with all your heart—starting today!

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