Jon Naron

Beyond the Series: Transformed by Grace

February 11, 2020

God’s grace invites us into God’s family and enables us to live differently. It changes us from the inside out.

I was 14 years old when I received the gospel. I grew from a very insecure high-school boy into a purposeful young man in college because of God’s grace. Many years later, that grace carried me to where I am today to fulfill the calling that God has placed in my heart.

God’s grace transforms and dramatically changes our lives. When we begin to recognize who Jesus is and begin to trust in Him, a transformation begins.

Before I met Christ, I seemed very kind and cooperative, but all of that was actually driven by insecurity. And that’s the first thing that God dealt in my heart. He assured me that I am His child: He approves of me, and He is pleased with me. His grace made me realize that I do not have to work for the approval of other people nor fear failure. A lot of people today, even those who are very successful, struggle with these things because these are issues of identity that only God can heal. Nothing and no one in this world can make us secure nor heal our hearts.

When we begin to understand that we do not need to perform in order to gain approval or be liked by people, we start to stand up for what is right. And we also learn to forgive. When we do not understand God’s grace, it would be hard for us to forgive other people or ourselves. But God’s grace is able to forgive and heal us from our past, no matter how painful or big our sins are. His grace also enables us to love unconditionally. We don’t easily judge people, and we become more loving and accepting of everyone around us.

God’s transformational grace allowed me to pursue Him in a deeper way and have a greater sense of purpose. I began to take on life with new vigor after I received Christ. I went to college with extra inspiration and by His grace, strived to live a life that’s pleasing to Him. I approached relationships with loyalty knowing how loyal God has been to me in spite of my flaws. He brought me to that road of intensive transformation.

Now, I have a family of my own, but, I’m still very amazed at how much God has changed my life. And His grace didn’t stop with me. It transformed not just my heart but even the lives of those around me—my family and friends. It is my prayer that their lives will also be used by God to affect those around them.

God’s grace isn’t just about personal transformation; it’s about being personal witnesses of His grace. When God transforms our hearts, we become salt and light to those around us. And when we allow Him to use us, we get to advance His kingdom and help transform a portion of the world that sets off a series of things that affect other people and place a greater sense of purpose in their lives.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Pastor Jon Naron serves as the director of Victory Provincial Churches, overseeing over 100 churches beyond Metro Manila, and is a member of the Every Nation Philippines Executive Team. Prior to that, he served as the senior pastor of Victory Imus. He is married to Let and has four children: Gabrielle, Kristianna, Albert, and Allyana.

Beyond the Series is a set of interviews with Victory pastors on topics related to our sermon series.

Faith to Finish

January 8, 2016

What are your impossibilities? Would you dare to believe that God can do so much more in and through you? That kind of faith overcomes the world.

There is a kind of audacious faith that is not as celebrated as the faith that moves mountains. Faith is not just about winning and achieving, but also about lasting and enduring. There is a faith that changes water into wine, but there is also a faith that wrestles with God in the garden and eventually drinks the cup that comes from the Father. There is a faith that raises Lazarus to life, and there is also a faith that carries the cross to Golgotha.

There is a faith that enables you to step out, but there is also a faith that enables you to stay, endure, and wait. You need this kind of faith when life is mundane, difficult, or futile.

Hebrews 10:35-36 says, “Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”

CONFIDENCE is like the big brother of faith, a faith that has been tested and has grown in strength. It carries with it the idea of patient continuance, steadfast waiting, and constancy. For the audience of the book of Hebrews, it’s about not throwing away their confidence of salvation in the midst of great persecution. In such times, you have need of ENDURANCE to continue, for in that there is great reward and promise.

To be confident of and endure towards what? GOD’S WILL, both His specific instruction for the moment and His general purpose for your life—which in essence is about honoring Him and making disciples.

So when life is MUNDANE, plod on in obedience, slowly and perseveringly through your dull tasks, as long as it moves you along in God’s purpose. When life is DIFFICULT, endure in the midst of it and find God’s presence and peace. When life seems FUTILE, know that obeying the last thing God told you to do means He will weave together something meaningful and eternally lasting through your life.

Finish your race, and go through the long and arduous process—for there are things that can only be birthed in you through time and patient endurance.

Would you be willing to grow in this kind of faith, a faith that has grown confident in God and will continue in God’s will despite the most dreary and difficult circumstances?

John 1:4-5 relates, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Just like glow-in-the-dark toys, it’s interesting that the darkness doesn’t seem to bother them, but rather brings out the best in them. The life in you glows in the dark, too, and would not be overcome!

Honoring God in Your Workplace

June 30, 2015

Last year, I had an opportunity to lead a Victory group of accomplished men and women in the marketplace. They came from different sectors of society, ranging from the government, business, education, and science and technology. They all had one thing in common: they wanted to honor God in the workplace. It was very encouraging to hear how God was using them right where they were. With the world looking for people who are successful in both career and family, they were a welcome sight. In the same breath, the world needs industry leaders and diligent workers whose lives are a good mix of godly values, excellent innovation, righteous business practices, and gainful profit. But why do many Christians in the workplace succumb to mediocrity in their practice, and compromise in their values? Why is it that many start out well-intentioned, yet eventually get eaten up in the unrighteousness of the system and amorality of the culture? Allow me to propose that much of it is rooted in a lack of a clear and defined purpose for work and marketplace success. For sure, it is not just about self-advancement, financial freedom, or securing your family’s present and future needs. When the reason for work is simply these things, it’s either motivation wanes at some point, or money becomes a primary pursuit. When that happens, one becomes forced to put lesser value on other priorities, and life becomes a rut. Ultimately, the purpose for work is to give God glory and bring the gospel to people. It gives God glory when you do your work with an awareness of worshipping Him, an excellence that befits Him, and strength that comes from Him. It advances God’s agenda when your role in the marketplace becomes a platform for the gospel. This happens when your colleagues notice the difference in the way you do things, the extraordinary outcome of your work, and the sheer joy by which you go at it everyday. You’ll get the unusual opportunity to be able to point to your Maker. You’ll grab their attention as you speak hope into every situation, and use it as an avenue to preach the gospel. If you’re working in a Christian company, excellence matters still. You may not necessarily have to preach the gospel (yet there still may be opportunities, as not all who work there are necessarily Christian), but it is a place for you to move along that organization’s agenda towards honoring Christ. Where do you begin? At the end of the day, faithfulness matters to God—faithfulness with where God placed you and what God entrusted you to do. If you do it as unto God, He will grant you success, and advance His kingdom in the process. Have a great time at work this week! Jon Naron serves as the Executive Director of Victory Provincial Churches. He is married to Let and is a father to four kids: Gabrielle, Kristiana, Albert, and Alyanna.