In John 15:5 Jesus says, "Apart from me you can do nothing." I appreciate the corollary in Luke 1:37 "But nothing will be impossible with God." After a several year hiatus God blessed me with the opportunity to spend two days with our brother Doug . This man has prayed at least a hundred times over many years for me to receive the joy of the Lord. Brother, i've got it now. God has shown me repeatedly over the past weeks the importance of patience and perseverance. Doug and i hit a rough spot in our relationship and it took time to work out. "God is faithful, who has called us into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Cor. 1:9)
In the past two days I had fellowship with two brothers in separate settings. Both of these men have served the Lord Jesus with utter devotion for decades, continually giving, serving, discipling. Yet one told me that he had no close friend and the other confided that no one encouraged him. This struck me like a knife in the heart. Our relationships as brothers, or sisters is the essence of genuine Christianity. We must make ourselves available to encourage and befriend one another. Our God desires a family, not an organization. Our brotherhood in Christ is an eternal reality, not a temporary phenomenon limited to this life.
Has anyone considered the implications of Hebrews 10:34 lately? "You joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one." Having lost a four figure sum through injustice in recent days, I had occasion to recall that verse. More accurately, the Holy Spirit brought it to my remembrance. While i'm not pleased with the situation, I am very thankful to God that He brought me through it.
God continues to confirm the path of itinerant ministry to me. The recent NorthEast Regional House Church gathering in Sutton, MA produced amazing fruit. Our Lord Jesus gave me the opportunity to connect with a number of saints including some for the first time. I look forward to opportunities to visit and encourage the various groups they represent.
The generosity of the saints continues to amaze me. People , some of whom I barely know or meet for the first time, offer lodging, meals, financial resources. I am humbled by their desire to give.
No comments:
Post a Comment