"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit....Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus....He humbled Himself and became obedient....Do all things without complaining...in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation....For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus." (From Philippians 2)
The thought occurred to me earlier today that I had the privilege to spend Easter Day, 2013 with the only congregation which is allowed to meet "publicly" in North Korea. I know that congregation is state controlled, but there were Followers of Jesus there; one can tell. Please pray for our Brethren in Christ in that nation which is the number one persecutor of the Followers of Jesus.
Some times when things are going particularly "bad" for us, it is good to remember that we are a part, not only of the Church of Jesus Christ, but of a humanity that knows suffering, trials, and "hurdles" in life to come over. No one is exempt. Yes, we are "special" in our relationship in Jesus, because of Jesus' Blood, Death, and Resurrection Jesus, and we do have in Jesus, "exceeding great and precious promises," which give us battle advantage. But history has revealed, as does our present existence, that this "life," this present age and the majority of accompanying difficulties, challenge everyone, Believer and unbeliever alike. The Ecclesiastes writer reminds us of this. Now this "theology" does not fit in with much of the Evangelical-Charismatic teachings over the last 50 years, but that community is not exempt from error any less than what that community calls the left, the liberal church. "Beware," is a Biblical word.
Such "rose garden" deception and, hence, the accompanying great disappointment, does not come from Scripture. It comes from "kingdom builders," people who, "seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus." Our text reveals that this has been going on from the beginning of the Church Age. The only "newness" about it is that you and I are now a part of that battle through the centuries for the hearts and minds of men, to bring them to Jesus Christ, His Church, His Kingdom, to proclaim and demonstrate to humanity, "the unsearchable riches of Christ." We are dealing with the same Church struggle which Paul and all the First Century Apostles faced, and, by the way, all the Followers of Jesus have faced up to this very moment. The Church in North Korea still witnesses to the global community, however, that no matter what the suffering, what the heartache, the "unfairness," the sickness, poverty which they face on a daily basis, the words of the old hymn are still truth. There is "Victory in Jesus."
Now what are you and I going to do? The words of Romans 12 are as "now" as are all Words of Scripture, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God....And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...." Of course, the only way our minds are transformed is through and in, "the Words of God." As repetitive as this may be, and as too-much-"over and over and over again" as it may be, I will continue to repeat: Only the Words of Jesus, Those "God-Breathed" Words, will keep us, sustain us, and bring us through the conflict of the ages.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I need Your Words over and over and over again, because that is exactly how I need You. Amen.
**************************
Please pray for the April 29 DC Mission and the accompanying provision.
The thought occurred to me earlier today that I had the privilege to spend Easter Day, 2013 with the only congregation which is allowed to meet "publicly" in North Korea. I know that congregation is state controlled, but there were Followers of Jesus there; one can tell. Please pray for our Brethren in Christ in that nation which is the number one persecutor of the Followers of Jesus.
Some times when things are going particularly "bad" for us, it is good to remember that we are a part, not only of the Church of Jesus Christ, but of a humanity that knows suffering, trials, and "hurdles" in life to come over. No one is exempt. Yes, we are "special" in our relationship in Jesus, because of Jesus' Blood, Death, and Resurrection Jesus, and we do have in Jesus, "exceeding great and precious promises," which give us battle advantage. But history has revealed, as does our present existence, that this "life," this present age and the majority of accompanying difficulties, challenge everyone, Believer and unbeliever alike. The Ecclesiastes writer reminds us of this. Now this "theology" does not fit in with much of the Evangelical-Charismatic teachings over the last 50 years, but that community is not exempt from error any less than what that community calls the left, the liberal church. "Beware," is a Biblical word.
Such "rose garden" deception and, hence, the accompanying great disappointment, does not come from Scripture. It comes from "kingdom builders," people who, "seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus." Our text reveals that this has been going on from the beginning of the Church Age. The only "newness" about it is that you and I are now a part of that battle through the centuries for the hearts and minds of men, to bring them to Jesus Christ, His Church, His Kingdom, to proclaim and demonstrate to humanity, "the unsearchable riches of Christ." We are dealing with the same Church struggle which Paul and all the First Century Apostles faced, and, by the way, all the Followers of Jesus have faced up to this very moment. The Church in North Korea still witnesses to the global community, however, that no matter what the suffering, what the heartache, the "unfairness," the sickness, poverty which they face on a daily basis, the words of the old hymn are still truth. There is "Victory in Jesus."
Now what are you and I going to do? The words of Romans 12 are as "now" as are all Words of Scripture, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God....And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...." Of course, the only way our minds are transformed is through and in, "the Words of God." As repetitive as this may be, and as too-much-"over and over and over again" as it may be, I will continue to repeat: Only the Words of Jesus, Those "God-Breathed" Words, will keep us, sustain us, and bring us through the conflict of the ages.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I need Your Words over and over and over again, because that is exactly how I need You. Amen.
**************************
Please pray for the April 29 DC Mission and the accompanying provision.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
