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Brothers,
I’ve been visiting with many international workers in Asia the last couple of weeks. We have had in depth conversations about faith and what instruments they have played this last year in the great composer’s symphony of life. One theme that unifies their stories is redemption.
Like the gift of salvation, which redeems one life a time, holy redemption of life’s experiences is available to all saints, but must be accepted by one life in order to be realized. This is a lesson I’ve relearned listening to our folks who seem to live on the sharp edge of faith. Their mistakes and negative experiences so many times are turned to blessing. Over and over the timing seems to be the key to realizing this perspective. As they observe their fathers purpose for an experience, they look back and see the continuation of the story as it unfolds from that time. That story is redemption.
These moments of realization, seeing the redemptive work of God in our weakness, his work in us, can become a habit. This is the habit of seeing the hand of the master weaving his plans and love into our future. This habit, I think part of our faith, gives a long view of life instead of getting stuck in the moment. The “be anxious for nothing” becomes more real as we back off our illusion of control and let Jesus own all our moments.
Being schooled by our folks in the field was not a new event for me. The challenge for me is the discipline to practice what I’ve learned. I like to own control of my present and future, even when those futile efforts crash and burn. Os Chambers says “God does not further our spiritual life in spite of our circumstances, but in and by our circumstances”. By recognizing our Lord’s redemptive power in and through our past, and the current grace (think: insta-redemption) we operate under, we will be on display for his work in us.
As brothers in Christ we have the advantage of being able to speak into each other’s lives without offence. We, then, have the responsibility to observe and remind each other of the past and how redemption has affected that brother's future for His glory. The reality of that new creation in Christ Jesus.
I’ve been visiting with many international workers in Asia the last couple of weeks. We have had in depth conversations about faith and what instruments they have played this last year in the great composer’s symphony of life. One theme that unifies their stories is redemption.
Like the gift of salvation, which redeems one life a time, holy redemption of life’s experiences is available to all saints, but must be accepted by one life in order to be realized. This is a lesson I’ve relearned listening to our folks who seem to live on the sharp edge of faith. Their mistakes and negative experiences so many times are turned to blessing. Over and over the timing seems to be the key to realizing this perspective. As they observe their fathers purpose for an experience, they look back and see the continuation of the story as it unfolds from that time. That story is redemption.
These moments of realization, seeing the redemptive work of God in our weakness, his work in us, can become a habit. This is the habit of seeing the hand of the master weaving his plans and love into our future. This habit, I think part of our faith, gives a long view of life instead of getting stuck in the moment. The “be anxious for nothing” becomes more real as we back off our illusion of control and let Jesus own all our moments.
Being schooled by our folks in the field was not a new event for me. The challenge for me is the discipline to practice what I’ve learned. I like to own control of my present and future, even when those futile efforts crash and burn. Os Chambers says “God does not further our spiritual life in spite of our circumstances, but in and by our circumstances”. By recognizing our Lord’s redemptive power in and through our past, and the current grace (think: insta-redemption) we operate under, we will be on display for his work in us.
As brothers in Christ we have the advantage of being able to speak into each other’s lives without offence. We, then, have the responsibility to observe and remind each other of the past and how redemption has affected that brother's future for His glory. The reality of that new creation in Christ Jesus.
This article doesn't look like CMA still believe in the power of prayer.
i am so sad to read Arthur Hopkins, the alliance's attorney, "The alliance had no obligation to help the church get back on its feet." http://www.northjers...t.html?page=all
More sad is when I search that CMA has been goiing to court to get, not to help, distressed churches.
Everyone member of the CMA must be aware of this and call the attention beloved Gary Benedict that "SUING IS AGAINST THE WORD OF THE LORD JESUS AND IT IS NOT THE MINISTRY. HELP THE INJURED AND BATTERED CHURCHES TO BE REVIVED. CMA NEEDS REVIVAL!"
PRAY