"they left everything and followed him." (Luke 5:18)
Everyday we walk with God is a good day.
Today is a day of opportunity. Whatever your situation, if you are walking with The living God, today can be an awesome day. The GOD of all power, knowledge, comfort, and all true Glory is with you. If HE is with us, what should we be afraid of ? (Rom 8:31) Not only this, furthermore HE walks with us even in the context of a fallen world (Gen 5:21-24), what a beautiful reality. As we listen to Him, the greatest of encouragements is that He, (ruler and sustainer of all), listens to us, in each and every situation. I think it was Spurgeon who said;
Because we've discovered that God is the Living God,
we know he can listen to us,
Because we've discovered through Christ that God is the Loving God,
we know he will listen to us.
Every day we wake up as a child of God (Jn 1:12. Gal 3:26), and are able to call out to our Father, in the security of grace, forgiven sin, ultimate provision (Rom 8:32), eternal security, unlimited wisdom (1 Cor1:25, James 3:17), and being clothed in the perfection and purity of Jesus Christ. Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20), and the end of the journey is guarenteed.
Now please understand that I say these things in a considered, pondered and I hope loving way. During the last few days, I've talked to people who have literally lost everything. In recent weeks I have talked to people in the UK who said they had lost everything... "my business is gone", "my home is gone, we can't afford it", "my wife has gone... now there is no money there is no marriage". Covid has been a brutal thief. With complete devastation seen in multiple dimensions, we can't fail to feel the acute pain of those around us. But, with the greatest of respects...these precious friends have not lost everything. There is still a healthcare system (free) in our country, there are still families and friends who care for these folk. These folks still live in the top 5% wealth of the world, they still have some governmental help and provision (as dissapointing and as slow as it has been for many - at least the intent still exists). On top of this, all of these friends have a church family and a place of worship they can still go to in public, as they process all this in the company of others who care.
The folks I've been talking to, have lost their homes, their loved ones, their
They live in a place where healthcare is not free and provision is not available at this time. When this provision exists it is inaccassable, and price prohibitive. These folks want to wear a mask, but don't have one and there is nowhere to buy one. They would go to church but that has been destroyed (war and fire). They would go to the humanitarian aid centre but that is also destroyed. They would go to seek assistance as a refugee or move to a different place, but that provision has run out. They would buy food, but there is non available in the shops, and they have no money even if it were. They would eat their "own grown" food from the garden, but the chickens and vegetables were both lost in the fire. When they say they have lost everything, they are devastatingly and acutely correct.
Yet, I am discovering it is the very same people, who are the ones taking the message of hope, help and compassion of Christ to others. It is the same folks who are able to smile as they hand a coat over to someone else. If they acquire a box of bibles, they delight in sharing them with those in need. They have so many challenges of their own, but the radiance of God's presence seems to make them mist and vapourise, as they see each new day as a day for truly living, a glorious day of opportunity to tell people about Christ.
Near death experiences can make us realise what life is all about.
Today is the day of opportunity.
Paul said...
"I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ."
If we have Christ ...
we have treasure greater than anything else in this world.
Many of us have not lost everything, we have lost some things. In this we had no choice. What Paul is drawing our attention to is the wisdom of deciding to leave things behind in order to concentrate on true treasure (that cannot be taken away.) This is what keeps my friends going THEY HAVE CHRIST. In reality, prior to war, fire and persecution, they actually never invested in houses, crops or cars as an answer to all their problems, they only bought those things with an attitude to serve God. Therefore when it was taken away, they were able to say "the LORD gives, and the LORD takes away, blessed be the name of the LORD"
In these last few months many opportunites and some freedoms have been taken away from us. We have not been able to complete buildings to house young people in need of a home, we haven't been able to travel as a team to encourage, train and support Christ's family in other countries as we would have liked. However new opportunities emerge every day.
Challenging questions to myself / us.
1) Assuming that in days ahead, increased opportunities to serve with what God has given you and me are likely to resume, (Post lockdown and covid)... are you ready to serve the gospel with all your heart or has the last few months made you more comfort centric ?
2) Considering you have preportionally so much more than many in the world today, do you hold on to things lightly in this world, and want to use them to see others come into eternal security in Christ?
3) We have much time to make up for, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Would you be willing to leave home (and some comfort) for a week and come on a short term mission team with us?
DAY 17
1) Pray today that GOD would help us to not be spritually blinded enough to miss out on the opportunities HE affords us.
2) Pray that the resources we have, would be strategically used to make the most of opportunities, (especially in those areas we work in where churches are full, and people are hungry for Christ).
PRAY FOR OUR FRIENDS
MINISTERING GOD's LOVE to those IN DONBASS.
One of the things I love about the extraordinary work of God in Donbass region is the vitality and essential nature of Church. This is robust, refined Christianity, tried in turmoil, crystal clear in compassion. I fear that in many other places, we as the church can often be answering questions that no-one is asking, spending cash and time on things which are primarilly for ourselves not the gospel. Because of the critical, rudementary sitaution of the circumstances in Luhansk and Donetsk, the church is a hyper concentrated force.
I have some friends who asked the wise question...
What do people most need (to see them through the winter)?
3) Praise God that we have friends (like Christ) in this way. Praise God that they saw the oppotunity to leave their own comfort for the sake of sharing love, hope and kindness in Christ. No wonder many are coming to Christ with this evidence of hardcore, authentic, loving Christainity and gospel work.
4) Praise God for the network of pastors who are coordinating the work in Donbass. Pray that their wisdom in using the churches resources will lead to many coming to Christ.
5)Pray for them as they care for the ministers who are ministering to many, (with all the pressures of crisis, trauma, loss and war.)
- Pray that our partnership with them will be complimentary and supportive of this vital (in every sense) work of God.
At the end of your life ...
What will you consider more worthwhile?
- The fortune, assetts, and comfort you amassed (none of which you can take with you) ?
- or the act of Kindness you participated in which led someone coming to know eternal life in Jesus Christ ?
Any deposit and investment we make in the kingdom of God (which lasts forever) will never be regretted.
Your friend and brother,
BLOGSKI
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