Good morning!
I read a book a few years ago by Randy Alcorn, a pastor out in Oregon, founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries and an author of many books both fiction and non-fiction. This particular book is a work of fiction titled “Safely Home”. It is a story about what it is like to be a Christian in China today. One of the commentaries on the book is how accurately Randy describes what life is like as a Christian in China. That brought to mind the verse you see below, a verse I have shared before:
Here in the US we do not have the same challenges as those who live in more oppressive parts of the world (although in recent years we have seen some attacks and incursions related to faith, it is negligible in comparison).
So rather than endure a challenge, I know sometimes I want to be in a hurry and get to the end point of some effort really fast. It is challenging sometimes when projects seem to take forever – at least that is what I tell myself. But in China anything related to living out your faith is a challenge in endurance, steadfastness, patience and tears.
Often we point to God’s timing as the answer to our need to endure. Often for me, that is a great answer. In other parts of the world this is the only answer.
Sometimes, though, the answer is God wants us to endure, on His behalf, in the service we are doing in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ. In other parts of the world this is always the answer.
In many places our church has faithful mission partners, this is in some cases always the answer.
If you look at what we (our local churches) do through Christ, it hasn’t been a sprint, but a story of endurance, patience, often tears but many times joy! For our mission partners or others around the world that suffer significant oppression, this is their hope – not a sprint, but endurance in Christ, through Christ.
We each can take to heart though that each of us brings some level of our own endurance as a gift from God to what you do as members of the Body of Christ. How awesome is that. And that is beautiful.
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that we never forget to pray for those whose only answer is endurance in Your name, that we hold them up in prayer for Your strength to be life giving blood to their lives daily and that they know Your presence as we know Your presence in our work and endurance (when we need it)! Amen!
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick
I read a book a few years ago by Randy Alcorn, a pastor out in Oregon, founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries and an author of many books both fiction and non-fiction. This particular book is a work of fiction titled “Safely Home”. It is a story about what it is like to be a Christian in China today. One of the commentaries on the book is how accurately Randy describes what life is like as a Christian in China. That brought to mind the verse you see below, a verse I have shared before:
- 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
Here in the US we do not have the same challenges as those who live in more oppressive parts of the world (although in recent years we have seen some attacks and incursions related to faith, it is negligible in comparison).
So rather than endure a challenge, I know sometimes I want to be in a hurry and get to the end point of some effort really fast. It is challenging sometimes when projects seem to take forever – at least that is what I tell myself. But in China anything related to living out your faith is a challenge in endurance, steadfastness, patience and tears.
Often we point to God’s timing as the answer to our need to endure. Often for me, that is a great answer. In other parts of the world this is the only answer.
Sometimes, though, the answer is God wants us to endure, on His behalf, in the service we are doing in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ. In other parts of the world this is always the answer.
In many places our church has faithful mission partners, this is in some cases always the answer.
If you look at what we (our local churches) do through Christ, it hasn’t been a sprint, but a story of endurance, patience, often tears but many times joy! For our mission partners or others around the world that suffer significant oppression, this is their hope – not a sprint, but endurance in Christ, through Christ.
We each can take to heart though that each of us brings some level of our own endurance as a gift from God to what you do as members of the Body of Christ. How awesome is that. And that is beautiful.
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that we never forget to pray for those whose only answer is endurance in Your name, that we hold them up in prayer for Your strength to be life giving blood to their lives daily and that they know Your presence as we know Your presence in our work and endurance (when we need it)! Amen!
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick
RSS Feed