"... it in the quiet crucibles of your personable private sufferings that your noblest dreams are born and God's greatest gifts are given in compensation of what you have been through. "
- Wintley Phips
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
It is well with my soul ... :)
listen to this:
"... it in the quiet crucibles of your personable private sufferings that your noblest dreams are born and God's greatest gifts are given in compensation of what you have been through. "
"... it in the quiet crucibles of your personable private sufferings that your noblest dreams are born and God's greatest gifts are given in compensation of what you have been through. "
Monday, August 3, 2009
Loving People to Christ
more from: The Jesus I Never Knew
"According to this parable, Jesus knew that the world he left behind would included the poor, the hungry, the prisoners, the sick. The decrepit state of the world did not surprise him. He made plans to cope with it: a long-range plan and a short-range plan. The long-range plan involves his return, in power and great glory, to straighten out planet earth. The short-range plan means turning it to the ones who will ultimately usher in the liberation of the cosmos. He ascended so that we would take his place." p. 233
The parable this passage is talking about is taken from Matthew 25, the last parable before Jesus's ascension. What I love so much about this passage is how he speaks about we as Christians, His name bearers have a part in completing his work after his ascension. I was at a really great wedding on this past Saturday and the officiating pastor said something that touched a place really deep in my walk with Jesus. He said we are first and foremost called to be a Christians and His image-bearers in our life that need continuous refinement and work before He will use us to do great things for Him. As I kept searching my heart, I was asking myself, what needed refinement and work and what hindered me from bearing His name in a way that is pleasing to Him? All the questions stemmed back from my desire to bring people to know Christ. But how has been the question that is always so humbling to me because from experience it requires such a patient process of self-denial. I have been convicted to realize it is by learning how to love the people first and love them more than the idea of telling them the gospel that lives can be changed. The story of Zachias is one of my favorite portrayals of how Jesus extended love to bring sinners to Himself. He noticed Zachias on a tree and knowing about his unlikeable acts of inflicting pain in people by profitting illegal money off of them, Jesus called him down from the tree and made Himself available to show him he was accepted by Him despite his perpetuating acts of injustice and sins. I see such great importance in showing Christ's love to the lost as to show Himself and to love people to Christ. The Great Commission in the end of the book of Matthew that we are to make disciple from all nations. By working through us to love the lost to Him is one of the remarkable reasons according to Jesus I Never Knew is why He ascended to heaven.
"According to this parable, Jesus knew that the world he left behind would included the poor, the hungry, the prisoners, the sick. The decrepit state of the world did not surprise him. He made plans to cope with it: a long-range plan and a short-range plan. The long-range plan involves his return, in power and great glory, to straighten out planet earth. The short-range plan means turning it to the ones who will ultimately usher in the liberation of the cosmos. He ascended so that we would take his place." p. 233
The parable this passage is talking about is taken from Matthew 25, the last parable before Jesus's ascension. What I love so much about this passage is how he speaks about we as Christians, His name bearers have a part in completing his work after his ascension. I was at a really great wedding on this past Saturday and the officiating pastor said something that touched a place really deep in my walk with Jesus. He said we are first and foremost called to be a Christians and His image-bearers in our life that need continuous refinement and work before He will use us to do great things for Him. As I kept searching my heart, I was asking myself, what needed refinement and work and what hindered me from bearing His name in a way that is pleasing to Him? All the questions stemmed back from my desire to bring people to know Christ. But how has been the question that is always so humbling to me because from experience it requires such a patient process of self-denial. I have been convicted to realize it is by learning how to love the people first and love them more than the idea of telling them the gospel that lives can be changed. The story of Zachias is one of my favorite portrayals of how Jesus extended love to bring sinners to Himself. He noticed Zachias on a tree and knowing about his unlikeable acts of inflicting pain in people by profitting illegal money off of them, Jesus called him down from the tree and made Himself available to show him he was accepted by Him despite his perpetuating acts of injustice and sins. I see such great importance in showing Christ's love to the lost as to show Himself and to love people to Christ. The Great Commission in the end of the book of Matthew that we are to make disciple from all nations. By working through us to love the lost to Him is one of the remarkable reasons according to Jesus I Never Knew is why He ascended to heaven.
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