What do
you do? There are well over one million displaced refugees from Syria now
“living” in camps in Jordan. The children there are tomorrow’s Islamic
extremists. But if America intervenes in the Syrian civil war it runs the risk
of elevation today’s Islamic extremists into power. It is a great conundrum.
But it
should not be a conundrum for followers of Jesus. Why? It’s because we are
called to help everyone through humanitarianism and through the gospel of Jesus
Christ. Regardless of the earthly crisis or dilemma our calling is always the
same. As you read all the earthly news never lose sight of who you are and Who
He is. We are not of this world and we are in it to live and preach Jesus. The
world will run to and fro from crisis to crisis and worry to worry and from opinion
to opinion and from remedy to remedy.
But
each morning as you get up begin your day with these two thoughts:
Mk.16: 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature.
Jn.3: 30 He
must increase, but I must decrease.
Amen. With all the suffering that goes on in the world now, it's painful to look around me where I live. It's modest by North American means, but to those abroad, it's unimaginable and a dream for them.
ReplyDeleteThere is a great dysfunction in the way the lukewarm church lives and expects to live and believes it can still make an impact.
I
know we are in Sodom and Gommorah. And it's not just homosexual activity. It's the lukewarm church's crass luxury spirit that treats itself like a royal prince. And men are languishing in the world.
I don't know how others here are feeling about their situations, I know how difficult it is for us now, we are trapped, we need to provide for our families, we are bound by obligations and responsibilities and can't just leap out - maybe the Lord put us where we are, His Providence birthed us where our parents were so we could maybe minister to those around us, as hard as that is.
I'll leave with this thought. Is is extremely difficult for a person like me to find like-minded women, where I live, like me, who don't have perfect straight teeth, white gleeming teeth, non-surgically altered face, once a month hair and nail beauty salon, or have a houseful of dogs and cats, (where I can't go because I'm highly allergic). I feel like I do not belong in this capitalistic me-me society. Sorry, folks, I do not want to offend, but when a pastor's wife is bleach-blond beautiful, with heavy make-up and a trim figure and high-heels, I melt in a pool like the wicked witch. I can't help but feel immensely inferior at that moment. If today's apostles wives come to minister to me and those like me who are 'natural', like the moms of Uganda, or the moms of Nepal, or the moms of Peru, or the moms of the Northwest Territories, or the moms of Haiti, it prevents a true bond between Jesus' follower and the poor blood-bought child. I believe that if women in the visible church would minister to others, they'd sacrifice their dangling jewels and strong perfume and false eyelashes so they could have the needy concentrate on Jesus, not on them. Our culture put much value on a woman's looks.
Because if we were sent to a war-torn third-world country missions and were dressed in our western garb and make-up and beautiful hair, we would intimidate the women who may not all be able to afford these things. Christians must present themselves and decrease while ministering to those who Jesus wants to "increase" with Himself. If we present ourselves a living sacrifice, a perfect gleeming smile and beautiful skin and nails will mean nothing to a village of a leprosy outbreak.
We, the church in the West, do not have all things in common as lowly servants - we appear too rich to those who are afflicted, and it puts the afflicted person in a tremendous sense of inferiority. A person who's ready to commit suicide, or who is dying, or who is depressed, oppressed does not care if the woman or man is wearing a nice suit, or looks like a model.
I watch "House Hunters" periodically, and the young people, UGh, they all MUST have granite counter-tops, stainless steel appliances, big master bedrooms with walk-in closets, a man cave, a backyard (fenced) for their dogs, dual sinks the the master en-suite, large open rooms. When some of these move internationally, like for instance to Germany, Sweden, or Italy, or the Caribbean, or to North Africa, they are in shock that all they can find are modest homes with small rooms, tiny kitchens, with older applicances, no dogs and whistles. If we the church can't get used to living like the majority of the world, how can we make it as ministers of the gospel?
I'm just talking to myself here and mulling it over in my mind. What do I do?
J.
I like house hunters international to see other countries. its interesting to see how they live vs the everything is bigger in texas mentality. I used to
ReplyDeletecare, now not so much.
My humble little ranch is just fine, Thank You Lord. No one seems to appreciate what they have. Like Paul, I'm content in want and abundance. There was a time when that wasn't always the case. I had to learn to be content. My needs are met by the Lord, and I am grateful.
your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.
Please forgive me but all I can do is pray for these people. If I could I would give them a better life. All the pain in the world is overwhelming and grieves me.
ReplyDeleteAdds to my sadness. Jesus is coming and coming soon. I pray that we are ready and worthy. Hope the kids repent and call upon the name of the Lord and get saved.
Pastor, what do you do? You must have so much on you already. My prayers go to the Lord for you.
your sister in Christ Jesus
Cherie c.
Where is everyone?
ReplyDeleteCherie c.
Cherie, Jesus is love and wants you to love your family. Satan wants God's creation to hate their families!
ReplyDeleteJesus used the verb hate to highlight how important it is to love Him more than even our most precious loved ones.
Cherie, you'll find it useful to remember how God tested Abraham's faith regarding his son Isaac.
In this wonderful true story Abraham showed that he prized God's commandment above even the life of God's precious gift to him, his cherished son. Now that's an example of God's gift of faith in action!
Abraham called that place where God provided a ram as a burnt offering instead of his son -The Lord Will Provide. Our testimony is that the LORD has provided! What a blessing Our beloved LORD Jesus is to His saints!