Picture This
I thought you might be encouraged with this recent email exchange had with friend. Your fellow struggler/victor - Nigel
NB: I'm encouraged with your pursuit of the verses in the Bible that talk about the poor and neglected. It's amazing how many there are. And it's a theme that continues right through the Old and New covenants (like the Great Commandments). These are two of the "mega" verses in my book on the topic:
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." - James 1:27
"James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." - Gal 2:9-10
Keep struggling through things for the glory of God; something I hope I will always do.
Friend: Close your eyes and picture this (after you read it, of course): Jesus returns to earth in all His greatness, power and glory and you finally stand before Him face to face for the first time. How ridiculously embarassing it will be to have to say we didn't spend much time building His kingdom because we were too focussed on making money or having a good time or that we were too worried about what people would think about us. If we REALLY believe that that is going to happen some day, then how can it not show in the rest of our lives?
Evangelism is basically living out the wholesome beauty of the Christian life and inviting other people into your life to observe/partake of it. Then telling them how they too can enjoy it.
NB: I find this super-encouraging. Thank you. I agree that there isn't really an excuse for not pouring the essence of who we are into building the Kingdom, knowing/loving God, etc. The rest (e.g., making money) should follow or, even better, be integrally part of the vision.
NB: I'm encouraged with your pursuit of the verses in the Bible that talk about the poor and neglected. It's amazing how many there are. And it's a theme that continues right through the Old and New covenants (like the Great Commandments). These are two of the "mega" verses in my book on the topic:"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." - James 1:27
"James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." - Gal 2:9-10
Keep struggling through things for the glory of God; something I hope I will always do.
Friend: Close your eyes and picture this (after you read it, of course): Jesus returns to earth in all His greatness, power and glory and you finally stand before Him face to face for the first time. How ridiculously embarassing it will be to have to say we didn't spend much time building His kingdom because we were too focussed on making money or having a good time or that we were too worried about what people would think about us. If we REALLY believe that that is going to happen some day, then how can it not show in the rest of our lives?
Evangelism is basically living out the wholesome beauty of the Christian life and inviting other people into your life to observe/partake of it. Then telling them how they too can enjoy it.NB: I find this super-encouraging. Thank you. I agree that there isn't really an excuse for not pouring the essence of who we are into building the Kingdom, knowing/loving God, etc. The rest (e.g., making money) should follow or, even better, be integrally part of the vision.
posted by Nigel Barham at 12:21 PM
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