The Lord hath appeared of old
untome, saying, Yes, I have loved
thee with an everlasting love...
Jeremiah 31:3a
There's a dear couple whom I have been corresponding with for a long time. They have a ministry working with teenagers...
untome, saying, Yes, I have loved
thee with an everlasting love...
Jeremiah 31:3a
There's a dear couple whom I have been corresponding with for a long time. They have a ministry working with teenagers...
In a recent letter, they confessed to feeling somewhat downcast as a result of various situations they're having to deal with. And when it comes to teenagers, one could only imagine the problems that can come up and the mischief these kids could get into.
So after a period of prayer, as I began to reply to their letter, I sensed the need to simply encourage them by reminding my friends of God's deep love for them. For I know firsthand from my own experiences how easy it is to at times lose sight of the Lord and what my service to Him is all about. I've been through many seasons of weariness and discouragement, and periods when I would feel utterly depleted of energy and strength.
I therefore wrote the following:
"My heart goes out to you as you try to deal with the students
and teenagers whom you minister to. You expressed dismay
at their irresponsible behaviors and their low levels of spirituality.
Well, I pray that since you sat down to write me things have
gotten better.
"I think we are living in a time when each generation seems
to be harder to reach, where moral values are not as apparent,
and so many teenagers are only interested in living for themselves
and their own self-fulfillment.
"But may I remind you that the Lord has called you, and He is
always with you. His love for you is everlasting, and it is promised
in Hebrews 6:10 that God will never forget all you have done for Him
by serving and helping His children, even if His children do not
appreciate you, or do not fully understand your role in teaching
them His Word and planting the Word in their hearts.
"Furthermore, many times we're so busy telling others about Christ's
love for them, and we try so hard to demonstrate the reality of His
love that we sometimes forget to remind ourselves that Jesus
loves us too. We forget that we must ourselves take time to rest in
His love, to bask in it and allow it to penetrate into the deepest
part of our soul.
"I need to do this for myself, as well. In my busyness I sometimes
lose sight of the simplicity that is in Christ, and in the simplicity
of walking in God's love for me while at the same time allow the
Holy Spirit to refresh you. Don't forget that those who serve others
also need to be served..."
D.B.
So after a period of prayer, as I began to reply to their letter, I sensed the need to simply encourage them by reminding my friends of God's deep love for them. For I know firsthand from my own experiences how easy it is to at times lose sight of the Lord and what my service to Him is all about. I've been through many seasons of weariness and discouragement, and periods when I would feel utterly depleted of energy and strength.
I therefore wrote the following:
"My heart goes out to you as you try to deal with the students
and teenagers whom you minister to. You expressed dismay
at their irresponsible behaviors and their low levels of spirituality.
Well, I pray that since you sat down to write me things have
gotten better.
"I think we are living in a time when each generation seems
to be harder to reach, where moral values are not as apparent,
and so many teenagers are only interested in living for themselves
and their own self-fulfillment.
"But may I remind you that the Lord has called you, and He is
always with you. His love for you is everlasting, and it is promised
in Hebrews 6:10 that God will never forget all you have done for Him
by serving and helping His children, even if His children do not
appreciate you, or do not fully understand your role in teaching
them His Word and planting the Word in their hearts.
"Furthermore, many times we're so busy telling others about Christ's
love for them, and we try so hard to demonstrate the reality of His
love that we sometimes forget to remind ourselves that Jesus
loves us too. We forget that we must ourselves take time to rest in
His love, to bask in it and allow it to penetrate into the deepest
part of our soul.
"I need to do this for myself, as well. In my busyness I sometimes
lose sight of the simplicity that is in Christ, and in the simplicity
of walking in God's love for me while at the same time allow the
Holy Spirit to refresh you. Don't forget that those who serve others
also need to be served..."
D.B.
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