By this shall all men know that
you are My disciples, if you have
love one to another.
John 13:35
Recently, a serious situation has arisen within our ranks...
you are My disciples, if you have
love one to another.
John 13:35
Recently, a serious situation has arisen within our ranks...
But it's nothing that the Lord cannot handle. And while I am not at liberty to discuss exactly what it is, these kinds of problems do crop up in churches on occasion because not everyone is walking with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And, even though we are Christians who love God and love each other, our flesh is still weak at times. It's so easy to fall into all kinds of temptations.
Nevertheless, in order to properly handle the problem, the elders of the congregation - those of us who've been Christians for a long time - met yesterday afternoon in the chapel to seek the Lord on this. We obviously needed God's direction on how to handle the matter. And I believe that after a period of fervent prayer, we received our answer. There were several different options available to us. But we wanted to go the best route, and now it will happen. The problem will eventually and hopefully soon be resolved.
Yet it is frustrating to me because these kinds of things seem to add to my overall exhaustion. It's more stress, which I don't need. Besides, the problem was preventable in the first place. And it reminded me, too, of the Israelites who could not learn the lessons God was trying to teach them. Thus, they wandered in the desert for forty needless years for a trip which should've taken only a few weeks.
I'm smiling now as I think about the situation, the seriousness of it, and the silliness of it. When one fire in the church gets put out, it seems that through our foolish actions, another fire starts. How merciful, therefore, is the Lord. His patience is far beyond what mine is. Surely God must be shaking His head in amazement at the way we Christians, even those of us who are supposed to be spiritually mature, so often mess up. What love and restraint the Lord has, to put up with us. Ha!
Furthermore, the best part is that all our sins and blunders, as dumb as they are, can be forgiven. With God's help, our problems can be fixed. For it is oftentimes in these aggravating and patience-testing situations that the family of Christ learns to work together. We learn to see beyond our failings and shortcomings, and instead settle our differences. We learn, as well, to overcome every problem with love.
This, I believe, is one of the mysteries of the church. How that, we Christians, who seem to bicker so much among ourselves, still allow love and unity to triumph. Such a God ordained love is what keeps us together. It keeps us strong. And it is a love that, when it is placed on display before the eyes of a hate filled world, lets them know that God himself is love.*
D.B.
*1 John 4:8
Nevertheless, in order to properly handle the problem, the elders of the congregation - those of us who've been Christians for a long time - met yesterday afternoon in the chapel to seek the Lord on this. We obviously needed God's direction on how to handle the matter. And I believe that after a period of fervent prayer, we received our answer. There were several different options available to us. But we wanted to go the best route, and now it will happen. The problem will eventually and hopefully soon be resolved.
Yet it is frustrating to me because these kinds of things seem to add to my overall exhaustion. It's more stress, which I don't need. Besides, the problem was preventable in the first place. And it reminded me, too, of the Israelites who could not learn the lessons God was trying to teach them. Thus, they wandered in the desert for forty needless years for a trip which should've taken only a few weeks.
I'm smiling now as I think about the situation, the seriousness of it, and the silliness of it. When one fire in the church gets put out, it seems that through our foolish actions, another fire starts. How merciful, therefore, is the Lord. His patience is far beyond what mine is. Surely God must be shaking His head in amazement at the way we Christians, even those of us who are supposed to be spiritually mature, so often mess up. What love and restraint the Lord has, to put up with us. Ha!
Furthermore, the best part is that all our sins and blunders, as dumb as they are, can be forgiven. With God's help, our problems can be fixed. For it is oftentimes in these aggravating and patience-testing situations that the family of Christ learns to work together. We learn to see beyond our failings and shortcomings, and instead settle our differences. We learn, as well, to overcome every problem with love.
This, I believe, is one of the mysteries of the church. How that, we Christians, who seem to bicker so much among ourselves, still allow love and unity to triumph. Such a God ordained love is what keeps us together. It keeps us strong. And it is a love that, when it is placed on display before the eyes of a hate filled world, lets them know that God himself is love.*
D.B.
*1 John 4:8
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