|
Peace- Joy- Evangelism
Greetings to all in the name of our
Risen Lord, Jesus Christ, who gives to all who seek: His presence- to
guide, comfort, strengthen, and enable us- for His sake and God’s glory.
I come to the beautiful
summer days of August in anticipation through prayer for a month of peace,
joy and evangelism. Peace joy and evangelism?! If you look at the
condition of the world today it may seem difficult to discern any of those
three. But if we approach our search for those three in prayer through
Jesus’ name, we will be blessed and rewarded in our search.
Those of you who are regular
readers of my musings here in The Voice know that I have a tendency to
ramble. This is especially so as I struggle (which happens often as I
write) to express God’s love for you in a way that you will gladly embrace
and so more fully experience the life transforming power of Almighty God.
This life transforming power is given to all who seek in Jesus’ name. This
transformation changes not only we who seek but also those we touch. For
God’s power is unlimited and to His glory we become channels of His great
power of love; to change and to save people He puts in our lives.
As we witness this
experience first-hand, we discover peace, joy, and evangelism.
Peace in our personal life,
peace in our relationships, a peace, which is contagious, and spreads
quickly to all people who yearn and seek for peace.
Joy that is a direct result
of the peace we experience, for reconciliation happens through Christ’s
peace and our relationships are not only mended by made whole, fulfilling
and real, causing great personal joy.
Ah, is not the world seeking
such peace that causes joy? And so, evangelism……
When in God’s love we share
our story, our personal experience with Jesus, we evangelize. When we
evangelize in Jesus’ name and in Jesus’ love, God works miracles in people’s
lives and we witness the peace which causes great joy and further inspires
great evangelical work.
Yes, I ramble, but I pray my
rambling touches some heart to God’s glory just as my heart has been
touched. That thought brings me to something else I really want to share
with you this month.
The reason I stand in
pulpit, the reason I write in The Voice, is because God worked the miracle
of salvation in my life through the evangelism of people who cared about me
and loved me, even when I was unlovable. Most notably, these people have
been my parents. Dad and Mom celebrate this month what I think is an
important milestone in their relationship.
Sixty-five years ago, in
August 1943, as the world tottered and reeled in the terror of a world war,
my Mom and Dad were married. They pledged to honor and love each other no
matter what the world may throw their way. They have remained true to that
commitment and promise. Today they witness gladly to the truth that God,
revealed through the teachings of Jesus Christ, has made real a relationship
blessed and filled with a love that never ends, a love that is beyond the
understanding of the world. And it is through their prayers for me and
witness to me that I stand, proclaim, and write this day.
When most of the world had
given up on me, when I had even given up on myself for I was so of “the
world” but didn’t even know it, Mom and Dad never doubted the
life-transforming power of our Almighty God and they never ceased to pray
and witness to that power. My life was most certainly changed. God’s good
news about reconciliation and salvation made known through Jesus Christ
became an experience for me that has changed me forever. The vows of love
my parents exchanged 65 years ago this month were an integral part of the
means God used for my salvation experience. Thanks Mom, thanks Dad. I am
certain God will continue to bless you in your love for each other that will
never end.
To all who read this: may
the story I just shared about my parents’ witness and faith encourage you to
the same.
To Mom and Dad: Happy 65th
Anniversary- I love you.
Your servant and son in
Christ,
pastor john
|
