Steadfast in purpose. An amazing example!

Recently while prayerfully reading Acts chapter 11:19-26, I was struck, once again, by the early church's missionary zeal.

It is the account of those who were scattered because of the persecution in Jerusalem and how they continued to witness to Jesus as Lord! They weren't silenced or intimidated by the persecution.They couldn't stop talking about this good news of what God had done in Jesus of Nazareth who was raised from the dead. Some of those who were evangelizing began to share with non-Jews, Greeks, about the Lord Jesus. As a result many came to believe! The Church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to see what was happening and to help build up the new believers. When he saw the grace of God evident in the lives of those who believed, he was glad. Barnabas then exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord and steadfast in purpose (vs 23). I felt like that was a word for me and for those of us who serve in and our friends of ChristLife. It is a good word, isn't it? Something we all want in our walk with the Lord Jesus. To be faithful to him and absolutely steadfast in our purpose.

While in Michigan last week presenting a mission for two parishes, the pastor of St. Therese's shared a YouTube video that really illustrates faithfulness and steadfastness in purpose. Take a look and give thanks to the Lord for this man! You may not feel called to do what he did, but the key point that all of us should admire is his steadfastness in doing what he was called to do!

May we all have such passion to make the Lord known to others! May each of us be steadfast in purpose.

Perseverance and Practice in Christ.

But solid food is for the mature- for those who have their faculties trained by practice to distinguish good and evil. Hebrews 5:14

This is what the Lord intends for us who follow him. He desires for his kids to grow in Christ- likeness, in Christian maturity. We are to have the family resemblance. We are to resemble our older brother, Jesus. That’s what holiness is about. To think and behave like Jesus, as if he were us, by the empowering grace of God. Not to try and attempt externally to play act what we think we ought to be and do, but to allow his Spirit to make us like him from the inside out. That takes a life time of experience and connection to Him.

God knows that we learn from experience as is clearly illustrated for us in Scripture. The stories of the Bible our intended to help us learn how to best live. So the Saints lives in the Old and New Testament recount not only the glories of their lives but also their sins. Think of Adam and Eve, Abraham, David or Peter.

Hopefully we learn from their experiences but more often than not its our experiences that help to instruct us, both the good and sinful choices that we make. Everything (St Augustine tells us even sin) works together for good for those who love God and are called by him... so that we might be conform to the image of Jesus. Romans 8:28,29

As I get older, more mature in age, I find myself identifying with the people of the Bible much more readily and closely. I appreciate them, feel like I know them and empathize with their failings and rejoice in their choices to say yes to God and trust in his unfailing faithfulness.
I also see a characteristic of all the saints both in Scripture and in the Church’s history - they get up and go on. When they fail, they turn once more to God and continue walking with him. The Spirit instructs and transforms (sanctifies) them through perseverance, through practice, to think and act more like Jesus!

Over the last couple of years, I have taken time to reflect on my life and relationships. I have had the blessing of a mentor who has helped me to examine how things have gone for me up to the present. I have seen some things I had never known about myself. One example has to do with a tendency to grow passive in certain relationships and not speak honestly on what I think and feel about the relationship. I never even recognized this weakness in myself. I just didn’t see it.

Now I am learning the power of speaking the truth in love by practicing in my relationships. It is sort of like exercising a set of muscles that have never received strength training. I am growing in virtue, as my thinking becomes more subject to the Lord’s truth and light, which brings change to my behavior! Not easy, painful at times - hard work in prayer, reflection and conversation. Yet it is a wonderful grace where I can see He is at work to change me, to make me to think and act like Jesus! To help me to love like he loves.

When we are transformed by his grace at work within us, as we persevere and practice, his Spirit works not only in us, but through us. We freely receive in order to freely give. When we are healed we are to become healers, when we are delivered we are to be his delivers. Any work of grace is to become a grace for others.

Holiness, Christ-likeness is essential to and Christian who brings good news to others.

May we each continue to draw close to our Father and allow him to transform us as we persevere and practice his truth in the love of Christ our Lord!