I'm sure we delight...
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I'm sure we delight in the Lord or we wouldn't be here on Sunday morning, but do we delight "greatly"? That is the question. The New Testament tells us that we should delight in the Lord even more than we love our family. Jesus must come first. Those are hard words to take.
I like the comparison of bridegroom and bride. Love can fade over the years, but the excitement and fresh love we feel on our marriage day can be the strongest we feel in all our married life.
Our newest converts on the mission field were the most enthusiastic about their love for their Lord. They are rich, fertile soil, and as a result their garden is full of sprouts. One of their important sprouts is bringing others to the church to meet the bridegroom. It is because of that that the righteousness and praise spring up in Nepal and the church there is exploding in growth. Telling others about it can help them become more fertile soil also. It can strengthen our faith to see God working wonderful things in others. Hopefully we will also want to be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hands.
It may be more difficult in churches here in this country, where our church relationship may go back generations. I saw a picture of my great-grandfather on my mother's dressing table. She always held him up as a great example of faith. He had come to our country as a missionary from Denmark right after the Civil War. His ancestors were also Christian all the way back. (Mother jokingly said, "Back to Adam and Eve!")
She prayed that I might someday be a pastor and missionary like him. It does not happen instantly. It took many years before the Lord lighted a candle of delight and enthusiasm in me. I was about thirty before God arrayed me in his robe of righteousness. God's timing is not our timing, but if we are patient and pray asking for it, he will give it to us.
My one son who is now about fifty had wandered about into alcohol and drugs. It took him until he was over forty before the Lord lighted that candle in him. As a result he was able to counsel many others who had also fallen as he had and bring them to a new life of hope where they met the bridegroom. So never give up praying and -- expect a miracle! It will come.
We also know that we are close to Christmas and are still excited about our great experiences with loved ones, not to mention the gifts we may have received. It is still fresh in our minds. It still has that freshness as of a bride and groom just after their wedding day.
We need to keep our faith fresh in our hearts and minds and we need God to help us keep it fresh.
I like the comparison of bridegroom and bride. Love can fade over the years, but the excitement and fresh love we feel on our marriage day can be the strongest we feel in all our married life.
Our newest converts on the mission field were the most enthusiastic about their love for their Lord. They are rich, fertile soil, and as a result their garden is full of sprouts. One of their important sprouts is bringing others to the church to meet the bridegroom. It is because of that that the righteousness and praise spring up in Nepal and the church there is exploding in growth. Telling others about it can help them become more fertile soil also. It can strengthen our faith to see God working wonderful things in others. Hopefully we will also want to be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hands.
It may be more difficult in churches here in this country, where our church relationship may go back generations. I saw a picture of my great-grandfather on my mother's dressing table. She always held him up as a great example of faith. He had come to our country as a missionary from Denmark right after the Civil War. His ancestors were also Christian all the way back. (Mother jokingly said, "Back to Adam and Eve!")
She prayed that I might someday be a pastor and missionary like him. It does not happen instantly. It took many years before the Lord lighted a candle of delight and enthusiasm in me. I was about thirty before God arrayed me in his robe of righteousness. God's timing is not our timing, but if we are patient and pray asking for it, he will give it to us.
My one son who is now about fifty had wandered about into alcohol and drugs. It took him until he was over forty before the Lord lighted that candle in him. As a result he was able to counsel many others who had also fallen as he had and bring them to a new life of hope where they met the bridegroom. So never give up praying and -- expect a miracle! It will come.
We also know that we are close to Christmas and are still excited about our great experiences with loved ones, not to mention the gifts we may have received. It is still fresh in our minds. It still has that freshness as of a bride and groom just after their wedding day.
We need to keep our faith fresh in our hearts and minds and we need God to help us keep it fresh.
