Let us consider a hymn of daily life,
written by Charles Wesley and published in 1749...
Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I go,
My daily labor to pursue;
Thee, only Thee, resolved to know
In all I think or speak or do.
What is your daily labor? You and I
share at least one task in common: prayer. Jesus Christ calls us to pray. Our
prayers cast out fear and open us to hospitality and friendship. Our prayers
give us wisdom and courage to initiate relationships, to extend grace to
strangers, and to entertain angels unaware. Our daily labor in prayer
encourages us to fast from apathy, to serve others, feed the hungry, challenge
injustice, and be the body of Christ in the world.
-- George Hovaness Donigian in “A World Worth Saving”, used by
permission of Upper Room Books.
#4179
“Then
Jesus told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to
everyone.’” (Mark 16:15 NLT)
“Do
you love Me enough to tell them?” Christianity is rare among the world
religions in containing an explicit command to tell unbelievers the Good News
and to urge them to convert. It is an uncomfortable calling… This obligation to
evangelize is perhaps the aspect most resented by those outside the faith, and
most neglected by those inside. It is an awkward calling. But it is commanded
of Jesus, as blunt as the calls to love our enemies and to care for the
poor…
-- Frederica Mathewes-Green
#4178
It is
a paradox, yet a principle of effective… leadership you can count on: The best
leaders are, first of all, followers. “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more
than these?” asked Jesus of the soon-to-be leader of the post-Resurrection
church. That question brought forth the second of Peter’s confessions. The
first was at Caesarea Philippi: “You are the Messiah,” said Peter, “the Son of
the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-20 NRSV) Now, on the shores of the Galilee,
Peter declares his love and full surrender three times, “Yes, Lord; You know
that I love You.” (John 21:15 NRSV)
Jesus
chose Peter, I think, not because he was the brightest and the bravest, but
because he was the most fully surrendered. His two confessions testify to his
faith. Faith is surrender. To follow Jesus is to trust Him as you trust no
other; it is to live the surrendered life. Paul would later write, “I have been
crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who life, but it is Christ who lives
in me.” (Galatians 2:20 NRSV)
There
is a story told about General William Booth of the Salvation Army who, on one
occasion, was asked the secret of the Army’s success. The former Methodist
preacher answered: “I will tell you the secret. God has had all there was of me
to have -- all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, all the
influence of my life.”
-- Roger K. Swanson in the “Offering Christ
Today” newsletter, Spring 1996
#4177
A word
to Christians who are [public] school teachers and administrators: Most of the
teachers my children have had in school were Christians, and for this I am
grateful. Though you cannot overtly seek
to bring your students to faith in Christ, you can minister to them. You can encourage children and believe in
them. You play such an important role,
and God is honored by what you do with your lives. You chose a career that may never pay six
figures but that allows you to invest in the lives of our children. Teachers are heroes, and we are grateful to
them. And you as Christian teachers,
while you may not intentionally use your position to lead children to the
Christian religion, you may certainly let Christ's love shine through you.
You
teachers may pray for your children by name in the evenings at home. You may live the gospel in how you love them
at school. You may ask the Holy Spirit
to work through you as you work with the most challenging of these kids. You may listen for the Lord to guide you in
what you do.
--
Adam Hamilton in “Confronting the Controversies”
#4176
God is
great and God is powerful, but we must invite Him to be powerful in our
lives. His strength is always there, but
it's up to us to provide a channel through which that power can flow.
Some
of you feel beat up and drained. Some of
you feel like a victim who has been picked on so thoroughly that your bones are
clean. Some of you face daunting tasks
and stiff challenges, and you're worried that you don't have what it takes to
carry on. I challenge you to act as
though you are empowered, and see -- just test it -- if God does not send His
strength your way. Determine this very
moment to walk in the direction God is asking you to go and just trust that He
will grant you power along the way.
Paul
urges us, "Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power
of God." (1 Corinthians 2:5)
-- Bill Hybels in “The God You're Looking For”
#4175
