10 Jan Happy Birthday!
- Happy Birthday? Well…yes…it’s a two-fold greeting.
- Exactly 10 years ago this week, Living Water Fellowship received approval from the Office of Fair Trading & the Australian Tax Office that we could legally collect & distribute funds as an incorporated body. Although we didn’t formally constitute ourselves as a congregation/community of faith & call a pastor until the end of June…we were well on our way to where we are today. So Happy Birthday! We’re 10 years old. Keep thinking about the next 10 years…What do you perceive God calling for in our mission on behalf of the Kingdom of God in the name of Jesus moving into the next decade? You’ll be hearing a ton more about that between now & June. And I want to hear from you about that too.
- Today is actually Leonie’s birthday too…10 January. She’s still in Loxton, SA with her family there for a couple more days. They’re basically far enough away from the Murray River to not be in any high water danger…but it sure is changing the way folks have to go about their daily lives as more and more gets swallowed up by the floodwaters. We likely won’t have any festivities until the weekend…her trip back here will be a bit circuitous…planes trains & automobiles!
- Mark your calendar for the upcoming Zoom Bible Study Catch-up — Friday – 13 January 2023 @ 1:00 PM – John 1:29-42
Join Zoom Meeting — https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83586782734 — Meeting ID: 835 8678 2734 – click that link back there & I’ll let you in from the waiting room.
- This coming Sunday is a Morning Tea Sunday! We know what that means…bring something to share & hang around to chat for awhile.
I read Matthew 10 this morning as part of my yearly adventure in reading through the Bible. Take a minute & read it…I’ll still be here when you get back…
I love this chapter & it’s starting to really have an impact in my heart. It begins with Jesus sending out the 12 in mission much like his own: “As you go announce this: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.” (vs 7-8) I’m becoming convinced he has not withdrawn that authority from his church. The commission in Matthew 28 and the subsequent ministry of the church throughout the New Testament tells me our call is no different from theirs recorded here. Let that marinate your soul a bit…
But also…that sounds awesome & I’d expect something glamourous & breath-taking to come next. Breath-taking? Yes. Glamourous? Not so much.
Everything that follows in his instructions is Jesus’ clear word that when the church lives out that sort of “being sent into the world,” the world is going to fight back…hard. If we announce the arrival of a different ruling authority…an authority in forgiveness, restoration, love, wholeness, peace, joy, generosity…opposition, persecution & suffering for the name of Jesus are inevitable. To proclaim & advance his kingdom inevitably is met in this world by rejection. Sure…some will rejoice & repent. But many will fight against your witness with every fibre of their being…even within your own family that will happen.
Two specific verses grabbed me:
Matthew 10:28 – Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:39 – Anyone who finds their life will lose it, and who loses their life because of Me will find it.
Ultimately there is only one final word on our lives, that of the Father who chooses to give us his kingdom & draw us eternally into his presence. Kill me here & I will always have that promise. That means I am free to pursue life in Christ, under his authority in his mission to the world & give up pursuing my life as I want it to unfold…to give up my aspirations, ambitions, desires for his sake so his life will be more fully formed & visible in me. And Jesus has already assured his followers that when we seek His kingdom & righteousness above all other things we receive the things we need to experience his provision & power & presence…like the birds of the air are fed without any anxiety on their part…Matthew 6:19-33
I plan to share some more about that Sunday…in the meantime…How’s it going with your +1 this week?
I’m praying for that experience to be a good one.
Peace
John
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.