KANSAS – This morning I’m waking up in a 1920’s “Craftsman” bungalow in the town of Lyons, an hour or so outside of Wichita. It’s one of those classic mid-America communities with tree-lined streets, a town square, and a red brick courthouse.
The Disciples of Christ men’s retreat is over, and I’ll be speaking at the First Christian Church here before heading to the airport and back home again to Wake Forest (via Chicago) Sunday afternoon.
I had a very positive experience with the guys, We talked about “Living a Life-Charged Faith” and about how critically important it is to approach every new day with the commitment to follow Jesus, and then to actually follow through.
PROMISE AND BELIEF: Saturday evening I thought about how I might translate some of what I experienced with the DOC men into a Sunday morning message at the First Christian Church,
And then it hit me. I’m going to talk about encouragement, about how travelling around the country to share my story always ends up encouraging me, about how God is such a faithful encourager, and how God experiences genuine joy when his children live as if the promises of encouragement are actually true.
There’s this amazing statement that appears in Second Corinthians chapter one. “Every promise God ever made turns out to be a resounding yes in Jesus!”
I think that’s an amazing idea to express – something almost beyond my ability to process. However, if we really believe that Jesus is God, then it only makes sense to understand Jesus as the complete fruition of God’s purposes, and of God’s belief in this world.
You see, it’s not only our belief in God that makes a difference; God’s belief in us is even more profound.
So I’m going to church this morning full with the idea that God’s commitment to believing in us is such a wonder, that I am encouraged beyond words. But I pray I find at least a few words to share at least a portion of the Good News – DEREK
So glad that we can still get your blog! Always encouraging! Glad, too, that you are able to touch the lives of people all across this nation from different denominations. A true response to the great commission! Sandy
Thanks Sandy!
Derek, your blog reminded me of one of my favorite parts of scripture–God’s blessing of Abraham. There are actually two parts to it. The first is where God promises a huge number of offspring. That’s not such a big deal for the God who created the universe. John the Baptist reminds us that God could make children for Abraham out of a pile of rocks. It’s God’s second blessing (which Galatians calls “the Gospel given to Abraham”) that is the kicker. God promises that we, who possess the gift of free will, are going to be a blessing to the nations. God is counting on us to carry out part of the promise that was “sworn by God’s own name.” As you note in your blog…God has more faith in us than we have in God.
Were you in Kansas this morning? Abraham was in my message!