Effectiveness

I heard an amazing sermon preached this morning on the doctrine of sanctification. I could go on and on about the whole thing, but there was one particular piece that convicted me and encourages me and placed a wholesome blessing on my life:

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1: 5-8

Right now as I am transitioning from one time and place in my life to a completely new and different one, I find myself fearing that I won't be able to find a ministry in which I will be productive and effective for the glorification of the Lord. I worry that I will be so overloaded with classes and work that I won't be able to find the time to have legitimate corporate worship and that my vision and passion for the inner city will die without ever coming to realization. My pursuit of these things, however, will lead to productiveness in my knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The Church

I was sitting in New Student Orientation at my new school today and as I was listening to a story about the miraculous growth of an underground church in Asia it dawned on me that the problem with American church (well.. not the fundamental problem, but a huge one nonetheless) is that we have forgotten what it means to suffer. Look at how quickly these underground churches are flourishing. American bodies are, more often than not, dead or dying. Our "cross" that we "bear" is taking time out of our chaotic schedules to be involved with our local church, not realizing what an amazing gift this actually is. The church all over the world is suffering severe persecution and martyrdom for the cause of glorifying our Maker and yet the majority of Christians in America, including myself, don't even make evangelism a part of their weekly schedule. We use excuses like 'well I'd rather do it in a setting with people I know." Good! make sure the people you are closest to know how worthy God is of praise and exaltation. Then take a big step and do WHATEVER it takes to glorify God, even if it means taking a step out of your little Southern Baptist box. If that means seemingly making a fool of yourself on every street corner in the city, DO IT, and remember that these sufferings probably will not lead to your death, but they will most certainly bear fruit of some sort (visible and presently obvious or not). There is huge growth in suffering and their is also HUGE GLORY! This is glory that our Holy Father is sooo deserving of.

But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. --- 1 Peter 4:13

Isaiah

This morning we got news that the HIV orphan that we had been watching and praying over had passed away. Rejoice in his healing, for he is now in Heaven worshipping our Father with the rest of the saints but also please keep his sister and Kelsey Hendricks in your prayers. Pray that we would not lose fervor for reaching this region with the Gospel.

For the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,
Mara Masters