• Our hope-filled future is bound up in sharing the story of Jesus, in discipling others, in bringing those disciples together into communities of believers, and in developing and releasing those believers to create other communities... till Jesus the King comes again!

Other graces

Posted on December 6, 2021 by wtdavid

Yesterday, one of our local church members, Jacques (prof at a seminary nearby), gave the message. We are currently in a series on Advent, thinking through several of the names attributed to the Son of God.  This past Sunday’s focus was on the name we know so well: Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25).

Jacques presented this text in Matthew in the larger context of God’s sovereignty over the history of His people. For example:

  • Though Jesus was a common name at the time, it is God the Father who chooses this name for the Savior He will send.
  • Citing a passage from Isaiah, Matthew shows how far into the past (and the future) God’s plan extends.
  • The main and only protagonist in this story is God. Man and woman are simply passive.

But then, Jacques made an interesting observation: what was good news for the world, was not good news at first for Joseph & Mary.  He asked us to think about what this “news” meant to Joseph.  The text is pretty clear that it placed Joseph & Mary in a very delicate situation.  How were they to explain to others the fact of Mary’s pregnancy, given that they were not living together? 

Sometimes, God demonstrates grace towards us by placing us in a difficult or hard situation. This grace, in the moment, may seem ambiguous or unclear because the real blessing of what God is allowing us to go through will not become evident till later. And often that difficulty will become a gift to others as we allow God’s grace to sustain and teach us in the midst of the situation in which we find ourselves.

I couldn’t help but think of numerous applications of Jacques’ insights to our lives as cross-cultural workers.  Life as a cross-cultural worker is exciting, adventurous, a “wild ride” as I sometimes describe it.  However, cross-cultural living is plain hard at times.  Trying to learn the language(s) of the people to whom you minister.  Navigating cultural differences which cause us frustrations and misunderstandings.  Giving and giving to others in another culture, only to see them turn away from Christ. 

Could it be that God’s demonstration of grace in these instances is often hidden from our eyes by our own complaining spirit?  Could it be that we forget later to see how God ‘graced’ us through those hard times to prepare us for the ministry to which He has called us?

Let us help one another to see His grace(s) to us, even in the hard moments of life and ministry as cross-cultural workers.

Filed under: Crossing cultures, Grace, Jesus Christ | 6 Comments »

A Joyous Celebration of the Resurrection!

Posted on April 3, 2021 by wtdavid

May this hymn of Isaac Watts refresh our hearts in the truth of Christ’s death and resurrection. He is risen!

Alas!  And did my Saviour bleed,

And did my Sovereign die!

Would he devote that sacred head

For such a worm as I!

Was it for crimes that I had done

He groaned upon the tree!

Amazing pity!  Grace unknown!

And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide,

And shut his glories in,

When Christ, the mighty Maker, died

For man the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face

While his dear cross appears;

Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,

And melt mine eyes in tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay

The debt of love I owe;

Here, Lord, I give myself away,

‘Tis all that I can do.

Filed under: Cross of Christ, Gospel, Grace, Resurrection | Leave a comment »

Why challenges don’t always work

Posted on January 25, 2021 by wtdavid

Giving oneself (or a group) a challenge can be exciting.  The idea of ‘rising above’ one’s (or a team’s) current capacity creates a certain thirst or motivation to take on the challenge.  Cycling 150 kilometers for a humanitarian aid project, or learning a new language in order to communicate the Gospel with a neighbor or colleague from another culture, or praying for a daily or weekly spiritual conversation would all qualify as possible ways to push ourselves to ‘exercise’ and work beyond where we currently find ourselves.  

However, any challenge can quickly lose steam and interest as other important priorities (or simply daily life concerns) come along to sap the effort needed to daily take on a given challenge.

You may remember that two years ago, we launched the 1+1 Challenge.  It was an encouragement for each of us to pray towards leading one person into a relationship with Jesus, and journey with one person towards cross cultural missions.  If you were like me, you started well, but the motivation slowly dissipated as time went by and other things got in the way.

Now there is nothing wrong with the many other objectives of our lives and ministries taking priority over current challenges. What intrigues me though is why I (and perhaps you) can be quick to accept a challenge, launch out, but then slowly lose the motivation to continue.

There it is.  It’s ultimately a question of ‘motivation’.  In other words, is this challenge something God is calling me and us to participate in?  And if so, where am I (we) going to find the drive to pursue any given challenge?   

For us, this is where grace and the Gospel comes in.  Chalmers called it: ‘the expulsive power of a new affection’.  Only when we are deeply aware, overwhelmed you might say, by the deep, constant, and eternal love of God for each one of us could we find the intrinsic motivation needed to pursue His challenges for us. Only when His compassion and mercy demonstrated to us is able to displace what currently holds sway in our hearts, can we find the strength and courage to do what He calls us, what He challenges us to do.

Probably the greatest being that in whatever do, we do all to the glory of God.

Filed under: 1plus1, Challenge, Gospel, Grace | 2 Comments »

The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification

Posted on August 26, 2020 by wtdavid

Walter Marshall, in his book: The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification, writes:

“We are all, by nature, void of all strength and ability to perform acceptably that holiness and righteousness which the law requireth … [The] doctrine of original sin, which Protestants generally profess, is a firm basis and ground-work to the assertion now to be proved, and to many other assertions in this whole discourse.  If we believe it to be true, we cannot rationally encourage ourselves to attempt an holy practice, until we are acquainted with some powerful and effectual means to enable us to do it … Men show themselves strangely forgetful, or hypocritical, in professing original sin in their prayers, catechisms, and confessions of faith; and yet urging upon themselves and others the practice of the law, without the consideration of any strengthening, enlivening means; as if there were no want of ability, but only of activity.” 

Maybe it might be best to ‘translate’ Marshall’s thoughts into language we could more easily grasp or understand.

All of us know that we are brought from the shame of sin to the honor of a beloved child of God by the work of Christ on our behalf.  God opens our hearts that we might put our faith and trust in the Gospel of Christ (Ephesians 2)

However, though we know that is by grace and the Gospel that we become members of God’s family, we tend to see the Christian life that follows as our own effort and work to please the Father.

Marshall states that the doctrine of original sin would tell us otherwise.  Just as we came into this relationship with the God of the universe by faith, so we live out that relationship by faith.  He enables us to believe in Him, and He enables us to live for Him.

If that is true, then it impacts how we live and what we share with other disciples.  For example, when we call a disciple to obey God’s Word, we must call them as well to plead with God for the grace to obey.

Would love to hear other examples that might come to your mind

Filed under: Discipleship, Gospel, Grace, Holiness | 8 Comments »

Celebrate Grace

Posted on May 20, 2019 by wtdavid

While sitting with a group of believers, someone starts playing a worship song on the piano or guitar. They are just playing the music.  What happens next?  Those who know the words begin to softly sing along with the music. 

Peter, at the end of his first letter (1 Peter 5), shares some parting counsel with his readers.  Some of the words of wisdom stand out from the others: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you into his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm strengthen, and establish you.” (5:11)

Peter describes God as ‘the God of all grace’.  It’s interesting that he didn’t write: ‘the God of grace’, but the ‘God of all grace’ as if to underline that God’s very heart is one of abundant grace. 

All of us face difficulties and struggles in our work to see disciples raised up and communities of believers multiplied.  There are numerous obstacles such as our own pride, the hardened hearts of others, or just plain daily living. There is an enemy as well who seeks to wreak havoc in our lives and in the work in which we are engaged.

Peter’s counsel to his readers, and to us, is learn to celebrate the God of all grace.  Despite everything that may be happening around us, one thing does not change and will not change: God has placed His unending love on us and no one will ‘snatch us’ from His grip.

It’s always easy to say what I just wrote.  It’s quite another to lay hold of it each day, with our arms of faith.  Probably why we need to find ways to ‘tell ourselves the Good News’ again today, tomorrow, and each day this week.

A great way is by remembering or rehearsing the words to songs that put our hearts back on Christ.

Here’s a song I might suggest: Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me

What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh how strange and divine, I can sing: all is mine!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

Filed under: Celebration, Grace, Worship | 2 Comments »

Grate-ful

Posted on January 10, 2019 by wtdavid

Just finished reading an article by TJ Addington on gratitude.  He cited an article from Forbes magazine about the 7 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude that will Motivate You to Give Thanks Year-Round. Then he finished off his article with that most difficult of questions: “Are you living a thankful life today?”

It kind of ‘grate-d’ against my soul to read that question, rather than cause a gusher of grate-fulness to pour out of my heart. 

Now the problem is not with TJ, nor the article. It’s actually with my heart, with our hearts.  We are just not satisfied.  Not satisfied with life, with work … we might even admit we are not satisfied with God at times.  As Tim Chester put the question: “Do you want more of God? Do you want to enjoy him?  Or let’s put the question like this: do you like God?”

So as I start, as we start 2019, a check of our hearts would be in order.  Here is a short text and one question to reflect on and get us started:

“A soul that is capable of God can be filled with nothing else but God; nothing but God can fill a soul that is capable of God. Though a gracious heart knows that it is capable of God, and was made for God, carnal hearts think without reference to God. But a gracious heart, being enlarged to be capable of God, and enjoying somewhat of him, can be filling by nothing in the world; it must only be God himself. Therefore you will observe that whatever God may give to a gracious heart, a heart that is godly, unless he give himself it will not do.  A godly heart will not only have the mercy, but the God of that mercy as well; and then a little matter is enough in the world, so be it he has the God of the mercy which he enjoys.”

What ‘distracting, heart-consuming care’ keeps us from prizing again today our union with Christ and the work God is carrying out in our lives?

If you are interested in reading further: The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Jeremiah Burroughs.  It’s not an easy read, but well worth the effort as Burroughs speaks to the heart to motivate, not our pride.

Filed under: Grace, Reflection, Thankfulness | Leave a comment »

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