Remain Faithful At Any Cost

These words written by the late Henri Nouwen seem right on target for us today:

Many people live with the unconscious or conscious expectation that eventually things will get better; wars, hunger, poverty, oppression, and exploitation will vanish; and all people will live in harmony.  Their lives and work are motivated by that expectation.  When this does not happen in their lifetimes, they are often disillusioned and experience themselves as failures.

But Jesus doesn't support such an optimistic outlook.  He foresees not only the destruction of his beloved city Jerusalem but also a world full of cruelty, violence, and conflict.  For Jesus there is no happy ending in this world.  The challenge of Jesus is not to solve all the world's problems before the end of time but to remain faithful at any cost.

Grateful

Guards -- Remain Faithful

As I sat alongside the Atlantic Ocean on a partly sunny and windy day, a life guard pulled up on his four-wheeler with a verbal warning that the currents in the sea were very strong today. I thanked him and the ocean guard was on his way. Then I read this passage from the book already in my hand:

"Each man and woman is like a soldier sent by God to guard some part of the castle of the Universe. And some are in the ramparts and some far deep in the darkness of the walls. But each one must remain faithful to his post and must not go running about, else the castle is in danger from the assaults of Hell."
-- John Steinback, The Pearl

Let us be vigilant, my brothers and sisters. Let us remain faithful to our post.

Grateful

Snatch Them From The Flames. Hating Sins.

A pastor friend of mine, Kris, recently shared with me this Call to Remain Faithful from the brief but powerful words recorded in the New Testament Book of Jude:

(17) But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. (18) They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. (19) These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. (20) But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, (21) and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. (22) And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. (23) Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.
-- Jude 1:17-23 (NLT)

Holiness Unto the LORD!
Grateful