The Light of life

I'm writing from the corner of my couch, looking out at the clear blue sky. It is a gorgeous day in West Tennessee, 65 and sunny according to weather.com! Despite the beauty of this day, part of me (not a big enough part!) is heavy because in reality (since the spiritual is way more real than the physical) there are people all around me who are in deep darkness....

....They do not know Christ. They do not know His power to "melt a heart of stone." Many, in truth, do not want to know Him or even hear about Him. They are, as Romans 1 says, "exchang(ing) the truth of God for a lie, and worship(ing) and serv(ing) created things rather than the Creator."

The soul-anchoring hope that we have in Jesus (see here) inspires us to keep going....to keep loving people despite their hatred, to keep reaching out despite their rejection, to keep preaching the truth even when they plug their ears and run, screaming, in the other direction. Do you know why? Because it's not about us and it's not done by us. God's Spirit is at work-calling, drawing, leading people to repentance by His extraordinary Grace. We are merely the vessel, holding and pouring out that precious, Living Water.

And yet, oh, how I am tempted to become prideful! What a ridiculous thought, right? Pride? From ME of all people? Oh Savior please, keep saving me....

Pray for Daniel and I as we strive to abide in Christ and to reach out to our neighbors here in our little apartment community. How desperately they need to know Him! Some have expressed interest and are even responding to the Word....pray that they will grow in their knowledge and love of the Savior and that they would (if they are not already) become sheep in His fold. Pray particularly for a woman who has consistently come to hear Daniel preach on Saturday afternoons who has four small children and an unbelieving husband....she, like the rest of us, needs the grace of Christ to get by. Oh Father, may we be able to show it to her!

John 8:12-When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."