August 15, 2019
Dear friends,
Last week, Karen and I attended the 75th anniversary celebration of Global Outreach Mission (GOM) in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where we met new missionaries and tried to “catch up” on news from friends we hadn’t seen in many years. It was a wonderful conference, filled with many blessings, including seeing Mrs. Darlene Carpenter, who led the Children’s program at the GOM conferences in Olcott, NY. She remembered the names of our four children and many others, some of whom are now serving the Lord overseas.
While we were in Ontario, we learned that Winnie Rees, a tremendous prayer warrior, went to be with the Lord. She moved from our church a number of years ago and continued to pray for Karen and me, as well as many others, every day. Winnie lived to the age of 102 and was an inspiration to us all. She will be missed greatly.
Next week, Pastor Michel Martel begins a series of messages on Psalm 1, to be broadcast on the radio network. While speaking in a French-speaking church in Verdun last Sunday, I said that “La Voix de l’Évangile” is aired on a station in the Congo. After the service I met three men from the Democratic Republic of Congo and realized that I should have said Congo-Brazzaville, which is the “other” Congo. Although people are separated by borders and speak different languages, those who trust in Christ will be together in heaven, worshipping our Lord and King.
In preparing for my message, I read some insightful comments in Greg Gilbert’s book “Who is Jesus?” Looking at how Jesus answered a question posed by the Pharisees and Herodians in Matthew 22:15-22, he writes: “Think back to the question Jesus asked when he showed the crowd the coin. ‘Whose image is on this?’ he said, and when they answered that it was Caesar’s, Jesus took that as proof of ownership. It was Caesar’s image on the coin, and therefore he owned it, and therefore you should give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. But – and here’s the kicker – you should also render to God what is God’s. That is, you should give to God that which has his image on it. And what, exactly, is that?
Everyone in the crowd, of course, knew immediately. Jesus was talking about Genesis 1:26, where God announced his plans to create humankind … He (Jesus) was saying that just as Caesar’s image is on the coin, so God’s image is reflected in the very core of your being. And therefore you belong to him!” May we remember every day that we were created to know Him and live for Him.
Scripture for the weekend: “The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:11- 12 (NIV)
Thought for the weekend: “Stubbornness is an unintelligent barrier, refusing enlightenment and blocking its flow. The only thing to do with this barrier is to blow it up with ‘dynamite,’ and the ‘dynamite’ is obedience to the Holy Spirit.” – Oswald Chambers (from his book “My Utmost for His Highest”)
By His grace,
Steve