Jym Shorts

Jym Shorts - September 26, 2019

by Jym Gregory on September 26, 2019

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.  – 1 Peter 5:5

 

This Sunday we return again to what some have lightheartedly been calling our “yogurt study,” referring to our Oikos – Foundations for the Family series.  This week we’ll consider Peter’s admonitions to us to “put on” humility, and while we do so, to take up the call to be watchful in our lives and conduct. The ultimate goal being full restoration in Christ – to the glory of God whose dominion over all things stretches from forever to forever.

 

This is a worthy goal, but it is much easier said than done.  Pride taints every part of our nature.  It was lurking behind the first sin, and permeates all sin.  It leads ultimately to death, which is the last enemy to be destroyed by the overwhelming majesty of Christ as his saints enter into everlasting glory, where pride will live no more.  Until then – Wow! What a struggle we face tamping down this great enemy of our faith.  How does it connect with a series on family life?  If we can learn to practice humility as God has called us to practice it, our relationships (all of them) will be impacted greatly for the good. Grace is so much easier given and received when pride is not rearing its ugly head.  Fight this enemy within us effectively and our lives, marriages, families, and futures are demonstrably better. Peter reminds us that in so doing God is on our side, because “[he] opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

 

We’ll remain in our Oikosstudy through October.  Then, for the entire month of November, we will commit ourselves to a rather in-depth study of the very short (but very powerful) letter of Paul to Philemon. I’m looking forward to another expository study in God’s word.  We will follow that up with our annual Advent series.  I have entitled this year’s series Great Expectations – The Songs of Advent.  We’ll look at the great biblical songs of hope and expectation for the coming Messiah and how that hope can be transferred to us as we await with anticipation his second advent.  Finally, as we begin the New Year, we will turn our attention to beginnings, with a study in 2020 walking through the book of Genesis.  All this will happen if God chooses to keep me alive and if Jesus tarries a few more months.  How’s that for anticipation? J

 

Our Missions Emphasis was a joy for me again this year. We are off to a great start with the Faith Promise for 2020.  Over $400,000 has already been promised for next year.  God is good, and you are a generous people!  We’ll cap it off this coming Sunday evening with two of our missionaries to the Middle East sharing with us concerning outreach to Muslims and ministry with Muslim background believers.  You’ll want to meet them and hear their story if you are available to join us.

 

Finally, I spoke last Sunday about the necessity of prayer serving as a foundation for missions.  As I was writing this Jym Shorts article a friend dropped this poem on my desk.  It is from a missionary biography by Norma Bobbett, who served (with her family) as a missionary in Niger, Africa.  I hope it will bless you as it blessed me when I read it.

 

You prayed for me. You did not know my need

Or that I had a fear I could not quell.

You sensed that with me all was not well,

And so – you prayed for me.

 

You prayed for me. My path had seemed so black,

And yet I knew there was no turning back;

Then, in my loneliness I felt God near,

And down the long, dark road a light showed clear,

Because you prayed for me.

 

You prayed for me. God did Himself attend

Honored the intercession of my friend,

And as your prayer, like incense sweet did soar,

He did, in love, on me a blessing pour

The day you prayed for me!

 

Grace and peace,

 

Pastor Jym

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