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Dear Christian Family Fellowshipper,
God bless you in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. Do
you see what God sees when you look in a mirror? Do you
see the glory of the Lord and the brilliance of the Christ
in you? Do you see that you have a ministry? God has called
you to serve. (That's what "ministry" means;
it is a service.)
II Corinthians 3:18; 4:1:
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the
glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from
glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received
mercy, we faint not;
We "have this ministry," or
as the Greek puts it, "therefore having this ministry."
There should be no doubt in our mind, we have this ministry
because WE HAVE RECEIVED MERCY. Our lives have
been touched by the master's hand and we make beautiful
music together. The Living Translation translates II Corinthians
4:1, "And so, since God in his mercy has given us
this wonderful ministry, we never give up." I love
that statement. WE NEVER GIVE UP!
Sir Winston Churchill took three years
getting through eighth grade because he had trouble
learning English. It seems ironic that years later Oxford
University asked him to make an address at one of its
commencement exercises. He arrived with his usual props
-- a cigar, a cane and a top hat. As Churchill approached
the podium, the crowd rose in appreciative applause.
"With unmatched dignity, he settled
the crowd and stood confident before his admirers. Removing
the cigar and carefully placing the top hat on the podium,
Churchill gazed at his waiting audience. Authority rang
in his voice as he shouted, 'Never give up!' Several
seconds passed before he rose to his toes and repeated.
'Never give up!' His words thundered in their ears.
There was a deafening silence as Churchill reached for
his hat and cigar, steadied himself with his cane, and
left the platform. His commencement address was finished"
(Reported in the "Speaker's Sourcebook II").
What are you commencing? What's on your
"things to do today" list? How much more important
is it for us as laborers together with God, to trust Him
no matter what, and eagerly do his will. How important
is it for us-especially in reaching people with the gospel
of the good news of the great mystery- to never give Up!
Knowing that God is working in us and with us, what more
do we need!
Still ministering,
Wayne Clapp
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