God’s providence. We know that God is sovereign and has a plan for all things. We know he is all-knowing, ever-present, and all-powerful. All too often (at least for me) I can lose sight of the fact that his providence is also personal to each one of us. It is not just an over arching big thing (even though it is that too!). It applies to each of us individually.
Let me tell you a story to illustrate what I mean.
If you have been watching any of our posts on Facebook or Instagram, you will notice something very obvious about me in any of the pictures I appear in.
I don’t exactly blend in with the people here.
Babu says often that Freddie could pass as Indian – when I ask about me, he laughs… really hard. I stand a full head taller than the women here and most of the men as well. I am gray haired and very – very – white skinned. There is no hiding me. I haven’t seen another white skinned person in almost a month.
Yesterday (Thursday) was another full day. Four more church visits and some time spent at one of the bible training centers. I have no idea how many kilometers we traveled – but it sure seemed like a lot. But here, travel takes a long time because of the bad roads, curvy, twisting streets and traffic.
When we got home last night I was wrecked. I was physically and emotionally drained. I awoke this morning and began thinking through all of the places we have been and all of the people we have met – and all of the things we have seen. It made me weep with the heaviness of it all. I know I have mentioned this before – but the need in this nation is indescribable. The more we travel and the more we see – the more it hits home.
Today qualified as a “Whistle Stop Tour” of four churches here in Kerala. We were able to see their buildings (most often a home or rented building), meet the Pastor and his family, and a small number of each congregation. Due to the time of day, many of the believers of the churches were working. It is such a humbling experience to visit these churches. It really changes your perspective and your heart.
We are nearing the close of our 11th day here in India. Both Freddie and I had intentions of posting a lot more than we have, but we are kept pretty busy most days and when we are able to get time to write – we usually end up spending it reading or having conversations with Babu and learning as much as we can about his ministry and how things work here.
To say this has been a learning experience would be putting it mildly. Not only have we been blessed to learn more about GCM as a whole, we have learned about culture, language, and have gotten to know Babu and his family more. It doesn’t seem like we have been here for almost two weeks, yet it also seems like we have been here longer.
I have an internal countdown clock ticking away in my brain. Every day when I wake up it tells me how many days remain until we depart for our trip to India. As I slowly come to consciousness after I shut off the alarm, my brain frantically calculates the days. Along with the number comes a skip of my heart and catching of my breath – and then a sense of joy.
Have you ever read scripture or listened to a sermon and thought to yourself “Boy, could so and so use this”? Or “Wow I could totally use this to point out what so and so isn’t doing (or needs to do)!” If we are honest with each other – we would admit to doing it. I have.
And in the spirit of transparency, I did it recently. I started reading 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, and listening to sermons on it to use it against you. Yes – you. Even if we don’t know each other, that was my plan. I was going to use it for anyone I could reach to show you how you are lacking in giving. Nice, huh? But by God’s amazing grace and his loving discipline, he knows better what we need than we do. And this case was no different. So, I am not here to throw scripture at you to show you where you are lacking – because God showed me through his word where I still have a lot of weakness. So instead, I am going to share with you what I have learned about my own heart in this area. My prayer is that you find it edifying, yet convicting if you need it.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 2 Corinthians 4:7
Our team devotion today was focused on Exodus 3:13-22. This is where Moses asks God who he should say sent him when he speaks to the Israelites. God proceeds to tell him to say I AM WHO I AM. Earlier in the chapter, in verse 11, Moses says “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
Moses felt completely inadequate and unequipped to do what God had called him to do. And he was – on his own power. But he wasn’t doing it on his own, he was simply the vessel God chose to use. We all are.
Sitting in the Dubai airport last night (I think it was last night…I am not sure what day it is right now) I heard the Muslim call to prayer. It was something I knew existed but had never experienced. But I instantly knew what it was as soon as I heard it. It was a haunting reminder of the desperate need for the light of the gospel in this dark world.
In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” This is the missing link among all other religions in the world – the key. Jesus. Without him there is no hope of salvation, but only eternal death. Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists just to name a few religions worship false gods – gods who are not alive. Gods who are not able to save. They are religions that do not recognize Jesus Christ as the Savior and Lord. And as our text tells us – he is the only way to salvation. There is no other.
“You can’t save your life – you can only spend it. So spend it well. Spend it for Christ.” – Tim Keesee
Security and comfort. If we are honest with ourselves, we all desire those things to one degree or another. They may look different to each of us, but in the end we still strive to achieve them. I know I did for many years. The problem arises when we look for them in people, things, and ways that are temporal and not eternal.
Following Christ takes you in a different direction and often times it is in the exact opposite direction of what we usually perceive security and comfort to look like.
