Here we are in China as SERVANTS of our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing more and nothing less. God has begun a GOOD WORK in each and every one of us and we can stand confidently upon His PROMISE to CONTINUE this work on to COMPLETION on the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:6). And since our foundations were secured during the disciple equipping course with FCE, I know that one of the most important works He has started in me is the RENEWAL OF MY MIND (Rom 12:2). Surely it is a privilege to SHARE this GRACE OF GOD with His church around the world.
Paul was (and is) one of the greatest leaders of the Christian faith ever and his letters to the church of Christ inspires me and is currently teaching me to pray for my team as well as the people we meet each day. His prayer in Phil 1:9-11 starts with a plea for love to abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. If GOD IS LOVE and our utmost ambition each day is to welcome the SPIRIT to SOAK us and LEAD us and FILL us with even more love, then our lives will be a spontaneous outpour of more of WHO GOD IS. And God is also TRUTH and the AUTHOR OF ALL KNOWLEDGE, so having more of His LOVE (i.e. more of Him) will also grant us INSIGHT in His ways and make us vessels of TRUE WISDOM from God.
God created all mankind in His image to be PURE and BLAMELESS and IN LOVE BEFORE HIM (Eph 1:4-5). Because of sin, however, none of us are. We all fall short of the glory of God and in ourselves have done nothing but sin. We are undeserving of any grace whatsoever. But in God’s great mercy He did send his Son Jesus Christ for us and because of Him and in Him we do have righteousness. This is why I pray with Paul for love to increase and grow (1 Thes 3:12) because the knowledge and depth of insight that arises from it will ENABLE us to DISCERN what is best and to be PURE and BLAMELESS, bearing the FRUIT OF RIGHTEUOSNESS – the righteousness that comes only by faith in Christ Jesus and not through any kind of good works.
Further on in Phillipians, Paul boldly says that “FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN” (Phil 1:21). He is suffering but he rejoices in that. Paul even sees his sufferings as a blessing, a privilege, an honor – something that has been granted to him. It is all for the glory of God so that Christ will be exalted in his body at all times and in all circumstances. This is a huge challenge for us and I pray that God will give us the grace and courage at all times to be able to live as Paul encourages us to do when he says “WHATEVER HAPPENS, CONDUCT YOURSELVES IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST” (Phil 1:27).
And what is this gospel? This good news of Christ? It is that God himself became flesh for us. Christ in His humility is our absolute role model. Our aim is to be like Him. To be like-minded, have the same love, be one in spirit and purpose and to ultimately have the SAME ATTITUDE of Christ Jesus (Phil 2:1-11).
Indeed, we will continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling as it is God who works in us to will and act according to His purpose (Phil 2:12-13). As a team as well as individuals, we are learning to do everything without complaining or arguing in a conscious effort to be like shining stars as we hold out the word of life to a generation and a world in darkness (Phil 2:14-15).
Please pray with us that God will grant us more opportunities to shine these lights in China!
Sulene
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