SPREAD THE GOSPEL

On June 1, 2005, Jerry chose for our devotional the Word from Philippians 1:12, "I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel."  Now, it's important to know what had happened to Paul that he felt this way.  So the devotional continues, "Paul writes to the believers in Philippi that even though he's been flogged, beaten, and imprisoned the experience actually helped to spread the gospel for his beatings and brought sympathetic ears to the people. This was Paul's singular focus to the exclusion of any personal pain or difficulty."


Jerry added, "This is important for me to remember when I'm faced with problems in life that seem overwhelming.  If I can look at the situation from God's viewpoint, I can have the assurance that whatever happens to me is unimportant so long as the gospel is shared. There are times when as a church body we face discouragement or disappointment, yet we must not waver from God's call.  Lord, give me the endurance to keep my eyes on the mission in order to  proclaim the gospel.  Amen"


We were speaking today to my sister who is a few years younger than I am, and she was mentioning how hard it is for her to keep her medications straight so they are taken at the proper times, and not forget them altogether.  I showed her the schedule chart I had made for myself for the same exact reason, because I had a predisposition to forget to take my meds. It was a funny conversation, for two old ladies, each one having a hard time remembering what is important and what is not. At  around 80 yrs., each one of us find staying alive rather a serious situation. Yet a far more important situation has been the same for each of us for a very long time, and that is being what the gospel asks us to be, a replica of the men and women who suffered so much during those first years of church-building.  They were the bell-ringers of Christ's gospel. Today is isn't easy, but it is possible.


One woman entered our home one day a month or so ago to thank us for a gift of salad I had sent over for her dinner a day or two beforehand. She made it quite clear that she would not listen to any proclamation of Christianity or any other religion by any person. My intention was to make a friend.  Years before, I had learned this at a retreat called Cursillo-- "Make a friend, Be a friend, Bring this friend to Christ." I'm still praying for her and looking for a way to be her friend.


God bless you, and won't you pray for me and my "friend?"


JoINMN