Humbled

Kristin and I just returned from celebrating our 5 year anniversary in Bar Harbor, Maine. It was one of the best vacations we've taken together, and timely since we were below "E" on the energy gauge prior to leaving. It was a joy to be with my wife and marvel at God's creation in an area we never explored before.  It also provided focused times of prayer thanking the Lord for where He's brought us, what He's done, the grace He's shown, and pray with anticipation for how He will continue to use us for His glory in the northeast.

Prior to leaving for vacation, I had the privilege of preaching again at Emergence on July 29.  My parents were able to come up and visit that weekend adding to the joy of preaching.  I kicked off the series through the book of 2 Peter and preached on 2 Peter 1:1-15.  It is a beautiful passage that addresses the complexity of the Holy Spirit's power and our effort in regards to our sanctification and assurance of salvation.  Peter tells us who we are in Christ because of the gospel, and then lists character qualities we are to pursue and apply to our faith after conversion with all of our zeal and effort.  When most people read sections like this in Scripture, we read them as though they are legalistic codes for our life.  But Peter is doing is something wonderful. He is encouraging us by way of reminder that those who make a true profession of faith in Jesus actually live as Jesus taught, arguing that saving faith must take concrete form in our life, producing these features that will inevitably show up in the transformed life!  The true gospel is the ability to rest in your acceptance in Christ that leads to actions flowing out of your acceptance in Christ.  Our delight in the reconciling work of Christ on our behalf doesn't lead us to a "let me do in order to be" but rather "because I am, let me do." It was a joy to preach this passage of Scripture and deeply challenging to my own heart and life.  A few students who graduated last year from the student ministry I pastored in Virginia drove up to hear me preach at the evening service!  That was a gift. You can listen to the message at www.emergencenj.org.

One last thing to note by way of reflection are some thoughts God brought to me during my time of morning prayer last week.  I began praying for daily faithfulness, deliverance from temptation, and that God would continue to build in my wife and I lives and desires that would reflect His glory. Then...I started praying for His future local church in northern New Jersey...this is when my burden increased for the lost and joy inflated with hope.  He has called me?  He has asked me?  To play a part in the sovereign, redemptive plan of GOD?  His preordained plan for the salvation of souls in northern New Jersey had my name written in a column of the means? The remnant waiting to be called out, chosen, and bought by the blood of His Son Jesus for His glory will be brought into the fold by my going into the harvest?

Humbled.