I hope this finds you all doing well, enjoying the change of pace summer brings and growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus (II Peter 3:18).
I was sharing with a friend over lunch this week that one of my favorite descriptive phrases for us as followers of Jesus is “pilgrims in progress”. The reason being is it reminds me that I am only passing through as life on this present earth is temporary and that because of His grace, HIs Word and His Spirit, I am being transformed daily and He who began a good work will one day finish it.
I am going through a GREAT book with that same friend titled The Making of a Man of God by Alan Redpath which is a study of the life of King David and his living his life as a “pilgrim in progress”. Redpath says the strength God gives us today is adequate for today, but not for tomorrow. And the mercy He gives today is good for today, but not enough for tomorrow. And the compassion He shows us today is enough for today but we will need more tomorrow. I have been reflecting on that a bit this week and understanding the need I have for my “daily bread”. Lamentations 3:23 that says “His mercies are new every morning” and I think we need to realize His mercies are new every morning because He knows we need them, and Him, daily!
Let me encourage us all to find that “space” and make that “time” to meet with the Lord daily to allow Him to transform us as we renew our minds with the truths of His Word. (Romans 12:2), cast our cares on Him (I Peter 5:7) and pray for one another (James 5:16).
Praying for us as a church to be “abounding in love, abandoning waste, and abundant in harvest” as was shared from Philippians 1:9-11 on 1/4/15!
Growing to understand “the bitterness of sin and the sweetness of Christ”,
-Will