Meditations

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. 3 John 5-8

“When John asks Gaius to “send them on their way in a manner that honors God” (3 John 6), he doesn’t just mean, “wave them goodbye and sing a nice hymn as they board the ship.” No, the Greek word was a technical term for making all of the advance preparations for someone going on a journey, including providing food and money, arranging transport if possible, paying fares, providing letters of identity and commendation, etc. And the reason John gives these instructions is that these people were traveling “for the sake of the Name” (meaning Jesus) and were “receiving no help from the pagans” – that is they had no other “secular” means of support (3 John 7). If they were going, then somebody was sending. Finally says John it is our duty to “show hospitality to such people” (3 John 8), which again means more than a nice cup of tea and a bed for the night. It speaks of substantial provision for their needs, what we would call financial support and other gifts in kind. So, this little letter of 3 John is a fascinating insight into early church missionary support and how it spoke of faithfulness – faithfulness to the truth matched by faithfulness to God’s servants.”

Christopher J. H. Wright in The Shortfall: Owning the Challenge of Ministry Funding (Carlisle, UK: Langham Global Library, 2021) 8-9.

This is a great little book. Started reading it on my flight home from South Africa. I commend it to anyone who has responsibilities linked to raising ministry funds.

In this excerpt, Wright keenly points us to the example of John and his correspondence with Gaius. It offers great insight to how we might communicate with key givers.

The role Gaius played in “sending” God’s servants out even though He did not personally know them shows us that our giving must go beyond aiding friends to advancing the Name.

Furthermore, as ‘the Name’ is used rather than overtly saying ‘Jesus’, other scholars note that our generosity may put the servers and the senders in danger. But that must not hinder us.

I have arrived safely home and am profoundly thankful for those who showed hospitality to me in Malawi, Mozambique, Eswatini, and South Africa. I’m also thankful for the senders.

Thanks to the generosity of God’s people to GTP, our staff is sent to empower national workers to grow local giving. In part, we teach them to communicate like John does here with Gaius.

Without faithfulness in sending and in service there is Christian mission, back then or today. So, whether you are a pastor or ministry administrator, urge faithfulness in service and in sending.

And to make a Christmas gift to GTP to help us add staff and extend our reach around the world, click here. We are praying for another $12,625. Pray with me, please, for God to supply.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. Acts 16:25-26

“Instead of complaining or calling on God to judge their enemies, the two men prayed and praised God. When you are in pain, the midnight hour is not the easiest time for a sacred concert, but God gives “songs in the night” (Job 35:10; also see Ps. 42:8).

“Any fool can sing in the day,” said Charles Haddon Spurgeon. “It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but the skilful stager is he who can sing when there is not a ray of light to read by … Songs in the night come only from God; they are not in the power of men.”

Prayer and praise are powerful weapons (2 Chron. 20:1–22; Acts 4:23–37). God responded by shaking the foundations of the prison, opening all the doors, and loosening the prisoners’ bonds. They could have fled to freedom, but instead they remained right where they were.”

Warren Wiersbe in Commentary on Acts, 374. I am soaking in this text, Acts 16, as I feel like I have lived it in Africa.

One minute Paul and Silas thought they were going to Asia, then God deployed them to Macedonia. They ministered faithfully and yet they found themselves in prison. At midnight, in their darkest hour, they prayed and praised God. This is the last thing onlookers would have likely expected, but precisely what we must do.

I am on my way home, reflecting on the trip. Related to generosity, I am thankful for God’s generous outpouring of grace on my life, which enabled me to have patience daily and to suffer an unforgettable five-hour border experience. My African brother said that what touched him most was willingness to endure suffering without opening my mouth.

Anyone who knows me well knows what a miracle that is. Thanks God. Each of us might hope that what we do or say related to generosity touches people the most. But, in reality, I am learning, it is how we love and serve that touches them the most deeply. If you want to grow, pray daily for grace. That’s what I did on this trip.

When this posts I will be somewhere over the Atlantic. Allow me a moment of vulnerability. Before the trip, I had hoped to reach the goal of raising $75,000 at GTP to add staff. Our team is stretched to the limit. It did not happen. I feel like I am sitting in the dark. Do find yourself sitting in the dark? Take time to pray and praise!

Whilst I have been traveling, the needle has not moved much. So, before I board my flight, I am choosing to pray and praise. Join me. Pray with me for the remaining $13,225 USD. Click here to learn more. For the next 16 hours over the Atlantic, I resolve to wait on God and praise Him in the night.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25

“Divine deliverance takes place in the context of Paul and Silas singing and praising God near midnight. The other prisoners hear their praise. Tertullian says of this event, “The legs feel nothing in the stocks when the heart is in heaven.”

Darrell Bock in Acts (BECNT; Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007) 540.

After two weeks with Chris Maphosa touring Southern Africa by car and plane, I will long remember him as Silas. He sees me as Paul. We had some amazing times of generous service, but the highlight, was worshipping God during five difficult hours with unkind authorities at a border crossing and then experiencing divine deliverance.

And with others watching, only later we realized that it was our greatest ministry moment on the trip. What we do in crisis reveals our faith most? Want to have a generous witness? Bock reveals the secret unveiled by Tertullian. Put your heart in heaven and nothing can phase you! No news. No opposition. No crisis.

I am heading home today. By the time this posts I will be starting my journey. I should arrive home Tuesday afternoon, by God’s grace. But I will always remember that when it’s the darkest of night, near midnight, the only right thing to do is worship. For others are listening and it may be my greatest ministry moment, and yours too!

Come and see what God has done, His awesome deeds for mankind! Psalm 66:5

“We must not cease to wonder at the great marvels of our God. It would be very difficult to draw a line between holy wonder and real worship; for when the soul is overwhelmed with the majesty of God’s glory, though it may not express itself in song, or even utter its voice with bowed head in humble prayer, yet it silently adores. Our incarnate God is to be worshipped as “the Wonderful”…

Let your soul lose itself in wonder, for wonder is in this way a very practical emotion. Holy wonder will lead you to grateful worship and heartfelt thanksgiving. It will cause within you godly watchfulness; you will be afraid to sin against such a love as this. Feeling the presence of the mighty God in the gift of his dear Son, you will put off your shoes from off your feet, because the place whereon you stand is holy ground. You will be moved at the same time to glorious hope. If Jesus has done such marvelous things on your behalf, you will feel that heaven itself is not too great for your expectation. Who can be astonished at anything, when he has once been astonished at the manger and the cross?

What is there wonderful left after one has seen the Savior? Dear reader, it may be that from the quietness and solitariness of your life, you are scarcely able to imitate the shepherds of Bethlehem, who told what they had seen and heard, but you can, at least, fill up the circle of the worshippers before the throne, by wondering at what God has done.”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon in Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (Grand Rapids: CCEL) evening reading for 26 January.

On this Lord’s day, a week before Christmas, I turned my attention to Spurgeon’s classic devotional to celebrate the coming birth of Jesus and give thanks for the great things God has done on this trip.

Few things inspire our generous living, giving, serving, and loving more than holy wonder. It leads to grateful worship and heartfelt thanksgiving. We take our place in the circle with the shepherds.

This prompts within us a godly watchfulness and a glorious hope. In short, we no longer live for ourselves, but for our Savior. But it all starts with holy wonder, and we have to pause for that.

I am in my final 36 hours in Africa, sorting fiend reports, expense reports, and getting my PCR test. But I am pausing to worship. Even in this busy season, we must take time for holy wonder.

In so doing, I am seeing but a glimpse of the things that Jesus–Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace–has done for all of us in His great love.

To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. John 8:31

“The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience. If a man wants scientific knowledge, intellectual curiosity is his guide; but if he wants insight into what Jesus Christ teaches, he can only get it by obedience. If things are dark to me, then I may be sure there is something I will not do. Intellectual darkness comes through ignorance; spiritual darkness comes because of something I do not intend to obey.

No man ever receives a word from God without instantly being put to the test over it. We disobey and then wonder why we don’t go on spiritually…When Jesus brings a thing home by His word, don’t shirk it. If you do, you will become a religious humbug. Watch the things you shrug your shoulders over, and you will know why you do not go on spiritually. First go — at the risk of being thought fanatical you must obey what God tells you.”

Oswald Chambers in “The Way to Know” in My Utmost for His Highest (Grand Rapids: Discovery House, 1963) reading on 27 July.

Obedience often appears as fanatical. When Jesus sent the disciples on mission he said to take nothing for the journey. This was crazy. But His intructions had a purpose: to teach them to trust Him. I will teach on this today.

Many thought I was crazy to take this trip, but I felt led by God to serve workers in southern Africa. But it’s been an amazing learning experience, to see Him work in power despite the pandemic. For where God guides, He provides. Where He opens doors, no one can close them. Where He beckons us, we must follow, regardless of the cost. And we only learn the lessons by obeying.

What about you? Is he asking you to take a risk instead of trusting in your resources? Your greatest act of generosity may actually be humble obedience, which often appears as letting go. When Jesus calls us to let go of money, for example, He is not try to rob us but help us because we trust whatever our hands hold onto.

Today, we host more than 100 pastor and ministry workers in Manzini, Eswatini (pictured above with mountains, clouds and cooler weather). Please pray for Chris Maphosa and me as we teach on “Strengthening Churches and Ministries for Sustainability.”

The pathway to sustainable ministry for churches and ministries across Africa and the world is not linked to getting money but being obedient. If you want a copy of the handout, reply to this email.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

“Oh, be generous in your self-surrender! Meet His measureless devotion for you, with a measureless devotion to Him. Be glad and eager to throw yourself headlong into His dear arms, and to hand over the reins of government to Him. Whatever there is of you, let Him have it all. Give up forever everything that is separate from Him.”

Hannah Whitall Smith in The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life (Christian Witness Company) 89.

This expression, “hand over the reins,” is fitting for me in real time. For example, after I type this on the morning of 17 December 2021, sitting Maputo, Mozambique, the plans for our ride once crossing the border into Eswatini have changed.

God has it sorted, but not sure how that’s going to work out. Resting in His unfailing love.

No matter how much we might try to plan things, the situation constantly changes. So, perhaps one of the biggest lessons I have learned in my tour of Africa has been to “hand over the reins” afresh to God related to my schedule, my service, and all of life.

It’s been a good thing, not easy at times, but really good. It’s filled me with peace.

This relates to generosity in that our self-surrender, appears as the only appropriate response to the measureless love and devotion that God has for us. By handing over the reins, the Spirit can work geneorusly through us toward others for God’s glory.

He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17

“My starting point is that we’re already there. We cannot attain the presenve of God because we’re already totally in the presence of God. What’s absent is awareness. Little do we realize that God is maintaining us in existence with every breath we take. As we take another it means that God is choosing us now and now and now. We have nothing to attain or earn.”

Richard Rohr in Everything Belongs, as recounted by Jim Branch in The Blue Book: A Devotional Guide for Every Season of Your Life (Middletown, DE, 2020) 213.

I woke up just before my alarm. It was sunrise here in Maputo, Mozambique. I sensed the presence of Christ with me. Then I read this post in this book I brought with me on the trip. What a profound idea. “Christ is with me.” But somehow by grace I became fully aware of it in my small room.

This realization gave me a sense of comfort. It reminded me that the trip is going good because He is good. And the cool part is, as we approach Christmas, He is God with us, Immanuel. May that awareness fill you with comfort and peace and take shape as gift to give others.

Remind everyone you know that the Christ of Christmas is God with us. We are not alone in crazy times. So I head off for an all day seminar with influential pastors and ministry workers knowing that Christ is with me. And I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. So can you!

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Luke 14:25-33

“A young missionary woman was killed a few years ago in a foreign country. I don’t know all the details but I know she followed her Saviour into a very dangerous place to touch broken and oppressed people in the Name of Jesus. She knew very well that she would not be coming home. Her final letter to her pastor and home church is beautifully moving and includes the prose from Jim Gentil. “The missionary heart: Care more than some think is wise. Risk more than some think is safe. Dream more than some think is practical. Forget more than some think is possible. I was called not to comfort or success but to obedience.”

Simon Rattray of Project 114, my Aussie mate in his Facebook post dated 13 December 2021.

When I planned this trip to South Africa in the heart of the Covid Omichron variant outbreak, people told me I was crazy, insensible, and unwise. But I felt strongly that Jesus wanted me to go.

The ministry that has unfolded and relationships that have formed have far exceeded our expectations. The highs have been high, and the lows have also been low. Listen to this testimony from Malawi:

“Thank you so much for your coming you have add more knowledge to my ministry. I have been challenged that its good to use what we have, and we should not look down ourselves.”

We have celebrated spiritual victories and gotten a clear unified vision for growing local giving, but like Paul and Silas, we have endured hardship and abuse. The experience has stretched me to my limit.

So why do it? Obedience. Generous service to our Lord Jesus Christ counts the cost and always pays the price. What is the price? Give up everything to follow Jesus.

Only on the way as a disciple do you discover that in surrendering what you cannot keep, you gain what you can never lose. And you never gain anything in the Kingdom until you risk everything.

Please pray for me and Chris Maphosa tomorrow as we co-facilitate a seminar tomorrow, “Stengthening Churches and Ministries for Sustainability,” in Maputo, Mozambique (pictured above on the Indian Ocean).

Thank you so much. Remember to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus wherever He leads, no matter the cost. This following is the doorway to generous living, giving, serving, and loving.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“If we are willing, the experience of grief can deepen and widen our ability to participate in life. We can become more grateful for the gifts we have been given, more open-handed in our handling of the events of life, more sensitive to the whole mysterious process of life, and more trusting in our adventure with God.”

John R. Claypool in Tracks of a Fellow Struggler (New Orleans: Insight, 1974) 88.

We are living in a time when we interact with people who have experienced loss, suffering, grief, and pain. It can cause us to live close-fisted and insensitive lives. Alternatively, God desires that we appear as open-handed and sensitive conduits of comfort. But how is it possible?

As I pause from work in Maputo, Mozambique (pictured above on the India ocean) today to catch up on emails and rest, I am reflecting on the moments on this trip when I have heard hard news. Or when I have seen with my eyes, unimaginable poverty and brokenness. In real-time I find I need to receive comfort to give it.

While we cannot solve the world’s problems, we can serve those God puts in front of us. Often, the best reply comes into view as comforting the hurting by listening, loving, and praying for them, and aiding them as we are able with what we have and with the comfort we have received from God.

For each person, as Claypool rightly notes, it becomes a trust journey or an adventure with God. Though we have different capacities, we all have the same responsibility: to participate in the highs and lows of life with one another with a grateful and generous, open-handed and sensitive posture. God help us all.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

“Suffering is a gift of God. A gift that makes us most Christlike. People must not accept suffering as a punishment.’

Mother Teresa in No Greater Love (Novato: New World Library, 2001).

I have never heard anyone say that suffering was a gift from God, a form of generosity toward me, but I am learning in real-time that it is true.

Today’s my birthday. 54 years old. I am thankful for the gift of suffering.

After an amazing time in Malawi, yesterday was long and hard day, I had a sense we may face challenges in Mozambique along with meeting wonderful people. But good news, the Lord delivered us from our troubles.

God has safely led us through them all. I give thanks for His unfailing love.

Today we fly to Maputo, Mozambique to meet the GTP Country Representative, Pastor Nelson Pereira, and his team. Pray for safe travel.

And as you think of your own suffering, consider how it is a gift from God?

The Apostle Paul writes that it produces something in us that outweighs the trials, and it shifts our perspective to eternal things. What a gift!