Shade tree wisdom 4/12/13

          When Jesus gave his marching orders of “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature”, it sounded like a reckless, even hopeless task. A job description sounded like this: 
      entire population: 100 million 
      area: 2 ½ million square miles
      personnel: 12 men, some women 
      college grads, none (Later Paul who sat at the feet of Gamaliel)
      funding, none 
      treasury, non existent
      friendly kings, princes, rulers, none
      headquarters backup personnel, none 
That was the situation. Hopeless!

          Yet there was this promise, “And I will be with you, even to the end of the earth.” Luke 24,49.  And “I will send you what My Father has promised, but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on High”. Luke 24.49. So they “turned the world upside down” with their preaching. And in a few centuries a Roman Caesar cried, “Thou hast conquered, O pale Galilean”.

          Many sneer or make fun of the Christian faith. How could they have known or see what rich blessings the Church would bring to this world. The Hospitals, the houses of mercy, the orphanages, old folks homes, schools, colleges, missionaries through the ages.

          Christ’s people have always brought blessing. Driven from here, they settled there, and established the faith.

          You touch the world, and have an affect on it. Maybe your presence stops foul language, or you speak a word of comfort and hope to a bereaved person, or encourage a lonely person, or send a traveler on his way strengthened and fed. I do not know how, where, or when, but your presence brings blessing.

          Psalm 22, the one that beings “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me", ends with “. . .future generations will be told about the Lord; they will proclaim His righteousness to people yet unborn, for He has done it”.

          The impossible goes on, and God is doing it, for He said, “And the gates of hell shall not prevail against her.” Matthew 16,18.

GPD 4/12/13