hi all! the mission trip has been incredible.. when i look back again at the past 2 months, its really an incredible blessing from God how i even ended up back at trackers 09. started off as a job, then drifted along with doubts, and with the mission trip i truly got my heart on fire with ACTX and young oon and wendy again. something in me stirred really strongly when we went to myanmar, all the prayers for the preparation of our hearts just clicked into place and we found ourselves giving wholeheartedly to the Lord's service.. it was an amazing experience and encounter..
we saw people who were dry, physically and spiritually. the roads laden with dust and rust and bad drain smells. the people poor, begging and starving. and in the middle of it all, a temple laden with gold and splendor. even the grass around it gets automatic showers of water. but the people remain forever dry.
im learning what it is to be a world christian. to see and intercede and be part of REVIVAL not just in a local context, but in a world context. nobody really believes nations can be converted or explode with passion for God, but it happened to korea!
this is really a brief post, too much has happened! im gonna now post a video which has relevance to yangon, myanmar. i hope. cyclone nargiis attacked last year...
Posted by keithc at 5:48 AM
Sunday, February 01, 2009
John 15:13
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
i always read this verse in my head and pictured myself saving a fellow bro or sis or stranger on the road from behing hit by a car, and in turn getting hit. i always thought i'd readily die for someone i loved, and then think again if the situation really comes, would i really do it?
but today the message convicted me so much because i learned something new about it. its not about physically dying, but rather, really dying to self for the sake of other people. and i never read this verse in that light before. think about this from a human point of view. if you die to your SELF while you are still alive, you are not being yourself! isnt that like living hell??!
but here we are talking about living like Christ, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! " (phil 2: 7-8)
to live is Christ, to die is gain. (phil 1:21) this verse now also has so many multiple meanings to me. when i live, i have to be the christian. and a christian's life isnt always about joy and happiness. we will too, go through Christ's sufferings, burdens and sadness. (and that is for our good, so we grow and all) so much so that even dying becomes a gain because we'll meet our God in heaven where he'd say "well done, good and faithful servant".
Paul himself wanted to die because he could be with God straight away. but he also had to stay on earth to fulfil his mission in reaching the Gentiles like us, setting an example, asking us to imititate him as he imitated Christ. that is the reason behind "to live is Christ, to die is gain".
Death here is expressed very deeply. . a death to self, to being like Christ.
Dear Lord, you amaze me. please help me to be exactly like you. there are times i ask for only 20%, but i really want to be exactly like you now, even if it seems impossible. help me to be crucified with you, not just you being crucified for me. help me open my eyes to the little things that i can help with in the lives of other people. help me to minister to my friends. help me to die to myself, and also for the ones i love. and when i become more like you, to "die" even for my enemies. help me too to not let the knowledge i've gained from you be a stumbling block to others. help me to manage wisely when to apply your knowledge, and when to be still and just let your spirit and love guide me. let your love compel me to all these, amen.
