The Parallel Mission

In Gen. 24 Abraham has his servant swear to him he would go find a wife for his son Isaac from among his own people. We never learn of this servant's name and his role is completed by the end of the chapter.

The servant is going to find a wife for the son of his master. Since the church is the bride of Christ and we are trying to bring people to Christ, isn't our mission the same as Abraham's servant? I am sworn to find a bride for my master's (God's) Son.

Also note how the servant is concerned about the "what if." What if the girl refused to come back and be the son's wife? Then the servant is released from his oath. We don't have to worry about those who refuse, ours is only to press on presenting Jesus' offer of glory, salvation, redemption and honor.

Why Does God Operate The Way He Does?

It's the age old question of "Why?" Why doesn't God intervene in a different of more effective way as I see it? Why does God allow what seems to be injustice in my eyes to occur on almost a daily basis?



I believe this is part of the mystery of God. God tells us His ways and thought are not our ways or thoughts, His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. As the heavens are higher than the earth, is the illustration God uses through His prophet Isaiah 55.8-9

Penn Jillette gets to heart of the matter.

The money line comes around 3:15 "How much do I have to hate someone not to share Jesus, if I believe they are lost?"



I believe this is the fear and trembling attitude Paul writes about when sharing Christ with the Corinthians in 1 Cor. 2.3. Notice how Penn is impacted by the man's kindness. More change comes from love than criticism. I believe I read that from H. Norman Wright's, "Quiet Times For Couples"

Meeting the Eyes of Jesus

John Mark Hicks is an author and a professor. I have had the privilege to hear him give a couple of lectures on the book of Job. He has been the author of some of the most dynamic insight I have ever been around. His penetrating essay on what Peter saw when he met Jesus' eyes immediately after fulfilling Jesus' prophecy about denying him three times before the rooster crowed taps into the power of God's Word so effectively it's humbling, inspirational and encouraging at the same time