Hi everyone, it seems like it has become a habit to start my email updates with an apology. I am really sorry for the lack of updates… Currently, it has been six weeks since the start of my last term/semester in the training. To give you a small update, the team has remained the same, the members in the house are more or less the same (we did have three new members), but what’s important is that there is an ever-new Christ for us to enjoy.
The Baltics
Before I speak a little concerning about my enjoyments in the training, I did want to give you all a taste my gospel trip this past break. From late January to mid February, I had the privilege of being on a gospel trip to the Baltic countries. If you are unfamiliar with the Baltic countries, it consists of the three countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania that are above Poland, left of Russia and below Sweden.
Our team, which consisted of four trainees from Anaheim and four from Warsaw, traveled through 4 different countries (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland) in the span of 2 weeks. If you are to ask me about the highlights of my trip, I probably would have say the time I got to spend with the team. Through the rainy days, and cloudy situations, our team was full of joy as we enjoyed the Lord together and was blent together as one. Every single one of these brothers and sisters are eternally written on my heart and I really hope to see them again in the near future.
When first arriving in Europe, I was full of expectation of doing a grand work for the Lord. I thought that through our visit we would be saving a lot of people, baptizing many, or have a tangible impact during our time in the Baltics. However, it became abundantly clear throughout the trip, that the Lord was more focused on the worker than the work itself. Often, I would repeatedly ask the Lord “what should I do Lord? What can I do for you?” because I felt like we weren’t doing much.
“First we need to rest, just to lay down, This is what God wants, before the work abounds. First enjoy the Lord! Just drink Him in. Once we're filled with Him—let the work begin.”
-from the song “Every day there is much work to be done”
When you look at our statistics, probably most would say that it was an amazing turn out, or even a miracle. Yet, I still believe the most important “work” the Lord did was causing me to open my heart and making more of His home in my heart. The blessing that came outwardly was simply an issue of the Lord gaining the hearts of the workers. He can always gain the work of saving people, shepherding people, perfecting people for the building up of the Body of Christ, as long there tho who are one with Him. Now there is an constant remainder, whenever I feel like doing something for God to first stop and open to the Lord as a vessel (Rom 9:23; 2 Tim 2:21)
The Lord is My Shepherd Forever
Now to speak a little about my enjoyment from the training. Have you ever asked yourself “Why do bad things happen to christians?” Does God not love His own people? Well….He loves them very much! He loves them to the point where he actually cares that we don’t remain the same way, but that we would grow unto maturity for us to enjoy Him.
"And he blessed Joseph and said, / The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, / The God who has shepherded me all my life to this day," (Genesis 48:15)
Therefore, there is the need for God’s government, to judge all that does not match Him. The preciousness of Peter’s writing is that it pairs, the christian life with the government of God. The christian life, is a life of us growing in Christ’s life. It is where Christ Himself continues to spread and increase in our being (Col 2:19, Heb 4:16). As Christ grows (in our being), we come to realize that there are parts in our being that does not match God, and it becomes an obstacle for Him to grow. So in our suffering, He shines on these parts that does not match Him and replaces it with Himself.
Most christians, just try to live the christian life without any recognition of God’s government. Thus, they run into the problem where there is no growth. As those who are in the old creation, we need to God’s governmental dealing, God’s judgment to deal with parts of our being that does not match Him. However, when the suffering comes we don’t open up to the Lord, instead just like little children we say “I do it, me do it”. We try to take the reins to get us out of the situation, not knowing God’s heart for us. He is not out to get us. He is not giving us sufferings simply to “teach us a lesson”. His heart is always good toward us.
"Jehovah is my Shepherd; I will lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures; / He leads me beside waters of rest. He restores my soul; / He guides me on the paths of righteousness / For His name’s sake." (Psalm 23:1-3)
As we come to our shepherd, who is in our spirit, to allow Him to shepherd our complicated soul, He is shepherding us by leading and guiding our soul back to Himself. In order that our soul would be restored to match Him in every way. Through His restoring, He is able to bring us back to the fullest enjoyment of the Triune God as Grace.
As human beings (me included), we only seek God/Grace when we are weak, are in need, or have a lack. Actually, the key to our christian life is that we need Him as our enjoyment (Grace) all the time. Our Christian life is a life of having an increase awareness of our unique need, Jesus Christ our wonderful savior.
I would like to write more, but I have ran out of my allotted time…
Prayer Burden:
That all the trainees (especially the fourth/last termers) would be reminded to turn from “doing and knowing” to opening to the wonderful Shepherd.
Until next time,
Benjamin