PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD--3/18/08

The article "Prepare the Way of the Lord" our Executive Director wrote, which can be found in the link in the Letter from our President on the About page, compliments an article written by Andrea Nasfell called "Planting Seeds in Hard Places" published in the May/June 2002 issue of "Good News Magazine-A Forum for Scriptural Christianity." Mark wrote a Letter to the Editor in response to it called "Do God's Will" published in the September/October, 2002 edition. We've included his response here.

 

Do God’s will

Andrea Nasfell’s article “Planting Seeds in Hard Places” reminds me of a comment by Samuel Wesley. He could not think of one person he led to Christ in his years at Epworth. But consider the seeds he planted in his sons, John and Charles.

I found Shelly’s comment in the article insightful. “I’ve had to give up control and the expectation to see results.” Too often, we are tempted to measure the fruit of one’s ministry. However, it is not the determining factor in effective evangelism in my judgment. God’s timeline is eternal. Shelly continues, “We aren’t responsible for what happens, we’re responsible to be obedient.” Teresa of Avila put it this way: “All that matters is to do God’s will.”

 

 

Her article confirmed, once again, that planting seeds in such places is, indeed, difficult work. As as Christian, a number are blessed to witness or be part of a dramatic conversion, a recommitment or a deeper commitment to Christ. However, much ground needs to tilled in the hardened and arid soil of some hearts before most of these life-changing experiences can occur.

At the very last section of our News & Updates page, there is another article to which Mark responded. It is called "Keeping Methodists Together." Although his response is addressed to United Methodists, its message is just as relevant and applicable today to any denomination which is accommodating itself to the values and mores of the society where they live. Mark reminds us that any one can rediscover the straight and narrow path at the crossroads and find rest for their souls, if they choose to return to the ancient paths. (Jeremiah 6:16, emphasis added)