Are You Hungry?

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matthew 5:6 ESV)

The beattitudes are always intriguing.  Sometimes they reassure.  Sometimes they provoke.  Sometimes they simply leave us realizing how short we fall.  Yet, for most of them we can understand them.  For the most part we know what a peace maker is or what a meek person looks like, even if we don't always exercise meekness or seek out peace.  We understand persecution and poverty of spirit even as we usually try to avoid both.

However, hungering and thirsting for righteousness seems different.  One part of really grasping this verse is knowing what hunger and thirst really are.  Its probably a fair statement that most reading this have never really been hungry. Go a day without food or drink in America in you are on the ragged edge of deprivation.  Yet, that is what Christ is calling us to experience regarding righteousness.  To want it so badly that it seems like we are starving for it and will do anything to get it.

The bottom-line?  The big idea?  Righteousness is not what we do; its who we are.  And we are not righteous in ourselves (Check out Romans 3!)  However, if we are poor in spirit and mourn over that state, the Holy Spirit will begin to build in us a true hunger and a real thirst for righteousness.  Christ's righteousness!  

For you are our glory and joy.

Ever wonder how a pastor, elder or overseer views the people God has placed in their care?  Are they brothers and sisters? Co-laborers in Christ? Children to be nourished, trained and protected?  In reality, it all of these and probably some others.  But in reading 1 Thessalonians today, I ran across 2:19-20. "For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy." (ESV) One way we as your God-appointed leaders need to view you as our crown of boasting before Jesus.  How does this work?  Well, I'm not entirely sure, but as we pour the gospel and ourselves into your lives and you respond by the grace and mercy of God, you are becoming what God had intended for you and we are becoming what God had intended for us.  Then, when we stand before Christ, He will survey our work of leadership and your response to that leadership and say "Well done, my good and faithful servant".

Our mission

Check out Col 4:12. "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God." (ESV). This verse is a great encouragement and exhortation to us on the Board that your maturity in Christ is our primary responsibility before God.  It is very telling that Paul uses the word for agony when he describes how Epaphras prays for the Colossians.  Are we there yet in our prayers for you?  Not by a long shot.  But, by the grace of God and reminders like Col 4:12, we too are growing and maturing in Christ.  To God alone be a glory.

First post from your overseers

"Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him." (Ephesians 3:7-12 ESV)

There are many truths packed in these six verses, but the one I'd like to draw out for you is that all the wisdom of God is demonstrated through the church.  And this is not only for people here and now, but for the heavenly realms as well.  This, of course, isn't because we have any value in ourselves, but because of God's purposes that He continues to unfold through Jesus.  It is incredible to consider that the collection of people that the Holy Spirit has gathered together at Bethany is being used by God as an illustration of His great and perfect wisdom throughout the spiritual world.

In praise of God's glorious grace!