Today marks the first full day with the church here in South Africa for our much delayed but greatly anticipated trip in 2022! Looking around seeing all the smiling faces on the locals as well as us missionaries was awe inspiring and served as valid evidence of the community that we have through our merciful God.
After hearing Pastor Thawala’s sermon on Lazarus and the rich man, I was reminded of an interesting duality of the role of material possession in our lives: it’s uselessness and it’s usefulness. See, we need not anything other than The Word to sustain us for as God provides for the grass in the field and the birds in the air and therefore more so for us. But it’s usefulness in that we could show God’s love by providing those in need as what we have done to the least among us, so too have we done to The Lord Jesus Christ.
All belongs to God and observing the other members of BLC and their great generosity towards Pastor Thawala’s church as well ourselves one can truly see God at work. This is also reflected in the hospitality Pastor Thawala and his congregation, their smiling faces friendly attitudes proves that we are not strangers but, members of one body with Christ at it’s head.
My hope is that we can continue to bless and be blessed by our this family throughout the week!
-Brandon Avery
Good job Brandon
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ReplyDeleteVery well done in that you now have me thinking about my existence in the duality world of material possessions. You write of giving to the least of us when I can’t help to think that Pastor Thawala’s congregation is doing that very deed to our Bethlehem missionaries. They are returning that reflection of your gifts with the love in their hearts and they do it with “no strings attached.”
That’s awesome. Great message!
ReplyDeleteSo thankful you all can be there. I know they love seeing you there and feeling your love. Tell the Gogos and Pastor T I said hello and give them my love.
ReplyDeleteSending Positive Thoughts and Prayers for these Communities that are being Blessed with your visits and Faithfulness. I know the Smiles on their Faces make your Hearts Full.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless Your Group