Aliens :)


Some reflections on the past week.

1. God has a plan for this gathering of Christians in the office

I was greatly encouraged to see 10 of us at Tuesday's meeting. To be honest, I had secretly harboured the thought that if no one turned up, we would have a good excuse to stop! But God did not allow us that excuse by bringing so many of us to the meeting :) Since I now know that He will not let us stop, I know that He must have a plan and purpose for this group. Let's walk together to discover His purpose for us in the office.

On a funny note, a number of people have actually said after Tuesday's meeting that we should have the meeting more than once a month! Ironic. Arrange once a week, it's too much. Once a month, too little. You just can't win :) Seriously though, we will review in due course.

2. Iron sharpens iron

I have greatly enjoyed the lunches with many of you over the past weeks. I was also greatly encouraged by the interest and sharing at the Tuesday meeting itself. This is really one of the benefits of an office fellowship meeting - being the weak vessels that we are, we can be greatly strengthened by each other's testimony and example. As it says in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not easily broken."

So friends, thank you for labouring together with me, for helping me stand up, for keeping me hot for Jesus and for defending me against the evil one! As iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17), I would also like to invite comments from those of you who came on Tuesday on the appropriateness of worship, the nature of teaching and the direction of sharing that followed. Needless to say, I look forward to having the rest of you come next month as well and let us know how we can be more effective.

3. We are aliens

Leviticus 25:23 descibes part of God's instructions to his people the Israelites, regarding the Sabbath year. It says"The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and tenants."

It's interesting to note that, to God, even his special people the Israelites were to regard themselves as aliens and tenants in the very land that God had promised them. As we go about our lives in the office and at home, it is important for us to remember that everything He gives us is only on leasehold. This includes our jobs, our money, our colleagues, our friends, even our family. Let's keep our eyes then on the eternal and keep our hands and feet doing the things that have eternal consequences. And as I mentioned last week, remember that for everything He entrusts to us, He expects not just faithfulness in preserving them, but also fruitfulness in multiplying them for the advancement of His kingdom!

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