We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Pastors will experience a level of suffering uncommon, unfamiliar and not understandable to other believers. That is God’s way of keeping them humble and reminding them that it’s not them, but the Gospel that must be on display through them. And when they understand this, they realize that successful ministry is getting out of the way and allowing the power of Christ to shine through. By using “jars of clay,” God wants to make it clear that divine power lies not in the human messenger, but in the divine message. It is true for all Christians. It is especially true for pastors.
Randy Smith

Christian joy can only be realized, when Christ reigns there, alone and uninterruptedly. If the world is permitted to occupy a larger share of the affections and the heart – if plain and known duty is neglected – if the means of grace are carelessly used – if in all your efforts, your duties, and your services – whether in the Church or in the world, you do not entreat the Divine blessing and the Divine aid – then the Spirit of God is grieved. He withdraws His cheering influence; and it is utterly impossible to have the peace and joy, which flow from the inward, abiding presence of the Savior – and which is the work – the entire work, of His Divine Spirit, the true and only comforter.
William Cowper

On The Road to Jericho

I left jerusalem, last week for jericho,

In the afternoon, the sun was getting low,

And then the bushes shook, and out they came at me,

They were robbing half naked, while they beat me head to toe,

And they left me on the road to jericho.

Lying almost slain, and wounded by the road,

Crying out in pain for a sympathetic soul,

First a priest, and another of my kind,

Well they were men I could have trusted, but they left me deaf and blind,

They were strangers on the road to jericho.

Through the blood and tears, I saw a worried face,

He was from samaria, my people hate his race,

He bandaged up my wounds and laid me on his horse,

Although my memory is cloudy, I still can feel his friendly flow,

Such a kind man on the road to jericho.

When I later asked the innkeeper the man’s name he did not know,

Just a neighbor on the road to jericho.
– Keith Green