The Ticket

Dear Readers around the world! It sure is wonderful when we can communicate each and every week through and with God’s Word. God’s Word is so complete, that no matter what our station is life is, or where we live in the world, there is God’s word to encourage us, uplift us, and give us strength to go on.

On Saturday my wife, my son, and I boarded a plane and headed to Florida. On Sunday AM I shared with a congregation about the work that the Lord is doing through the Foreign Mission of the ALC throughout this world. I am always encouraged when Christians here in America have an interest in being obedient to the words of our Lord when He said “go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Many of you that believe by faith are spreading the Gospel in your countries as well. To God be the Glory now and forever. No glory goes to man for the work done in God’s Kingdom. We only desire to be willing tools in the Lord’s workshop.

From Florida we travel this week to Guatemala. This little country has very much poverty, and has so many people that are in need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please pray that the Word would be spoken in truth and purity on this trip. Because of this, I most likely will miss one or two weeks of this weekly email blog, since both time and internet service will be very short.

As we travel by plane, bus, or train, one thing we notice is that before we can ride on the train to our destination, we need a ticket. Without a ticket we cannot travel. If we forget our luggage, our toothbrush, or any other thing, we can still travel. However, without a ticket we are left at the station.

If we liken this to our life here on earth, we can quickly come to understand that if we want to go to heaven, we need to be prepared in advance with the only ticket that will get us there. We need the complete redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ! We need to believe by the faith which is given to us by our Lord. Without this faith, we cannot enter into heaven! We may live a good life; we can remember to have all the other items in life in the proper order. We can plan and prepare all we want, but without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

How does this faith come? The Word tells us in Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Then God tells us: Romans 10:14
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Now dear reader, do you believe by faith? If you do believe by faith, then are you willing to be the preacher? I am not talking only to pulpit preachers here, but to all Christians. We have been called on and given a task to share God’s word in the verse above, so that other’s can hear God’s Word during this time of Grace! This could mean speaking to them at work, school, Sunday school, bus stop, or wherever we are. This could sometimes mean not using words at all, but just being an example of Christ to them!

Let your light shine before men! This is the Light of Jesus! The One that lights up the world! Do not hide this light under a basket, but let your life be like a city on a hill, which cannot be hid!

May God Bless your week!

Again, please pray for this trip to Guatemala!