Stocks Down, Baptisms Up

As the stock market goes down, I thought some positive news might be an encouragement. During our training session last Friday, we looked to see what the Lord had done so far these past few months after launching our CPM (Church Planting Movement) efforts. We now have 17 house groups involving over 150 people who meet at least once each week. Three of these groups are new house churches, where over half are baptized and they have their own leader.

We’ve baptized 21 in the past two months with several more ready to follow the Lord in believers baptism. We are excited with the results and are hoping and praying that this is only the beginning. In a world of financial, political, and spiritual unrest, Jesus is the only solid rock that will never go down.

Recently I shared the following devotional. During these days of economic suffering’ (as well as other types of hardships), maybe this could be an encouragement, too:

"He learned obedience through what He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8)

Hmmm, I thought Jesus already knew everything. But here is something that was added that could only be "learned" through suffering. I suspect it was an aspect of dependence upon His Father that was not needed in the glories of Heaven.

Suffering has a wonderful way of renewing our hope, refining our faith, setting our priorities, and purifying our hearts. When my wife, Jan,and I were diagnosed with aggressive cancers in the spring of 2004, we learned to focus on God's purposes for the suffering rather than try to escape it. We learned that our health was not God's priority, but rather making Christ known through suffering was an honorable calling.

We learned that even suffering has benefits. Our faith was strengthened, our testimony magnified, and our joy made real as we learned to walk close with the Lord in the shadow of death. So we prayed, not for healing, but for God to be glorified through our suffering. We didn't need healing to know that God's love for us was eternal; we have the cross of Jesus to show us that.

Having suffered through countless medical exams, needles, and hospital stays, I consider myself a professional wimp. I hate pain. But I have learned to see suffering, in all its forms, as a needed friend who can carry me closer to the One who loves me most. He, alone, is my hope.