December 7, 2011

Today is the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Last night while Audrey and I were preparing Christmas gifts for the staff of Wesley we had the 2001 Pearl Harbor movie on the TV. My mother lost friends at Pearl Harbor who were on the Arizona. It is hard to imagine the gravity of the Japanese decision to make a surprise attack on the Pacific fleet, and the resulting 4 years of carnage, culminating with the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the first on August 6, 1945, and the second on August 9, 1945. The coordinated attack of 9-11-01 by al-Qaeda was compared to Pearl Harbor, killing about the same number of Americans, and also resulting in wars lasting 10 years in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Today in Springfield Missouri there is relative peace. The last American troops are coming home from Iraq by the end of the month, and our troops in Afghanistan only occasionally make the news with reports of military deaths. It is ominous to think about who might be planning the next surprise attack, or what forces are at work behind the scenes to cause destruction or decline. I believe it is helpful to ponder how God is at work in ways invisible to the human eye and the news media, to bring about good and advance His kingdom. The church is a big part of that plan, and it is my privilege to have a leadership role in the United Methodist branch of the church. The weight of this role is heavy, and the reach is broad. I must daily be strengthened by God’s powerful presence and promises to move forward with confidence and courage.

I John 3:1-14

The Apostle writes this short letter to Gaius, commending him for “walking in truth.” John goes on to say “you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers” (Verse 5). This morning I desire to continue walking in truth and acting faithfully in whatever I accomplish for the brethren. This involves a regular attention to God’s word, faithful preparation for weekly worship, careful design of discipleship systems, investment in the lives of leaders and also the least, the lost and the lonely. Today my opportunity is to encourage the men and women who serve on the Wesley church staff at the lunch today. I will use this chapter of scripture to do so.

Verses 6-8 commend Gaius for supporting those who “went out for the sake of the Name”. John states that when we support such people we are “fellow workers with the truth.”

In this letter Diotrephes is mentioned as one who “loves to be first” and rejects what the apostle says (verse 9). Demetrius “has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself” (verse 12). The church is made up of all kinds of people, including modern Diotrephes and Demetriuses.
The apostle closes with the words “peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name” (Verse 14). May it be so, that peace would be the operative principle among the followers of Christ.

Lord, may this day unfold in ways that please you. May my words, actions, countenance, and presence be a walking in truth and acting faithfully in whatever I accomplish for the believers. Use me as your servant.