December/Vision

Wherefore let us know nothing more profitable for ourselves than to examine ourselves daily, every day of our life reviewing that dubious life, and keeping account of our words and thoughts, and shuddering at human life, to ponder without ceasing this aforesaid end of that roadway, that is of our life, while we spurn all the pleasures of this world.

  - Columbanus, Sermon IX (Irish, 7th century)

Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

  - 2 Peter 3.14

Peter urged his readers to live in the present with a view to the coming new heavens and new earth (vv. 11-13). Because we anticipate living in eternal glory, we should be preparing for it here and now, laying aside everything that is not conducive to honoring God, and taking up all that is.

We should live in the present in the light of the future - live according to our vision of what is yet to come. Columbanus urged the same thing. The Christian's great hope is to know the glory of God finally, uninterruptedly, full-on, and forever in the new heavens and new earth. But we also live in the hope of that glory here and now - to engage God in glory through the disciplines by which we seek Him, and to live for His glory in every area of our lives. The clearer and more compelling our vision of the glory that is to be, the more consistent and shining will be our experience and expression of God's glory here and now.

There is no substitute for meditating on God's Word to enlarge our vision of what is yet to be and to equip us to live according to that vision here and now. Meditation takes time and concentration, but it can have powerful effects in bringing us into the presence of God's glory and furnishing us to live for His glory in our daily lives. Do you have enough time for meditation in your spiritual tool kit?

There's no time like the present to begin making room for this vision-stretching discipline.

Today at The Fellowship of Ailbe

Thanks to all who have sent suggestions for our Campaign for Christian Literacy. We'll be ramping up right after the beginning of the New Year. If you have ideas about how we can encourage and assist our non-reading brethren to take up this important work, we're still willing to receive them. Write to me at the address below.

Congress is at it again, scorning the voters and shoring up their base by attaching 6,000 earmarks to an omnibus spending bill. When will we ever learn? Check out today's ReVision.

Our new online evangelism seminar is taking off. Pastor, how would you like to enlist every member of your church in the work of reaching the lost in your community? This course can show you how - and help you get it done. Write me today. The course is so new we haven't even got it up on the website yet, but I'll be happy to give you a call and chat about it.

Thanks again for your gifts. We're pleased to know that you find this ministry a help to you in some way. Your gifts express your gratitude to God and appreciation for our work, and we rejoice in the Lord's goodness through you. Click the donate button or send your tax-deductible gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 100 Lamplighter Ct., Hamilton, VA, 20158.