Columbanus (19)

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11.16

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2.11, 12

In his sermon, “The Christian Pilgrim,” Jonathan Edwards wrote, “We ought above all things to desire a heavenly happiness; to be with God and dwell with Jesus Christ. Though surrounded with outward enjoyments, and settled in families with desirable friends and relations; though we have companions whose society is delightful, and children in whom we see many promising qualifications; though we live by good neighbors, and are generally beloved where known; we ought not to take our rest in these things as our portion. We should be so far from resting in them, that we should desire to leave them all, in God’s due time. We ought to possess, enjoy and use them, with no other view but readily to quit them, whenever we are called to it, and to change them willingly and cheerfully for heaven.”

Are we as a generation of Christians content to seek happiness rather than to dwell in joy? Joy is that “heavenly happiness” which awaits us at the end of our journey. Too many of us think very little about that joy – which is the consequence of Kingdom faithfulness (Rom. 14.17, 18), and we become too easily mired in the various “outward enjoyments” of our temporal life. We forget that we are sojourners and pilgrims here, and our permanent dwelling is in heaven.

Columbanus expressed the same concern: “What then are you, human life? You are the roadway of mortals, not their life, beginning from sin, enduring up till death…So you are the way to life, not life; for you are a real way, but not an open one, long for some, short for others, broad for some, narrow for others, joyful for some, sad for others, for all alike, hasting and irrevocable. A way is what you are, a way, but you are not manifest to all; for many see you, and few understand you to be a way…Thus you are to be questioned and not believed or warranted, traversed, but not occupied, wretched human life; for on a roadway none dwells but walks, that those who walk upon the way may dwell in their homeland” (Sermon V).

What kind of vision for the spiritual life do we cast for the people of God? Do we consistently point them beyond the daily grind to the greater, unseen realities of that heavenly landscape with which we are continually surrounded? Do we urge the saints on to a clearer vision and greater realization of those unseen things which are the North Star of our existence? And do we help them in discerning every next step of their journey to the very Presence of Christ?

We must not allow the people in our care to mistake this present life as the end towards which their faith is moving. It is a way, that’s all. It can be a glorious way, whatever comes across our way, but only in the light of that City toward which we are journeying.

Resources for Shepherds
I’d be happy to send you a copy of Edwards’ sermon, “The Christian Pilgrim.” Just write to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The revival at Asbury continues and is spreading to other campuses. Will it find its way into the churches? Is your church ready for revival? Seeking revival? Longing earnestly and praying daily for it? Are you? Order a free copy of our three books, Revived!, Restore Us!, and Preparing Your Church for Revival and see how revival can come to you and your church (click here).

And men, you can join us each Tuesday morning at 10:00 Eastern for 30 minutes of seeking the Lord for revival. We pray with men from around the country and other countries as well, using a psalm to guide us and joining our voices to seek the Lord for revival. Just write to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I’ll add you to the Zoom mailing list.

Don’t forget to visit our Resources for Shepherds page at the ailbe.org website. This is a good place to gain new insights and resources for the work of shepherding God’s flock.

Men, I would like to get a group of pastors together to read through and discuss my book, Fan into Flame. This handbook on ministry contains a variety of assessment tools to help you discover ways of improving in your calling. Click here to learn more about this book or to order a free copy. If you’re interested in being part of this group, write and let me know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

From the Celtic Revival
From an anonymous poet/theologian in the period of the afterglow of the Celtic Revival:

My King, the King of noble heaven,
without pride, without boasting,
made the world with its true nature –
my King ever living, ever triumphant;

King over creation, on which the sun looks down,
King over the depths of the ocean,
King south, north, west, and east,
against Whom no struggle can be maintained;

King of mysteries, Who has been, Who is,
before the creation, before the ages,
King living forever still, fair His semblance,
King without beginning, without end.

  - Anonymous, “The Psalter of the Quatrains, Canto I” (9^th or 10^th century)[1]

Celtic Christians – whose exertions for nearly four centuries “saved civilization” (Thomas Cahill), lived the Gospel of the Kingdom. They embraced the Lordship of Jesus over all things and drew courage from His constant Presence and care. You can read more from this week’s Crosfigell teaching letter by clicking here.

Check out our Celtic Legacy podcast and the other resources available on our dedicated Celtic Revival home page.

You can also download a free copy in PDF of our book, The Celtic Revival: A Brief Introduction, by clicking here.

T. M. Moore.

Considering Membership in The Fellowship of Ailbe
Pray that God will bring to our Fellowship men who are committed to realizing more of the presence, promise, and power of His Kingdom. If you’d like to learn more about becoming a Brother in The Fellowship of Ailbe, click here to watch a brief video. If you’d like to talk about Membership, write to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and I’ll send you some additional information.

Please pray that God will move many of those we serve through this ministry to share with us financially in its support. If the Lord moves you to give, you can use the Contribute button at the website to give with a credit card or through PayPal or Anedot, or you can send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 360 Zephyr Road, Williston, VT 05495.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

[1] All quotes from Saltair no Rann are from John Carey, King of Mysteries (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 1998), pp. 98 ff.