Personal Mission Field/Demonstration

Witnessing is first of all a way of being in the world.

It was sweet, it was unique, his skill at priestly matters. To people, inscrutable: he was a shelter to the naked, he was a teat to the poor.

  - Dallan Forgaill, Amra Choluimb Chille (Irish, 6th century)

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

  - Acts 1.8

Jesus has given us His Spirit in order to make us His witnesses. This is first of all a way of being in the world, and only secondly a way of speaking. Yes, we must always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within us. But Peter assumes (1 Pet. 3.15) that those asking will have seen something in us that evidences the hope of glory we have in Jesus Christ.

We live our witness for Jesus when we live like Jesus - selfless, serving others, bringing the good works of God's Law into every situation, showing the love of God in personal, human ways. Jesus said that the Spirit would help us to be witnesses so that, when the opportunity arose to speak our witness, it would come out of a credible way of life.

Columba (Colum Cille) was remembered as a generous and loving priest. There was always room for guests, strangers, and the needy in his monastery on Iona, and he treated each of the monks in his charge with the greatest respect and love. He was beloved not only as a giant of the Word and a bold missionary for Christ, but as one who "walked the talk."

Here's a challenge for each of us, one to be renewed every day: Do we live in such a way as to bring the presence of Jesus into every relationship, role, responsibility, and situation of our lives? Do others feel the presence of Christ through us? Are we daily demonstrating the reality of our claim to have been born again into the Kingdom of God?

Here there is a need for careful circumspection (Eph. 5.15-17). Pay attention to every opportunity to demonstrate the love of Jesus. If we'll work hard at being witnesses, when the opportunities arise to speak for Jesus, it will be easier for others to hear what we have to say.

Today at The Fellowship of Ailbe

The tragic events of last Saturday in Tucson should be a summons to all Christians to seek the Lord for revival. Don't miss today's Revision.

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The events of last Saturday in Tucson are disturbing and sad, but they are not surprising.

Man-stealing--While slavery was allowed in ancient Israel, trade in slaves appears to have been discouraged.

Love Your Enemies--The Law of God included the rudiments for loving not only our neighbors but also our enemies.

Our Neighbor’s Keeper--Two principles are suggested by this statute.

The eighth commandment

Deuteronomy 23.24, 25

“‘If you go into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, as many as you wish, but you shall not put any in your bag. If you go into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor’s standing grain.’”

Two principles are suggested by this statute. First, Israel was to remember that the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it (Ps. 24:1). They held their property in trust for Him and were expected to use it as He Himself would – generously and with a view to the needs of others. We are our neighbor’s keeper, and we must always be prepared to share our property with those in need.

But, second, the needy must not take advantage. You could eat your fill of grapes or grain, but you could not put any in your bag or cut any with a sickle for later consumption. Our neighbor is to be generous, but we must always respect his property as just that – his.

This series of In the Gates we present a detailed explanation of the Law of God, beginning with the Ten Commandments, and working through the statutes and rules that accompany each commandment. For a practical guide to the role of God’s Law in the practice of ethics, get The Ground for Christian Ethics by going to www.ailbe.org and click on our Book Store.

Restoring Dead Animals--These statutes would seem to be addressed to a situation in which one person is responsible for the death of another’s animal, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Restoration--It’s not hard to see how these statutes would both discourage stealing and restore justice when transgression had been committed.

The Guilt of Thieves--People have a right to defend their property against unlawful seizure.

Oppression--Robbery is a form of oppression in that it deprives a person of that which God has freely given him for use in seeking the Kingdom of God.

Personal Mission Field/Conversation

Let who will laugh and scoff. I will not be silent, nor will I conceal the signs and wonders which the Lord has shown to me many years before they happened - He Who knows all the happenings since before the beginning of time.

  - Patrick, Confession (Irish, 5th century)

...but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is within you...

  - 1 Peter 3.15

Irish people are frequently described as having "the gift of the gab." Patrick wasn't Irish, but he was pretty good at talking with others about the Gospel. Did the Lord allow one of the greatest revivals in Church history to begin in Ireland because He knew no one would be able to shut those people up?

How many conversations do we engage in a given day? Ten? Twenty? Each of them represents an opportunity to sow something of the Gospel, whether to a fellow believer needing encouragement or exhortation, or to an unbeliever who seems quite content without Christ.

We are called to be witnesses for Christ, to gab about the Good News at every opportunity, with joy and gladness testifying out of our own experience that Jesus Christ really is alive from the dead, and we are His forgiven and commissioned brethren.

How can we make the most of our conversations for the Gospel of the Kingdom? I don't mean to suggest that every conversation has to include a full-blown presentation of the Gospel. We sow seeds, by small gestures, listening ears, and conversation that makes the concerns of others of paramount concern to us.

Let us not be silent when doors of opportunity open for words of witness from our lips. What God is showing us of His glory, goodness, and steadfast love, let us eagerly tell to others, as much as we can for as long as they'll listen. God will use whatever we sow of His unfailing Gospel for whatever His good and glorious purposes may be.

As you go forth today, go in a sowing mood, watching for the cracking-open of every door of opportunity.

Today at The Fellowship of Ailbe

Sin affects everything in this world, but in the midst of a sinful world, we are called to bring forth the beauty, goodness, and truth of the Lord. Check out today's ReVision.

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T. M. Moore, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold..."

Personal Mission Field/Preparation

Today I gird myself with the power of the order of the cherubim, with the obedience of angels, with the ministry of archangels, with the expectation of resurrection for the sake of a reward, with the prayers of the patriarchs, with the predictions of the prophets, with the precepts of the apostles, with the faith of the confessors, with the innocence of holy virgins, with the deeds of righteous men.

  - Anonymous, Faeth Fiada (Irish, 8th century)

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

  - Psalm 91.11

It's easy to dismiss a poem like Faeth Fiada ("Patrick's Breasplate") as merely a curious cultural relic of little more than historical value. But these poems were used by serious people with a serious faith in Christ to prepare themselves for the day ahead.

Let's look at all that's packed into just this one stanza, which served generations of Celtic believers as a guide in preparing for a day of facing all manner of temptation and trial. First we note the invocation of angels, and the expectation that those angels will be sent and will do their job of protecting the believer. They are obedient to the One Who sends them as ministering spirits. Anyone who really believes this - and the Word does teach it - is likely to know a bit more boldness during the day than, well, most of us do.

Second, the view to the end: "expectation of resurrection." The psalmist would say "what can man do to me?" The worst that could happen on any given day would be that we die, but if we're focused on the promise of resurrection, we can say, like Paul, that dying would be "gain", for beyond this life the reward of heaven waits.

Next, the one preparing for the day with this poem expresses his confidence that the saints and angels in heaven ("patriarchs") are praying for him, a notion derived, perhaps, from texts like Revelation 5.8 and 8.1-4. Talk about encouragement!

Finally, note the confidence expressed in the Word of God (prophets and apostles), the faith of the Church (confessors), the holiness of virgins, and all of this - all this preparation - to pursue a path defined by the good deeds of righteous men.

I would say this Celtic dude had a great quiet time the day his preparations included all this.

So we can just dismiss this breatplate poem, or perhaps we can learn something from it about how to prepare for a day of living the faith once for all committed to the saints with a view to turning our world upside-down for Jesus Christ.

Which do you choose?

Today at The Fellowship of Ailbe

Congress is back in session. Will we back them in prayer? ReVision tells us why we should.

Need a little help managing your time in this New Year?  If so, then our January free download, "To Number Our Days," might be of help. Get your copy at the website right now, and share it with some friends.

And while you're there, don't miss Jess Slusher's lovely short story, "A Thin Place."

Our course, "The Writing Pastor," begins in just two weeks. Now is the time to sign up for this six-month webinar to help you make writing a more integral part of your own ministry for the Lord.

If you'd like some help in learning to pray and sing the psalms, visit our bookstore and order a copy of The Ailbe Psalter or Voices Together, two valuable resources than can give your spiritual life a lasting boost.

Finally, our mentoring course, "The Road to Maturity: Practicing the Kingship of Jesus," is all about setting up a workable program of spiritual and ministry disciplines that can help you to know ongoing revival in your walk with the Lord. Why not consider signing up with one of our Mentors today?