Personal Mission Field/Conversation

"[God] has a son who is coeternal with him and of like nature. The Son is not younger than the Father nor the Father than the Son; and the Holy Spirit breathes in them. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are not separate. Truly, now, since you are daughters of an earthly king, I wish that you will believe and I wish to wed you to the king of heaven."

  -Tirechan, Account of Patrick's Journey (Irish, 7th 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; yet do it with gentleness and respect...

  - 1 Peter 3.15, 16

Tirechan's anecdote about Patrick witnessing to two daughters of a local king is probably fictional. But it serves a purpose nonetheless.

We note in Patrick's speech great care - on Tirechan's part - to portray the orthodoxy of the beloved evangelist. His witness sounds like a zip version of the Nicene Creed and the Formula of Chalcedon. Patrick, we are to believe, laid down a solid foundation of orthodox Christian faith through his witness.

That certainly is true enough. But we also notice a couple of other things about this brief witness for Christ. First, it makes the same demand that Psalm 45 makes of those who would become the Bride of Christ: they must "forget your people and your father's house" so that the heavenly king "will desire your beauty" (vv. 10, 11). In other words, repentance and a complete change of direction in life are part of the requirement of saving faith.

Moreover, being "wed" to Christ suggests the kind of intimacy that ought to characterize the relationship of all true believers with their Savior and King. Becoming a Christian means that we (a) believe the orthodox confession of Christ; (b) turn away from our previous commitments and lifestyle; and (c) cling to Christ and love Him supremely.

How does that compare with the witness you are always prepared to give for the Lord Jesus? What's that? You don't have a word of witness prepared? Well, what if the unthinkable happens, and someone - someone today, perhaps - asks a reason for the hope that is within you? How will you be able, with gentleness and respect, to explain that Jesus, the Son of God, is Lord and King in your heart and life, and that you are devoted to following this One Who saves all who truly repent and believe in Him? How will you bear witness to Jesus if you aren't always ready to do so?

But then, perhaps you are more ready than you know. Why not try it and see? Right now, ask God to give you an opportunity to explain the Good News of the Kingdom of God and its King to someone today. Go on - right now...

And then do the same tomorrow, and the next day, and every day.

You might be surprised to discover that God really does answer prayers.

Today at The Fellowship of Ailbe

They're protesting in the streets! People are angry! Shaking their fists! Threatening retribution! Invading public spaces! And we're not talking about the Middle East, we're talking about Madison, WI! The Cheese State has become Athens! ReVision explains.

It's almost March, and St. Patrick's Day is March 17. What will you give your loved ones to celebrate this great saint? How about a copy of The Legacy of Patrick? Not only will they learn about Patrick, but they'll learn why The Fellowship of Ailbe cares so much about him and his contribution to the progress of Christ's Kingdom. Oh yes, get yourself a copy, too.

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

Is there a door of opportunity here for churches?

Things that pertain to salvation (3)

No wonder the Gospel caught like wildfire.

Would you just stand by while someone trashed your yard?

The problem of the courts is an interdisciplinary problem.

The Gospel changes people and their cultures.

Pray without ceasing?

"The story of humans' sense of self is...the story of failed, debunked versions of The Sentence."

Kingdom Visionaries (3)

Things that pertain to salvation (2)

Multiple Witnesses--God requires a multiplicity of witnesses in any matter relating to His Law.

The ninth commandment

Deuteronomy 19.15-21

“‘A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.’”

Numbers 35:30-34

“If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death. And you shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest. You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the LORD dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.”

God requires a multiplicity of witnesses in any matter relating to His Law. Malicious witnesses are subject to punishment, in particular, that which they hoped to inflict on those they have accused. Once a person is convicted in a proper manner, he must serve his entire sentence, unless, of course, other evidence can be produced to vindicate him. The land is defiled when the truth is compromised. When it is upheld, justice is achieved, and the people learn to fear wrongdoing, lest they should fall under judgment.

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.