Keep Your Lamp Lit - A Pastoral Encouragement

Beloved Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

It was a joy to gather together as the Lord's chosen people yesterday morning! What a blessed service we had in the presence of God! As you begin this new week I hope that each of you know that you are truly loved and cared for as God's precious children.

As your Pastor, I carry a great heavenly burden on my heart to see each of you flourishing in Christ. I pray toward this glorious end each new day. As I was in prayer for our church body this morning, I felt a strong desire to share a brief encouragement with you. My words are feeble and wanting, nevertheless, I pray that they find their good purpose fulfilled in your heart for your joy in Christ. My hope is to bless you by cultivating a renewal of bold courage for Christ in the outworking of our faith.

We face days of great deception, (Acts 20:28-32; II Pet. 2:1-3). We are not only surrounded by mounting cultural pressures which are overtly set against our holy faith but we are also surrounded by innumerable angel-faced temptations which are subtly vying to allure us away from single-hearted devotion to God, (II Cor. 11:13-14). We must be all the more vigilant to draw near to God through His Word, dear saints, (Heb. 2:1). May the Lord strengthen us for His glory and be our true hope. May the Lord Almighty be our very reason for being.

There is nothing in this world more important or worthy of your undying resolve than the faithful pursuit of the Lord Jesus Christ. If all else must be forsaken, if it leads to sufferings, sorrows, and loss, if we lose position, status, health, safety, approval, or any other worldly treasure, let us remember that we follow the King who willingly divested himself of all of these first in order to purchase our eternal redemption, (II Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2:5-11).

We walk by faith, not by sight, beloved, (II Cor. 5:7). We love the Lord, not the world, (I Jn. 2:15-17). Our governing aim is not personal safety from the 'what ifs' of life in a fallen world, but faithfulness to the One who rules over every molecule of the world He created for His own purpose and glory, (Matt. 25:21; Rom. 11:36). May we be like the wise merchant who gladly sold all that he had to obtain the greatest treasure of all––not safety, security and comfort––the Lord Jesus Christ, (Matt. 13:45-46).

Dear saints, we are strangers here. We await a new heaven and new earth in which Righteousness shall dwell forevermore. Let's keep our bags packed and our candles lit with our hands to the gospel plow and our eyes fixed on the horizon as we await our coming King, (Lk. 12:35; Lk. 9:62; Psalm 121:1-2).

May Christ be ever-exalted in our lives and never thrust aside in the name of any other pursuit!

In the service of the true and great Shepherd,
Pastor Tom