‘…I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness…to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Acts 26:16-18
My granddaughters like Christian pop artist Forrest Frank’s song, ‘Your Way’s Better’. Exactly what is Jesus’ way? Jesus’ purpose for Paul is the same task God gives us to accomplish in the world.
Consider Hebron’s mission. What is its essence? What should our focus be? We could learn a few things from Paul. The ‘central work to which he was called was the proclamation of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord’. True to Jesus’ words, Paul’s focus was the conversion of Jews and pagans, the transformation of their hearts and minds, and the incorporation of these new believers into a mature, duly constituted church (Kevin DeYoung). A good friend calls that ‘kingdom building’.
Paul was eager to gather the church together to share all that God had done and how He ‘opened a door of faith to the Gentiles’ (Acts 14:27). As we develop the vision for our future in the EPC, may Hebron’s focus be aligned with Jesus’ prayer that God’s name be ‘hallowed’ by opening a ‘door of faith’ for others through what He is doing in and through us.
Our Lord’s prayer continues, ‘Thy kingdom come’, whereby ‘we pray, that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened’. (Westminster Confession of Faith Shorter Catechism Q102)
May it be so.
Dan Gallagher, Stewardship Team