Le Papillon

From all eternity God has been seeking and working towards one end- His honor and glory- and His chief tool is us. Why? Because His strength is perfected in our weakness (II Cor. 12:9) and we are so very weak. Not able to even stay holy on our own for the day, for a moment, we fall infinitely short of eternal righteousness (Rom. 3:10-12; 6:23)- apart from God. But “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16) and this life through the righteousness of His Son (II Corinthians 5:21). This message He has given to those who believe, that more might hear and be saved (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8) and what is more that those who have believed might strengthen the body of Christ through the teaching and preaching of the Word so that all may be in the process of maturing until all are perfected in the day of Christ Jesus to the measure of the stature which belongs to Him (Eph. 4:11-13; Phil. 1:6; II Tim. 2:2). But this message is not to be transmitted by one method, of one nation, of one people. No our God is a multicultural God in that He gives His message in the clearest way possible so that it is understood as fully as possible (Gen. 32:13-32; Daniel 2:34-35); this is even the way Paul spread the Word (Acts 17:15-23, 28; I Cor. 9:19-23). It is to be given in a culturally relevant way; a way in which the people to whom it is given would more accurately relate to and understand the message.

Therefore it is my responsibility as a child of God and charge by the mouth of God to spread the Gospel as I go throughout life (this is what the Greek literally means) wherever, whenever, however, with whomever. But I must go further than just making converts, I must make disciples. And following the examples of both our all wise God and the Apostle Paul I will do it in a culturally relevant way so that all may understand it in the clearest possible way and develop biblically based believers who have the distinct flavor of that particular culture. However, all this is for naught and an empty pursuit if I strive under my own feeble strength. As I was saved by the power of God so I will live and strive by that same omnipotent power so that my mission will be successful and God will be most glorified. As it has once been said, “The saint that advances on his knees, never retreats” (Jim Elliot). It is well put because one on his knees is one who realizes his infinite weakness and thus entreats the One Who is infinitely strong and in the end God looks that much greater (although our infinite God cannot become actually greater than He is, for that is His very nature) in the eyes of men witnessing the acts of such a helpless worker. For as another has wisely said, “God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” So may I always realize my weakness, seek God’s strength, accomplish the task(s) I have been given in that power and in it all bring all honor and glory to my Friend, Savior, Lord and God.

In summary, my biblically based mission is to make biblically based disciples (learner followers of Christ) who are culturally relevant by the grace and power of God alone for the glory and honor of God alone.