Good morning,
Marty
and I always look forward to our monthly haircuts. Our barber was born
and raised in Lebanon, but has lived in the States for most of his
adult life. His early life was filled with danger and high levels of
fear because of the civil war in that country. Our barber is a genuine
God seeker and seems ever closer to a full relationship with our
Savior. One day his cousin came to visit while we were there and our
barber introduced us to him. We were amazed to discover that his cousin
was a Baptist pastor in Damascus. Since that time we have kept track
of the pastor and his family and have been amazed with the stories we
hear of God’s protection in the middle of the fighting that is going on
in his beloved country. His wife and college age kids are staying here
in town because of the danger, while he has stayed there to keep on with
his ministry. He came here this summer for a short while for a break
and now is getting ready to return alone. His family is putting a lot
of pressure on him to stay here where they think that he will be safe.
His answer to them and others has been. “I must go back, the people
there need me.” The conditions there are getting worse every day. Why
would God send him back?
Peter knew why he would do that. The
pastor has learned what Peter taught when he said that God is pleased
with us when we do what is right and patiently endure unfair treatment.
For those of us who have been exposed to the American mind set for
doing God’s work, we are taught that our goal should be that of a
servant-leader. Peter pointed out that as God’s servants, we should
expect to be exposed to unfair treatment and suffering. The American
mind set sees success and control as the gift of God. God’s mind set
sees us as examples of the life that Jesus lived when he was here on
earth. Jesus always did what he knew was right. Jesus’ ministry was
marked by constant accusations and danger. Jesus suffered patiently in
his ministry because he was determined to please his Heavenly Father no
matter what came from his obedience. When Jesus lived that way it was
so the world would know how God’s love worked in the face of pain and
difficulties. The pastor is following in Jesus’ steps so that that the
people that he is working with could see in our generation that God
hasn’t changed. May the Lord help us to see our role as examples to our
ministry worlds as God’s servants who are willing to suffer and even
die for the benefit of those who are looking for the real God of the
universe.
1 Peter 2:19 For God is pleased with you when you do
what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment. 20 Of
course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing
wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is
pleased with you. 21 For God called you to do good, even if it means
suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you
must follow in his steps.
Roy Wisner
