TRUE FAITH

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: Statistics show Africa as 50% Christian (about 16% Catholic, 14.5% Protestant, 5% Anglican and 4.5% Orthodox, and 10% independent), 41.5% Muslim, 8% Ethnoreligionist, and others. The saying that Africa's Christianity is "a mile wide and 1/2 inch deep" holds true. There is much discipleship and true conversion needed in the African Church. Please pray for genuine conversions and maturity for the Church in Africa.

I have met a number of men and women who intensely professed that they were Christians but did not possess the savor of humility, peace and joy that flows from a relationship with Christ Jesus. I have often wondered and even questioned their saving faith. They certainly could outline their belief in the death of Christ for their sin and their assurance of the gift of eternal life. But still I doubted. (We live in a society that easily accepts the Christian profession of actors and singers and people in general without question, but I question the genuineness of such popular professions). Anyways a few weeks back I found a satisfactory answer to my long-standing question in John Piper's book Future Grace in a chapter where he examined the false professions of Matthew 7.21-23. These "believers" truly believed that they were eternally secure but they were not. My mind and heart resonated with Piper's examination and definition of true faith, "Being satisfied with all that God is for us in Jesus". Piper writes, "I think this is as close as I know how to get, because it gets at this idea of 'delighting in' or 'cherishing' or 'consenting to' or 'embracing' spiritual beauty".
 

A heart of flesh for a heart of stone

 The missing of this delight in Jesus, of this love for Jesus, of this passion for Jesus, of this quickening at hearing the Gospel or the reading of God's Word, for me has often been the missing component in the lives of these confessing Christians that I have encountered and continue to meet. Piper writes that two things are necessary for saving faith to emerge. "One is to use our perception and our mind to hear and see and understand and validate a testimony to the truth of Christ." The second is "that we must apprehend and embrace the spiritual beauty and worth of Christ through the illumination of the Holy Spirit". Validation and "belief" of the facts of the cross can be a natural act of the human intellect, but acknowledging the facts may not save. It may lead to a false assurance unto eternal damnation. But only the Holy Spirit can change the heart so that it delights in God and all that God is for us in Jesus Christ. How many "Christians" have only accepted the facts but have not been born-again by the work of the Holy Spirit? Their hearts do not delight in God and Jesus Christ but they are deceived by the facts they have accepted that all is well with God. I think we may have more unconverted believers than we may be willing to acknowledge. I read this verse on Sunday as our Pastor preached on 1 Corinthians 16. Verse 22 says, "If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!"
My Father, fill my heart all the more with your love so that I may love you more. May I find all my delight in all You are for me in Jesus Christ for evermore.

Good articles I read this week: https://pioneers.ca/article/3157-the-meaning-of-things
https://mailchi.mp/missionscatalyst/where-medicine-is-magic-world-news-briefs?e=beb00c3891 (article on Afghanistan #4 but all are worth reading)