How richly God has blessed us with the knowledge of His grace in Christ through His Word! It is through the proclamation of His imperishable Word that He brings new birth to His people (1 Pet. 1:22-25), and it is by His Word that He sustains and grows His people to fruitful maturity in Christ (1 Pet. 2:1-3). Because of the life-giving, life-sustaining power of God through His Word, believers are to have a consuming hunger for His Word – like the craving hunger of a newborn baby for the mother’s milk ( 1 Pet. 2:2).
Beloved, I greatly miss being with you this month during my trips to Europe and to Haiti. And I know Steve will miss you while He is in Zimbabwe. But even as we go – through your prayers and support – to proclaim God’s imperishable Word to people in other lands, I rejoice in knowing that He continues to provide for your spiritual nourishment in His Word during our absence.
So I continue to thank God for you, and pray for your ongoing growth in the hope, power, and riches of the Gospel (Eph. 1:15-22). And I also continue to “...commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32)
Please continue to pray for myself and Steve in these extended opportunities for the ministry of His Word – that it may indeed “...speed ahead and be honored…” (2 Thess. 3:1), among those to whom we are privileged to preach.
I look forward to being with you again on Oct. 7 in worship at River City Grace, Lord willing!
Grace upon grace,
Greg