Far North...

Today's post is a reflection and item for prayer. A more detailed report of my ministry (which is very busy right now!) will be coming soon.  But first I would like to share what was discussed in a staff meeting last week. I give credit to Joel Vandyke and the rest of the EdT staff for their contributions to this reflection.

The gospel of Mark, chapter 8, has a lot to say about suffering. Jesus heals a blind man, and the Bible says 'he saw everything clearly'.  The next scene in the chapter takes place with Jesus' disciples. They are in Caesarea Philippi - the farthest point north that Jesus is reported to have reached.  It is here, far from their religious headquarters, far from God's holy mountain, that Jesus asks the question: 'Who do you say I am?'  Peter boldly declares that Jesus is the Christ. What a declaration, spoken unabashedly with strong conviction.

Yet this question is not the end of the matter. Jesus begins to tell them about his purpose for coming to the earth. He begins to tell them of the suffering that is to come.  He breaches the subject of death.  And how does Peter, man of conviction, respond?  He rebukes Jesus. He rebukes Jesus. And Jesus responds: "Get behind me, Satan... you have in mind the things of men."  He extends to Peter and the rest of his followers this challenge: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it." 

Some questions it has provoked in my heart: Have I gone with Jesus to the 'far north'? Has he confronted me with the question 'WHO AM I?' in a place where the answer might be challenging to say with conviction?  In a place where I do not feel saturated by the counsel of the religious community?  What is my response?

Many people have experienced and are experiencing suffering. The loss of a parent or child.  The questions of provision for your family.  The frustrations of medical mysteries.  The embarrassment of losing face in the community - be it large or small.  The difficulty of resisting sin's temptation. The difficulty of surrendering your desires to the Lord. 
Suffering is a reality.
In the words of Elizabeth Elliot, God gave us grace, but he didn't give us immunity.

However in the end it seems Peter took Jesus' words to heart.  Later, we find in 1st Peter: "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."

What an encouragement.. to hold to my conviction in the 'far north' of suffering.
--> Right now there are a lot of families suffering here in Guate- not only due to the economy, but also because of the recent volcano eruption followed by the devastating tropical storm Agatha.  Please keep them in your hearts and prayers.