God’s Work Among The Nations

I recently discovered something I'd been searching for – a first-hand account of one of my Father's experiences aboard the U.S.S. Birmingham cruiser during WWII.  The ship was ordered to come alongside the U.S.S. Princeton, an aircraft carrier burning for several days. Supposedly, it was safe, as all thought the fires were out. Unfortunately, that was not true!  While in tow alongside the Birmingham, the ship exploded, killing over 800 soldiers on deck and causing significant damage to the Birmingham.  My Father was put to work cleaning up the body parts for the next couple of days, and the experience made a great impression on my Father's life!  He told me the story repeatedly, and now that he's gone, the story has become more important to me; I want to know about the forces and experiences that shaped his life!

 

After I found the article, I read it a couple of times and then sent it to my brother and sisters—I thought they needed to hear the story that shaped our Father's life. There are important lessons to learn, and they must be taught if they are to be passed on! This applies to lessons from our family's story, of course, as well as so many other things. We must be taught, or we will lose what we've been given!

           

That is one of the reasons that God gave us The Church – to pass down the important lessons that He has given us through the Gospel and in the scriptures themselves.  Jesus said this: "You are the world's light.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."  Mathew 5:14-16

           

Jesus was talking about how his followers, The Church,  were to ensure that others would hear his message of forgiveness and salvation.  Using the image of 'light in the darkness,' he taught the power of the Christian message.  Light can push back the darkness; in fact, the darkness is powerless against the light!  Jesus meant for them to grasp the power of his message of salvation and share it with others.  This 'light' of the Gospel can touch many different parts of our lives:  the spiritual aspect, of course, but also the value of the family system given by God, as well as a strong sense of personal responsibility.  When people learn how the Gospel can affect their lives and those of others and share that message, lives can be changed; in fact, the world can be changed! 

           

This was God's plan:  He would work to bring salvation and new life through Jesus, and his disciples would spread the Word everywhere they went. The light of Jesus would bring life and joy to all who would receive it! 

           

Let me encourage you to receive the light of the world, Jesus, into your life.  Then, follow Jesus' words: "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." 

 

Your support is crucial in spreading the message of our Ministry. By sharing these podcasts with your friends and family, you are helping us reach more people and creating a community of believers who can find solace and strength in our shared faith.

 

We also need your financial contributions to make our Ministries a possibility. You can contribute online at https://firstbaptistofindependence.aware3.net/give/

 

If you would like to stay up to date on all things FBC, download our App by clicking here: https://a3a.me/firstbaptistofindependence or by Liking our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/1stBaptist/

 

Thank you for listening. We will see you next week!