FRIDAY REVIEW
Saint Philip and Saint James, Apostles
May 2, A.D. 2008
Proclaiming
Jesus in Grace and Strength
“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do
not lose heart…. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as
Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”
(2
Corinthians 4:1,5).
Two
weeks ago today I was in Loganville, Georgia for our Common Cause Conference on
Mission and Ministry. I can’t speak for the hundred other brothers and sisters
who were there, but I know that my spiritual batteries were recharged. It was
so uplifting to worship and work with the laity, deacons, priests, and bishops
from all our Common Cause Partners. The gracious hospitality of Pastor Foley
Beach and the Holy Cross parishioners was a special blessing during our time
together. Our common cause was the lordship of Jesus Christ – how we might grow
closer to Him and help others in this lost and hurting world come to know,
love, and serve Him too.
Today
I had an opportunity to reach out to others on His behalf as I gave the Grace
Rollo (Talk) on our Anglican Alliance 4th Day (Cursillo) Weekend # 4
for Women. I realized that I was once again in a complete Common Cause setting
with several jurisdictions represented, and yet the key thing was that we were
all together to focus on how we might live the Christian Life of Grace
together.
Just
as the Apostle Paul wrote above, I understood that I have this ministry of
proclamation only by the mercy of God. Philip and James were two ordinary men
whom God called and transformed into apostles. Today’s Collect tells us that
God gave them grace and strength to bear witness to the truth.
The
Prayer Book tells us that Grace is God’s favor towards us, unearned and
undeserved. God in His mercy has invited each of us to enter into a personal
relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Through His death on the
Cross and His Resurrection from the grave, Jesus has opened the door for us to
life with Him for all eternity and to abundant life here in His service. Not
only are we saved by His grace, but also He has strengthened us to bear witness
to the truth.
He
graces us with His strength through His Word and His Holy Spirit. It is only by
His grace, His Word, and His Holy Spirit that we can proclaim Jesus to the
world. The abundant life of grace that Jesus pours out on us is for the sake of
others. No matter what form of witness God grants us, we know that He will strengthen
us to carry it out in the face of all odds. The words of the Apostle Paul prove
themselves true in our lives again and again: “We do not lose heart…. For
what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as
your servants for Jesus’ sake.”
Your brother in Jesus the Christ,
Jim McCaslin+