Struggling with your faith and its outworking? Two people recently have shown me the contemporary truth of transforming grace in their lives (Romans 12:1-2). The second I know, the first I don’t.
Faith Under Fire.
Andrew White has been the vicar of St George’s in Baghdad since 2005. Remarkably by the age 10 he knew that he wanted to go into medicine and a priest! Whilst working at St Thomas’, London on the Crash Team for cardiac emergencies God called him into ministry via Ridley Hall, Cambridge. During his time there he was diagnosed first with ME and then MS. He asks: is it not that sometimes God moves through adverse circumstances and even sickness when we will not cooperate with Him in health and tranquility? He is the living truth of a motto given to him by Lord Coggan (“Don’t Take Care, Take Risks”).
He is inspired by the Christians in his congregation whom he says have much to teach us about experiencing the fullness of the presence of God. St George’s is outside the Green Zone and he lives each day believing on 1 John 4:8 “Perfect love drives out fear”.
Faith Down Under.
Nearer home, a 24-year old from our congregation in The Hague has also heard the call of God and answered it late January 2013 by giving up his job and flying to Cape Town to work at the Helderberg Sports Academy in its townships’ programmes. In the townships 80% of the children do not live with their biological father.
He has worked to fund the start of the programme, but is reliant on God’s provision for its continuation.
Please pray God will provide for both these men’s needs and use them greatly for His kingdom.
Transforming Grace.
In the Explore Bible Devotional app I read recently:
“Grace never leaves people where it finds them. David’s experience of God’s favour transforms him into a willing, self-sacrificing servant.”
As a well-known hymn concludes:
“ Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering too small. Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all.”
