Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Enthusiasm”
Our Bible verse for today: “And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “We become enthusiastic by being around enthusiastic people.”
I have recently returned from leading a mission team to Haiti. Again on this mission trip I witnessed two truths that prove themselves on every mission trip. The first is that the mission often ends up being more about what God wanted to do in you rather than through you. As a team member on a short-term mission God will certainly use you to be a blessing to those He sent you to minister to. But often the greater works ends up being in your own heart as a result of what you experience on the mission trip.
The second truth, which is directly connected to the first, involves a promise that we at CERT International frequently make to pastors of churches here in the USA. “If you send your church members on a short-term mission trip with us, we will bring them back to you as better church members.”
Haiti is by far the most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere, but spiritually it is rich. The Holy Spirit of God is doing a mighty work in Haiti. There is revival in the churches and spiritual awakening across the country. The churches are filled to overflowing and the Christians of Haiti are on-fire. There is a passion and enthusiasm for the things of God that is startling and exciting. And that brings me back to the two truths I referred to above, and it also brings us to the subject of our devotional theme, “enthusiasm”.
I for one was greatly impacted by the enthusiasm for God and for His kingdom-building work that I experienced in the worship services in Haiti. My heart was stirred and I was quickly caught-up in it. I myself became more enthusiastic as a result of being around all those enthusiastic people. God worked in my heart and I came home changed.
The fact is that enthusiasm is contagious. We become more enthusiastic by being around others who are enthusiastic. If you want to become more enthusiastic in your relationship with God and for His kingdom-building work, just hang-out with people who are already enthusiastic like that.
This is what the writer to the letter to the Hebrews meant when he wrote in 10:24-25 about Christians encouraging one another and spurring each other on to love and good deeds.
This Sunday morning at 10:00 at Oak Hill Baptist Church our mission team to Haiti will give their mission trip report. We’ll show pictures and tell stories of what God did, and of how we were impacted by being a part of it. If you want to be inspired and encouraged, if you want your own level of enthusiasm for God and for His kingdom-building work around the world to receive a boost, I invite you to join us.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 