MAGAZINE LETTER FOR MARCH 1989
-----

Dear Friends,

At the end of this month we are launching the appeal for the money we need for the building of our Church Extension. The Extension is for God and His Kingdom. It is to enable the work of our Church to grow more under God’s blessing. The great aim is that we may have adequate space so that the work of spreading the Gospel of Salvation may not be hindered. There is no greater or important work than this,

God is asking us to make a costly sacrifice for the work of the Gospel and His Kingdom. He is asking us to trust Him for the outcome of such personal sacrifice.

In reading in St. Mark’s Gospel, chapter 10 and verses 32 to 34 I saw that the sacrifice Jesus is asking from us is so small compared with the sacrifice He made for us. He is asking from us nothing so great as He was prepared to do for us. Danger, great personal danger, was waiting Jesus in Jerusalem. Much to the astonishment of the disciples and the fear of those who followed, Jesus led the way - notice that - to go to Jerusalem. Jesus knew what awaited Him in Jerusalem but He did not hold back, or try to put off the event, or shirk it, but led the way to it.

He feels for His disciples’ anguish over his action, so He takes them aside and explains that He, as the Son of Man - the representative and substitute man - must be betrayed, be mocked, flogged and crucified. Why? The Bible says there was no other way to pay the price of sin, and to unlock the gate of heaven to let us in. God required Him to do this. We, because of our sins, needed Him to do this. We are saved from Hell because He did not shirk this. Jesus, not only accepted death for us, but also a very cruel death. Jesus accepted more, for He accepted hell for us.

In the light of this costly sacrifice, can we withhold any sacrifice He asks us to give? And if we are blessed by His sacrifice with free forgiveness and heaven, isn’t it a privilege to help in every way we can to bring this blessing to others. Isaac Watts expresses it perfectly in his Hymn "When I survey the wondrous cross"

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all!

But what of the outcome of such personal sacrifice? What will happen to us if we give most of our savings to God now. I have asked myself this question. It is a hard question to face. What has helped me is something in this passage we are looking at. When Jesus says that the Son of Man must suffer, He says "They will condemn Him to death, and turn Him over to the Gentiles, who will mock Him, and spit upon Him, and flog Him and kill Him. Three days later He will rise." What certainty and assurance! There was no doubt that He would accomplish the purpose of His death and provide eternal salvation for us.

If Jesus was absolutely certain here, when all the forces of Satan were against Him, and when he was made responsible for sin, and all the sins of the world were heaped upon Him, then it is a small thing for Him to care, protect and provide for His people. And thus we can safely leave our future in his hands.

if God is supplying the need of our church through us now, He will most certainly supply our need In the future from some other source.

"He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all - how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things." Romans 8:32.

I leave these thoughts with you all. I need them as much as anyone. My prayer is for myself that I may take them to heart, even as I pray that you may do so also.

Your servant for Christ’s sake,