We have a children’s book that teaches the concept of “good, better, and best.” It uses the story of Mary and Martha and how each responded to Jesus when he came to visit. You’ll remember that Martha got all caught up in doing good things around the house, cleaning and preparing a meal and being a good hostess, while Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to him. Jesus, of course, tells Martha that Mary chose best.

“The greatest enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but good choices which are not quite good enough.” Oswald Chambers

Chambers’ words are convicting. Here is an example to help digest his meaning: which is easier, to give someone a few bucks for a meal or to take them to eat and become their friend? Which is better? Which is best? One takes good intention, the other takes me. One gives me the pleasure of giving while maintaining control, the other costs me time and surrenders much of my control because I don’t what’s going to happen. One takes goodness and generosity, the other sacrifice and faith.

Doing good is absolutely good. It’s what Jesus went about doing (Acts 10:38). But a life of faith demands letting God call the shots. It means allowing Him to lead us into the deeper waters of service and dependence that are out over our heads, where we feel quite out of control. According to Chambers, this is best. Perhaps Paul would agree, “For we live by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).”

So what choices are you making that demand faith? It seems there is a difference between “a good Christian life” and “a life of faith in God.”

I pray you are having a great week in the Lord, which I define as a week when you have at least in moments known the nearness of God, a week in which your purpose for living for him has been clearer than before, and that your love for God and for those around you has deepened and moved you to give away more of yourself as he would want.

I was so encouraged and inspired by our small group meeting last night. The Lord reminded me of the value of our time together and replenished my soul through the love and sharing of my brothers and sisters. We ate. We laughed. We spoke of our concern about the decadent world around us and then considered God’s words to us about the necessity, nature and nearness of the all-powerful kingdom of God that is forcefully advancing in our world. In truth, I went to small group very low, and to a degree, despairing. But he filled me through the faith and love of my faith-family. So today, I know anew the power and urgency of God’s call to…

“…not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as we see the Day approaching” (Heb.10:25).

Clearly, I need you. I need community with you. My children and my wife, our family, needs the faithfulness and the encouragement of you and your family. It’s by God’s design. God has given you to us, and us to you, to grow together for this time, this sacred time.

When you feel lost, when your compass feels out of whack and your resolve for God is askew, when you feel alone, and guilty, and harassed and tired, and worn out from the circus life has pulled you into, that’s the time to make sure you connect with the rest of us. Those are the times Satan wants to get us off by ourselves and have his way with us, to discourage us and to beat us down and to make us feel like we deserve break. But the truth is, what we need is time with God, sacred time. Time set for him and on him. And when we are harassed, that’s when we need the most help getting to him. That’s why we meet together.

So don’t give up meeting with us. Just give yourself…to us, and we’ll help with the “up” part.

Open Door needs a strong vision and purpose. We need to know we are part of something special and that being part of this something special is impacting our lives significantly to the glory of God. Paul writes, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10). God may choose to reveal the details of specific good works he has for us as a congregation, or he may simply call us to keep calling on him and take every step forward with fear and trembling in a firm resolve of faith and trust.

We know God has his purposes for us, and the congregation needs to feel confident in that truth and our corporate resolve to seek and live by that truth. I feel both honored and confident serving at Open Door with you. I cherish your faith, your friendship and your brotherhood in Christ. I look for inspiration, creativity, love, faithfulness and accountability from you as my brothers. I pray to help you to grow as you help me to grow. And I pray God will use us individually and collectively to lead those around us into the glory of his wondrous light.

Thank you for prayerfully considering these thoughts. I look forward to our time together in his name.