(Thursday, Jan 10, 2013) The days before I leave for India are always very difficult because the time to say good-bye to family and loved ones draws closer. The magnitude of what looms before me expands to awesome proportions. When it is time to go I am tempted to say, “God, this is too much. It’s too high a price you are expecting me to pay! I can’t pay this great expense! It’s too hard!” How many times do we tell God He is expecting too much of us, that the price He is asking is too high?
Immediately I am convicted, though. I can’t help but think of the price Jesus paid for me. A mental image of Him on the cross immediately flashes in my mind and heart. He paid a much higher price for me than He ever expects me to pay for Him! He left His Father and loved ones (the angels) to come to earth for me, to face rejection, shame, mockery and pain beyond human imagination. He didn’t say, “It’s too much!” He submitted to the Father’s will no matter what the cost. Leaving Pennsylvania for India is nothing compared to leaving heaven for hell! How can I not be willing to pay any price for someone Who would pay the ultimate price for me?
Mark 14:32-36 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
When are most apt to think God is expecting too much from you? Do you have a high or a low tolerance for emotional, physical or spiritual pain? How does the pain you suffer for Jesus compare to the pain He suffered for you? Pray and thank Him for His great love for you that mean that no pain was too great for Him to bear for your sake.
We made it safely to Hyderabad and Pastor Moses’ home almost 30 hours after leaving Philadelphia – tired but in relatively good shape. After some food and down time we will go to visit the orphans we always see when here and also the leprosy colony which we visit every year. I’ll write more about that next time.
Blogs can be found at: http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/
Past blogs can be found at http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/page/2/ I
Pictures of this trip can be found http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/photos/?wppa-album=8&wppa-cover=0&wppa-occur=1
Pictures from past years can be found at http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/photos
Please feel free to email me whenever you want. I may not always be able to respond, but hearing from friends back home can be very, very encouraging when I am so far away for so long! I look forward to checking my email when possible at the end of a long day.