True, Not Popular

Yeah… I know. I didn’t blog last week. Blame it on the general pace of life this January! Something had to give. But it’s been a good month. I’ve been preaching through a series called ‘Happily Ever After’ at Mavuno. Carol & I have taught marriage seminars for years but this is the first time we’re actually doing a sermon series on the subject. She hasn’t been well enough to co-teach but has helped work on the sermons. It’s gone really well; great to see so many coming wanting to hear God’s word. Part two begins this Sunday and it will be great to teach together.

Over the last couple of weeks, we also launched our biggest ever Mizizi cohort with 500 people! And our School of Prayer class with around 200. Confirming something I’ve believed for a long time; that most people in this generation are not anti-God. They’re actually hungry. Not for religion but for a real encounter with a real God.

Of course that creates a good problem. The need for passionate leaders. I feel Jesus when he says ‘the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few’. And I’m praying that the Lord of the harvest raises many laborers for Mavuno.

I'm greatly enjoying reading through the book of Luke. The first four books (aka gospels) are biographies about Jesus, two by eyewitnesses (Matthew & John) and two by journalists who interviewed the eyewitnesses (Mark & Luke). They sound similar and yet each has a unique angle. Like watching the news on four different stations!

Matthew, former taxman, wrote mainly to the Jews to show how everything in their history found fulfillment in Jesus’ life and how we too are completed in Jesus. Mark, who probably got his story from Peter, has the simplest story with no digressions but gets straight to the point, eager to share the great news that God is here right now and on our side. Luke, a medic and one of Paul’s companions, writes like a historian, giving much attention to detail, but also as a non-Jew is passionate to show how the good news is relevant to all those typically treated as ‘on the outside’ because of their gender, ethnicity, health status or poverty. John, who was one of Jesus’ closest friends, sounds most different from the others. As the only survivor of Jesus’ inner core, he writes not only to recollect what happened but to interpret it in the light of his understanding of Jesus as the eternal Creator who takes on human form.

So… now you know! I thank God for the rain. And pray it will bring an end to the drought. But with it I pray God will also end our drought of leadership. And raise up godly leaders in for Kenya. In government, parliament, the judiciary, the media, the church, industry etc. Of course God often answers our prayers through us. I’m praying He will use me to raise up many godly men and women who will give godly leadership in every sector of society. What are you praying for yourself?

Let me leave you with Luke 6:26 which has stood out for me this week…

‘There’s trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests – look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.’

Have a great week!