Enjoying the journey…
Hello everyone,
Just wanting to share something that’s on my heart. The title of this post has to do with the journey God has had me on over the last while. It has been so good to have my eyes opened to so many things that I can’t believe I hadn’t seen until now. I’m understanding the “wish I would have known these things a long time ago” comments that people over 40 (I’m 40) make.
In about March I started reading “The Lord’s dealings with George Mueller”, a four book series that diaries this man of faith’s life. I’m finishing the last book and have been so challenged on so many levels by his example (unceasing prayer, unwaivering faith), his doctrine and his persistent longing to see God glorified as he headed up caring for over 10,000 orphans in England in the 1800’s. You can read the books for free if you download Kindle from Amazon and download the books onto your computer or smartphone.
Reading George Mueller’s writings and teachings on what God teaches about stewardship in the Bible has opened my eyes to our lack of faith in a all-providing Father in the modern church. Mueller’s air-tight (biblically speaking) teachings on not being in debt, not storing up treasure on earth (ie. trying to have enough money saved to be able to live on the interest) and going to God in prayer instead of to people in times of need are so counter-culture even in the church today. Over his lifetime His Father in heaven provided today’s equivalent of over $200,000,000.00 to support orphans, fund world missions and distribute millions of Bibles and Gospel tracts without him ever asking a single person for money. With that in mind, I love reading what he says over and over again in his journals. Listen to what he writes to those who would think that he had some kind of extraordinary faith or blessing…
“Our reply is: We do not pretend to miracles. We have no desire even, that the work, in which we are engaged, should be considered an extraordinary one, or even a remarkable one. We are truly sorry that many persons, inconsiderately, look upon it almost as a miraculous one. The principles on which we are acting are as old as the Holy Scriptures. But they are forgotten by many; and they are not held in living faith by others; and by some they are not known at all; nay, they are denied even to be Scriptural by not a few, and are considered as wild and fanatical.”
Mueller longed to be biblical in every thought, word and action. He read the Bible from cover to cover around 200 times in his lifetime.
God has increased my longing to truly obey what the Bible says over the last years. Being a true disciple, ready to sell everything and give it to the poor or care for the needy orphan and widow or go to a hostile unreached people group sounds crazy if you treasure what the world and (sadly) a huge part of the church treasures (early retirement, toys, travel, comfort, security, health).  I have to keep asking myself, “How bad do you want to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, Greg?”  It will cost me everything. But I get Jesus!!! What more could I want? This world has literally nothing for me. My treasure, my eternal satisfaction is Christ alone! So, as I delight myself in the Lord (Psa 37:4) He will give me everything my heart desires (delights in),… Him! If you have had the privilege of living in this kind of delight, thank the Lord for the grace He gave you to make it possible. It has only been over the last 2 or 3 years that God has opened my eyes to see Him as all I want, desire, long for, treasure and love. I can’t remember not loving Jesus, but this is different, an all-consuming longing for Him alone. Not sure how else to describe it and it feels like I am just starting to see the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what it will mean as I pursue God. I just love being in Christ!!!
Please pray for Shelli and I as we, by God’s grace, try to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.  We would love to hear of how you are doing in this journey!
In Christ,
Greg Neufeld
