Gentle Reader,
Truly glad to rejoin the crowd of flash-writers. Two months away from this blog did me good, but I sure did miss them.
Kate says: better.
Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? O be not weary of well doing! Go on, in the name of God and in the power of His might, till even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw the sun) shall vanish away before it.
Reading this morning a tract wrote by a poor African, I was particularly struck by that circumstance that a man who has a black skin, being wronged or outraged by a white man, can have no redress; it being a “law” in our colonies that the oath of a black against a white goes for nothing. What villainy is this?
– John Wesley, letter to William Wilberforce (emphasis mine)
Are all of them together stronger than God? What an excellent question, and one that Wilberforce must have contemplated on multiple occasions during his decades-long battle to bring an end to the British slave trade (and, by extension, slavery itself). One that I myself have wrestled with often. And yes, sometimes, all of them together have seemed to be stronger than God.
What villainy is this? Another great question, the answer to which may be summed up in one word: sin. The evil that humanity can do knows no bounds. That’s not just the big things. The “real sins.” How about gossip and slander, the death by a thousand piercing cuts?
But is that evil stronger that good? Are the wicked stronger than God?
No.
Weary one, lift up your head. I say this to myself even as I say it to you.
There is a better country up ahead. The road may be long, winding and filled with unexpected dangers. But you do not walk it alone. We are together, shoulder to shoulder, forging ahead to the Celestial City, though we be battered and bruised. Better yet, Jesus is with us. Every moment. Every breath.
His presence, through Spirit and through word, empowers us to go on.
Well said, dear Marie, and it is SO GOOD to see you here again!
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It’s good to be back! I really have missed everyone.
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I agree with Andrew . . . welcome back! Glad you had a break, but even more glad that you’re back. 😉 And “Amen” to that “better city up ahead”! Honored and humbled to walk this journey with you . . .
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I’m glad you’re on this journey with me. Truly. It means more than I can say that you’ve created this space for us. May God bless you abundantly for your faithfulness!
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Amen! My trial is that I like the world–I’m an optimist and I think its a pretty amazing place (I’m pretty good an ignoring all the bad and not letting my mind linger on it). I love life. I’m also selfish and let myself get wrapped up in my pretty world and forget the world I’m supposed to love and help.
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Would you believe that I’ve discovered a core of optimism underneath all my grumpiness? There’s a part of me that’s always so disappointed when people turn out to be mean or corrupt. Makes me want to turn away from it all. But, that’s not what Jesus wants… Thankfully, He’s here to empower us to engage in His mission.
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So glad to have you back friend. Yes to a better city ahead. I’m in the 30 spot today.
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Glad to be back! How I look forward to that city. It’s going to be so wonderful!
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Thank you for your good words. Welcome back! FMF34
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Thank you for commenting! And for sharing your own words. 🙂
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We do not walk alone, Jesus is with us! So important yet easy to forget! So glad you’re back!
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It is easy to forget, isn’t it? May He make us ever-more aware of His presence.
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Glad to see you back to doing what you do very well! I am praying that there is a “better city up ahead” but aware there will be pain and discomfort involved as well! God’s right there watching, waiting and loving!
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Thank you, Aunt Lenore! You are always so encouraging to me. That means a lot. I’m glad to be on this journey with you and I’m glad that we’ll spend eternity together in that city. 🙂
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It’s true – the opposition can seem so strong at times, but not as strong as God! And keeping in mind that there’s a “better country up ahead” definitely helps. Nice to see you back at FMF again!
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“This is my Father’s world:
Oh, let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world,
The battle is not done:
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.”
– Maltbie Babcock
(If you don’t already know this song, look it up. I think you’ll love it. Your comment had me humming the tune).
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So true–and I’m so thankful that we’re travelling should to shoulder together and with Christ!
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Amen, Amanda! Thank you for stopping by!
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Marie, Loved this post! Honest yet hopeful. “His presence, through Spirit and through word, empowers us to go on.”
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“Hope” is probably my secondary word for the year. Dwelling in His truth gives me the hope to keep going!
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“Better yet, Jesus is with us. Every moment. Every breath.” On this earth, there is no better than this “better yet.”
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Amen, sister!
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