I have spent the last 2 days, coming as a guest speaker, at a conference here for the pastors and lay leaders in this region of the American Baptist Church, historically separated from the Southern Baptist at the time of the Civil War tragedy of the Americas in the 19th century.There has been an ‘uncommon grace’ present in these meetings. The people are lovely Christians, but the sense of oneness and the favour of God present here has been special. It appears that it has not always been so. Some 7 years ago there was a real sense of crisis here, ‘dark days’, that threatened to pull apart the very fabric of denominational life.
In conversation, one leader reflected that Jesus spoke to Peter saying, Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers (Luke 22.31-32).
We should not imagine that each of us will not, at times, disappoint the Lord and succumb to the temptations and attacks of the evil one at times. Times of testing will surely come.
But the Lord intercedes, holding us in union with Himself and lifting us in the power of His resurrection. This transformation of those who are crushed and are lifted into the reality of renewal is what has come among Baptists here. And the promise is for us all.
