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 "you did nothing to help me.  It was the Christians who did everything!"

 

The fact of Christians active in sacrifice and service shamed the teacher's critics into silence.  In this way, under the shadow of the cross, Christianity continues to

experience phenomenal growth in China.

 

The true Church grows in thorns of pain.  Remember the parable that Jesus told about the man who planted a field and then went to rest.  While the farmer was asleep an enemy came along and planted weeds in the field.   The weds didn't just happen... it was a determined action... someone intended to do harm.

 

And the meaning is clear.  Our Lord Jesus is telling us that Satan intentionally brings harm into the field of human history, and especially the Saints are going to suffer.

 

We don't like it!  How could creatures created for a perfect life in paradise feel at home in a world so corrupted and evil!  How could the Son of God willingly leave Heaven to come into our fallen world?  How could He who knew no pain endure the pain for us?

 

St. Paul tells us in Hebrews 12 that the Lord endured the cross because of the joy that was set before Him.  The joy of not only returning to paradise, but the joy of

redeeming others and bringing them to paradise too!

 

So too, may our whole life be lived willingly under the shadow of the cross for the sake of this same joy.  May we deny ourselves and follow Christ knowing that we are going forward into the perfection of heaven, and that we have the privilege of witnessing so others will also be brought into heaven's gates and glory.

 

And as we endure the suffering and abuse that comes to us from the evil that Satan has planted into the world, may we also remember that all things work to the good of those who love the world.  Even the evil that we suffer veils a hidden good.

 

An ancient Hebrew story is told of a rabbi who was forced by persecution to leave his homeland.  His only earthly possessions, other than the clothing he wore and a copy of the Scriptures, were a lamp by which he studied and a donkey upon which he rode.

 

Late one evening, after a long day's journey, he came upon a small village where he sought shelter for the night.  The villagers, however, turned him away.  The only shelter this weary rabbi was able to find was next to a wall which surrounded a well on the outskirts of the village.

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