DIRECTOR'S BLOG

Dr. Sam Martin

“And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." Acts 11 v 26

Recently I was preaching in Guatemala and after the service, the Pastor’s wife asked if I would pray with her and her husband. Of course I agreed but asked, “can you be specific with your need please.” She answered, “Yes some people in the Church are trying to get us out, they are making our lives miserable!’ At that, my heart broke. I am fully aware of the struggles in North American Churches, but in Guatemala?

We are told these days that young people are deserting the Church in large numbers. 1500 Pastors a month either resign or are forced out of ministry. I believe it was Dr. John MacArthur who said, ‘The Church is the only army that shoots it’s own!’

All of this is close to my heart. Having served in the Pastoral ministry for many years, I know the joys and the blessings, but I have also experienced the abuse, the hurts and betrayer of those I thought were friends. The point of this is to say, ‘this ought not to be!’

This all came to mind as I was in the early chapters of ‘Fight for the Forgotten’ by Justin Wren. Sharing his testimony of his early experiences of Church life, he says, and I quote: “In high school, my favorite quote came from Mahatma Gandhi. I like your Christ, but I don’t like your Christians,” he said. “Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

My friends, 2017 is before us. A New Year, and I want simply to share with you the challenge – ‘Let’s try and be more like Jesus!’ Let’s live like Him, talk like Him, serve like Him and love like Him!. The chorus of an old Hymn comes to mind:

Be like Jesus, this my song,
In the home and in the throng;
Be like Jesus, all day long!

I know my own failings. I like you struggle in so many areas but in my heart, I want to be as like Christ as I possibly can! I want to be more like Jesus than ever before! Let’s make that our goal and to help, pray through the following very old hymn:

I Want To Be Like Jesus

I want to be like Jesus,
So lowly and so meek,
For no one marked an angry word
That every heard Him speak.

I want to be like Jesus,
So frequently in prayer;
Alone upon the mountain-top,
He met His Father there.

I want to be like Jesus,
I never, never find
That He, though persecuted, was
To any one unkind.

I want to be like Jesus,
Engaged in doing good,
So that of me it may be said,
'She hath done what she could.'

I want to be like Jesus,
Who sweetly said to all,
'Let little children come to Me:'
I would obey the call.

But oh, I'm not like Jesus,
As any one may see;
Then, gentle Saviour, send Thy Grace,
And make me like to Thee.