Mar 10, 2017 Print This Article

Dear alums

dear-president
Many prayers could be offered for you this Lent, but mine is that you personally be drawn closer to Jesus. We easily confuse our roles with our soul, which tempts us into salvation by our works. You know how that goes 鈥

I enjoy Peggy Noonan鈥檚 weekly column in the Wall Street Journal. A speech writer for President Ronald Reagan, she marries insights with fresh words. Some weeks ago she was reflecting on a book by Dean Acheson, Secretary of State under President Harry Truman.聽World War II was over; no one knew what was ahead. 鈥淓veryone鈥檚 in the dark looking for the switch. When you鈥檙e in the middle of history the meaning of things is usually unclear 鈥 In real time most things are obscure 鈥 鈥極nly slowly did it dawn upon us that the whole world structure and order that we had inherited from the nineteenth century was gone.鈥欌 (February 11-12; A13). Similarly in our time, from churched America to unchurched America, it鈥檚 a challenging time for ministry, but not depressing. In the dark, we do know where the Light is.

I鈥檓 always challenged by Ex. 3:11-12. Moses asks how he can go to Pharaoh. God鈥檚 answer: 鈥淚 will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.鈥 You want a sign? Just trust My word. I鈥檓 with you and in time to come, you鈥檒l see that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 鈥淭he vision awaits its appointed time鈥 (Hab. 2:3).

Sola gratia, sola fide, sola scriptura 鈥 Trust in the gracious promises of God as we face the daunting challenges of new ministry contexts, but most importantly, trust in the grace that comes to you and me personally as the darkness of Lent leads us again to the Light of Christ. O Spirit of Christ, uphold your servants in their roles and flood our souls with the light of Your promises. 鈥淚n your light, do we see light鈥 (Ps. 36:9).

Blessings,

Dale

Dr. Dale A. Meyer, President
SA国际传媒, St. Louis