We thank God for the divine connections we have been blessed with. We call them “divine connections” because we believe God ordains relationships in our lives. And because they are God ordained, we recognize that stewarding those relationships is part of our divine responsibility. This relates to all relationships that are meaningful, if we want them to remain that way.
Baptizing new believers at the Church in Sikkim. Making disciples!
One of the hinderances within the concept of stewarding relationships is the disconnect that occurs over time and space, which is why fellowship is so important. For us living in India, with many of our key relationships thousands of miles away, we have to find ways to bridge the gap. One of the ways we do that is though prayer, which transcends time and space. And we also utilize modern technology to communicate to our dear friends and ministry partners, which is what I’m doing right now. Other divine connections God has given us are right here in India, and these too require our attention if they are to remain vibrant.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, there are two powerful words used to describe how we should relate to those who labor along side us and who lead us in the work of the gospel. Those two words are honor (to know them) and respect (to esteem them).
I pray today that those two qualities would abound in our lives, and become marks of godly distinction that cause our relationships to remain fruitful and prosperous.
With Love,
Mike Van Buskirk
PS. Please pray for those who were recently water baptized. There are many others who are the only Christian in their home, and water baptism is a big step in their faith.