Our host for conference asked me “How have you guys been eating? I replied “We have been eating.”
“How?” He enquired further.
“We go to market by foodstuff, cook it and eat it.” I pointed to one of our brothers that specialize in turning Eba…lol
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I knew the question he was really asking but there is no better way for me to answer it.
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“You guys came from different locations?”
“Yes” I replied. He ensured all of us introduced ourselves, stating the state where we all reside.
“Where are all of you staying in Benin?”
“In a house God provided for us at Ikpoba Hills.”
“Wow, wow…” He replied.
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Again I knew the real question he was asking.
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Now it is my opinion that a believer should have at least a week or more in a year where he goes to a location he is not familiar with for the work of the gospel. Where he labors as a ground breaker…a reach out arm for the body of Christ.
Don’t misunderstand me…wherever and however you do the work of the gospel as led is okay but then when you leave your comfort zone, the life of sacrifice of a believer is further reinforced in you…
Christ continually reached out, looking for more opportunity to be a blessing.
When you go out like this, you are reminded of the ‘why’ of this life of Christ…you are reminded that it is not about the fanciful clothes or the latest cars…but about souls.
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We see people come from all walks of life, from different families, churches, different exposures and experiences of life…we put all aside…we put the discomfort aside…we labor in prayers and in the work…and no one is paid, not even a little allowance…they all do it sacrificially.
We become truly a body of Christ and this experience impacts us remarkably in ways that leave love in our heart.
Even to those that didn’t come physically but are labouring night and day…in prayers and in giving…we are invaded in our heart.
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When your heart burns for Christ…nothing else matters
You will rarely have time to argue about what others are doing right or wrong, when you are reaching out.
You will rarely have time to compete with others…you will rarely have time to engage in church politics.
You will see the full gospel display right in front of your eyes…when you go.
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The real question our conference host was asking was that “Why and how did we all make the sacrifices? And it didn’t seem like anything to us.”
And the answer is for all of us “The life of a believer is first of all about sacrifice and not comfort.”
When your comfort collides with the will of God, your comfort must give way.
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It pays to serve Jesus, I speak from my heart;
He’ll always be with us, if we do our part;
There’s naught in this wide world can pleasure afford,
There’s peace and contentment in serving the Lord.
Refrain:
I love Him far better than in days of yore,
I’ll serve Him more truly than ever before;
I’ll do as He bids me, whatever the cost,
I’ll be a true soldier — I’ll die at my post.
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By Omoniyi Temitope Mayowa
Benin, Edo State
23rd May, 2019
4:55pm
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Dedicated to all Threshing House team partners, members and volunteers.
