How Are We Different?

1Peter 3:15, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope in you, with meekness and fear;

This weekend the family and I spent some time in a local bookstore and I picked up a copy of John Piper's book "Don't waste your life". Since then we have all been fighting over who's going to read it first... Nick won (He's better with the light saber). In this book there was a powerful message from Dr. Piper where he submits this thought for us to consider; "Is the reason that the world does not ask us this question today because they don't see this hope within us?" "Do they look at us and see someone fighting for the same things they are?"

How are we different? Are we living in such a way that the world would look at us and say; "How can you be so joyful in this situation?" "Why are you taking that kind of risk, do you ever plan to retire, what about your kids, don't you want them to go to college, what's wrong with you?" This question has come up often as we have been on this adoption journey. We have never been more helpless in any situation during our 20 year marriage, nearly everything has gone wrong that could have, war, extortion, corruption, delay, incompetence, etc... but all of this has been intermingled with occasional bright strands of hope. He has developed in us a maturity of faith that could be gained no other way, which brings me to another question. What is our goal anyway... His glory or our satisfaction? If it is His Glory then shouldn't we leave the process and the results entirely up to Him?

What's your situation? Would people ask you what's the reason for the hope within you? Are they seeing your radical brightness in the face of unrelenting circumstances? Are you living for the same things the world is?

Regardless of the outcome I would have chosen no other path! Read the attached ( http://www.aimint.org/usa/heritage.html ) story of Peter Cameron Scott, the founder of "Africa Inland Mission". Called to the mission field at a young age, soon after getting there he was flattened by malaria and sent home. When he got well he went back and this time he took his younger brother. His brother died soon after his arrival. He dug a hole and buried him and how does God respond? He flattens him with malaria again. He goes back to England and visits the grave of Dr. Livingstone and reads the words written there, the last of which were, "Other Sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice (John 10:16)" He went back, and today untold thousands call Him saviour as a result of this dying seed.