For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 NKJV)
In June 2024, the congregation of the Indonesian Mission Church in the
city of Frankfurt will enter its 31st year. We should be grateful to God
as the Head of the Church who has been pleased to lead and accompany His
congregation. The journey of the GMI congregation through times of joy
and sorrow, through various struggles and challenges that He allowed,
we as His congregation are shaped by God to become increasingly like Christ.
Entering our 31st year, we are grateful that we still want to be led by
Christ. The Lord Jesus wants us as members of His family to have character
like Him and live a lifestyle like Him. For God did not appoint
us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who
died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with
Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also
are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 NKJV).
Our Sub-Topic for May-June 2024 is: Developing the character of
Christ & having a lifestyle in Christ and also in accordance
with our motto together as a missionary church which is: Blessed
to inherit blessings (1 Peter 3:9), so It is our prayer and hope
as pastors, that in entering its 31st year, GMI in Frankfurt and also
all GMI in every other city, can become God's family which increasingly
has the character of Christ and with a lifestyle in Christ, we can be
blessed to inherit blessings. The Church of God was present and founded
by the Lord Jesus on the face of this earth for God's eternal purposes
(Matthew 16:18, 19). His Church which has the character of Christ and
has a lifestyle in Christ can be used to be a blessing wherever God places
members of His family. This is the key to the spiritual strength and victory
of His church. The early church was built and grew on the teachings of
the apostles and in close fellowship between members of God's family who
succeeded in developing the character of Christ and having a lifestyle
in Christ (Acts 2:41-47).
A balanced character and lifestyle in Christ will bring the church to
growth in quality and quantity. The Bible calls God's family fellowship
built on the foundation of the apostles (New Testament) and prophets (Old
Testament), or in other words on the foundation of the true teaching of
God's Word, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone, will become a church
that is given strength to build a family of God that has a mission. The
early church was not only ready to be taught, but they also wanted to
practice the same principles of life as Christ, so it is not surprising
that every day God added to their number those who were saved (Acts 2:47).
Let us also continue to pray and become more and more like Christ, so
that we can become God's congregation that progresses because of our character
and lifestyle in Christ. Come on, God's family, don't stop seeking the
Kingdom of God and His righteousness, so that He may add to what is still
lacking in our lives (Matthew 6:33). Lord Jesus bless us all, Amen!
By Pastor Silwanus Obadja M.Th.