"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken;struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will resent us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Cor 4:7-18)
The sheer weight of glory is overwhelming sometimes – especially when you meet a group of Christians who meet in a simple wooden "shack" in a field, and have walked for two hours to get to even this simple structure. These Christians who worship the Lord in hope and joy, despite the fact that their “light affliction” often seems unbearable. The drought that everyone refers to here is wreaking havoc on homes throughout this quiet rural community. There is little food, as the crops are drying up, and there is no money for school, so the school buildings lay half full or empty. Yet they come and fill the church, with shining faces and freshly washed clothes, to sing praise to their good God.
What would you say if you were asked to speak to such a group of brothers and sisters in Christ?
I am humbled.
I am speechless.
All I can say is that I am coming with the gift of myself to greet them in the name of Jesus and to encourage them to continue to grow in the Lord. Their jubilant singing is inspiring to me, and I am blessed to be among them. I am from Chicago, in the United States of America, and I bring greetings and prayers from the church in America. We are one body in one spirit in Christ, and it’s a joy for me to spend time with my brothers and sisters in Kenya.
I am humbled.
I am speechless.