Throughout this week, I am writing a journal of reflection on our recent mission trip to Piedras Negras, Mexico. You can read these journal entries on the first 8 July postings of this web log.
During our week in Mexico, our mission team of 13 individuals representing the Southwest Church wrestled with the question: What is the Gospel? We challenged ourselves to dig deeper in our daily Bible readings to discover afresh the meaning of the Good News of Jesus and what that Gospel message meant personally to our lives and how to effectively share the Good News to others.
After three full days of labor working on one of the building projects that were available for our team (painting a Christian school, stuccoing a community building, building a block house, etc.), we were given Thursday afternoon off to rest and to have some additional time to reflect on the purpose of our trip to share the Gospel (Good News) with the Mexican people.
The timing of our afternoon of rest was perfect as we experienced an afternoon of heavy rain as result of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Alex that hit Mexico last week. The daily rain which brought unexpected relief from the summer desert heat was a blessing to the people of Piedras and to those of who weren’t use to daily manual labor in almost 100 degree temperature.
The Bible reading for Thursday was found in 1 Peter 2. This particular chapter of the Bible means a great deal to me and my initial understanding of this passage a number of years ago was instrumental in me falling in love with Jesus and to begin seeking a personal relationship with God.
Listen to these powerful words recorded in the Bible: But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 NLT
The Apostle Peter goes on to write that God’s mercy is available because of what Jesus did for each and every one of us. Peter wrote, “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:24-25 NLT
Now that is Good News!!
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