Bibledoorajar: Extraordinary Living

     When those Old Testament priests were consecrated it was necessary for each to touch the sacrifice. It was an extraordinary and eternally significant event. When Jesus walked with His disciples, many who would later become apostles, John says that they not only saw Him but that they touched Him. It was a witness that was broader than that of an eye witness--they actually touched Him. To touch a sacrifice provided by God and given for a spiritual purpose is an extraordinary thing. It could not be more real. Luke concludes in his writings that all the witnesses that have gone before lays a strong basis for the continued testimony about Jesus being given by God.
     In church yesterday, our preacher was calling attention to living an extraordinary life in the midst of the ordinary (and sometimes difficult) things of earth. Once again we were encouraged to consider Jesus our High Priest. Though some things are yet to come, He is present with us. Sometimes Christians think they just live "plain ole ordinary lives" but we are not remembering just how extraordinary our lives are. Not everyone living is living the extraordinary in a God given way.
In church I just wanted to say, can we please sing We Gather Together? This hymn was first written at a time of great oppression when the king of Spain forbade Protestants to gather together for spiritual purposes. The song came to America as the Dutch migrated to this country. By the time of World War I, the song was resonating with many people in America as our nation faced extraordinary times of difficulty. But now it seems the hymn is sung mostly at Thanksgiving in most congregations. However,  it is a hymn that restores our faith in His ability to allow us to spiritually live extraordinary lives even in the midst of woes every day of the year and can be especially helpful to congregations striving for mutual faith.

            "We gather together to ask the Lord's blessings;
              He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
              The wicked oppressing, now cease from distressing;
              Sing praises to His Name, He forgets not His own.

              Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
              Ordaining, maintaining, His kingdom divine;
               So from the beginning, the fight we are winning;
               Thou Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

               We do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
                And pray that Thou still our Defender will be;
                 Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
                 Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
                                                                       Dutch Hymn