Only If the Lord Gains

Since the past few months I have been very busy in traveling for the distribution of the ministry literature and then for the proofreading work of the New Testament Recovery Version. In fact, from 27 Dec 2021 till date, I am in Hyderabad. Therefore,  practically I have not been able to regularly call up the ones I used to shepherd. In fact, two regular shepherding meetings and three regular church meetings I have not been able to participate for a few minth now. I realized that the time has come for me to take my hands off and let the brothers go on based on the foundational shepherding work the Lord through my co-laboring had done upon them. The outcome of all that had been done and what have been going on even in my absence, only the Lord knows. He will do what He deems best. Only if the Lord gains these ones, they will be gained. 

There are a good number of seekers and families that I have been burdened for. In fact, I had been shepherding them with the best of my ability. Now the time has come for me to put my hands off from them too. Whether they will enter into the church life or not is up to the Lord and up to them, depending on how much they are willing to be absolute to the truths being shown to them. I felt deep within me that I have discharged my burdens for these ones and did all that I could possibly have done. I have no regrets. I leave the outcome to the Lord. If the Lord gains them, they will be gained.

At the end of last year I did reconsider what all had been done throughout the year. The burdens and goals I had for the years, to my judgment, have not been fulfilled. Should I term myself a failure based on the visible result? Yes, may be, or may be not. I did my best. I didn't have any better way either, or may be I didn't know the better way. Whatever, now I leave the matter to the Lord. If the Lord gains, they will be gained. The seeds have been sown, and now awaiting its growth and harvest one day.

If the Lord gains, He will gain all these ones. They will absolutely be the result of the Lord’s work. Therefore, not to justify myself of not meeting my goals, but stating the fact as fact, if the Lord gains them, they definitely will be gained. Amen.

I simply put my trust in the word of God.

“Unless Jehovah builds the house, Those who build it labor in vain. Unless Jehovah keeps the city, The guard watches in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To stay up late, To eat the bread of toil; All the same, He gives to His beloved while they sleep.” (Psalms 127:1-2, RecVer)

And also be able to declare as Habakuk did;

“For the fig tree will not sprout, And there will be no yield on the vines; The labor on the olive tree will fail, And the fields will make no food; The flock will be cut off from the fold, And there will be no herd in the stalls. Yet I will exult in Jehovah; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18, RecVer)