(June 19, 2018) Norman and Margaret Moss share a great reflection…

Ah, what tangled worldwide webs we weave!

There’s a new acronym around: GDPR… which can, among other explanations, mean General Data Protection Regulation (European Union), Global Defence Posture Realignment (DoD Transformation Plan), Gross Domestic Product per Region, Group of Deputy Permanent Representatives (on the public disclosure of NATO documents), Graduate Degree Progress Report (Southern Methodist University; Texas) – or how about this one… Grateful Dread Public Radio (Baltimore, MD internet public radio station)!

 

But, Christian readers, sons and daughters of Almighty God, disciples of Jesus, GDPR does not stand for Get DePRessed – though I almost thought so when I first heard about it.

The Christian GDPR
Now this acronym stands for a great Bible truth of… God’s Deep Presence Rewards!

Did you know that you have a legal right to be forgotten?  Not, of course, forgotten by tax inspectors – and perhaps enemies.  We hope that you don’t want us to ‘forget’ you, but if you do, please let us know and we will take your name off our contacts list.

We still won’t forget you! And more importantly, be sure of this, all you who follow Jesus, are his true disciples… God loves you and will always remember you!

Hebrews13:5 declares that ‘God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”’ The Message Bible (and verse 6) puts it this way: ‘Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?’

So let’s explain Christian GDPR this way…

Praise for hope and never being forsaken
We were meditating on David’s Psalm 71 thankfulness that God would never forsake him and would always give him hope and how he would respond to such hope with praise and sharing with others…

Verses14-16 read, ‘But as for me, I shall always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.’

And we felt the Lord was saying:
‘Be strong in faith and hold fast against the lies of the evil one. Enclose yourself within the strong tower of hope and bar the door against intruders. Do not be afraid, for I am with you and my promise is that I will never leave you, nor forsake you.

‘My presence is guaranteed to you by my grace. The Good Shepherd will never leave his sheep to perish. I watch over you and that is the abiding truth in which you can put full confidence.

‘So rejoice and be glad. Praise me with thanksgiving, and tell out my glory.  Let me bless you with the blessings that can only be given to those of strong faith. Listen to my promptings and walk in obedience to the leading of my Spirit. Seek my face, and you will see my hand working powerfully, and I will yet give abundant harvests.

‘I am the God of hope, so that those who stay with me will always have hope.’

What is this Christian GDPR hope?

It is hope that…

• Is strong and vibrant
• Is sure and certain
• Overcomes all discouragement
• Cannot help but praise me, and my mighty works
• Cannot be silent about my salvation
• Rescues the desolate from the pit of despair and sets them with princes
• Gives gladness of heart.
• Lifts up and causes songs of deliverance to rise up both in youth and in old age.

Remember too that great Romans 15:13 scripture: ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’

 

He will… as we continue to trust him and praise him! Let your GDPR work for you.

Norman and Margaret Moss were pastoring in the Baptist ministry for 40 years, 31 years as senior pastors at Queens Road Baptist Church Wimbledon, London experiencing charismatic renewal since the 1960s and bringing the congregation into renewal in the 1970’s when the church grew significantly. For the last 20 years they have been working with Partners in Harvest ( http://partnersinharvest.org) encouraging and supporting ministers and churches who are hungry for more of the Holy Spirit. Their Keeping in Touch is good news encouragement. Link: charlesnmoss@gmail.com