Ben Haley

“Since the river of life flows from God’s presence into the lands of nations, so our mission to the nations must flow from the life found in God’s presence. When the source of our commitment to mission is located only in the backwaters of our idealism, then we can burn out and become bitter. Many idealistically plunge headlong into a sacrificial commitment to the poor or unreached or hurting, compelled by brokenness over their plight, but the resources of that idealism run dry when tested by the challenges of costly obedience. However, when our resources run dry, we drink more fully and deeply from the abundance of life found in God’s presence. Our God gives joy and strength to endure! The life that we find in God’s presence is more than enough to overcome every challenge for the mission God has placed before us. However, life must clearly flow from God’s presence into the needs of the nations, and the needs of the nations must drive us to drink more fully from the life found in God’s presence.”
― G.K. Beale, God Dwells Among Us: A Biblical Theology of the Temple