…A Strange Leading…
January 30, 2012
As we introduced the 2012 preaching theme of “Following Jesus”, the point was made that following closely after Jesus will mean that he will lead us in paths and to places we would not choose for ourselves. Case in point: God led the people of Israel from their slavery in Egypt by means of powerful miracles and Passover…right to a “dead-end”! With the Red Sea in front of them and the Egyptians in hot pursuit behind them, they had some cause to wonder about the leading of God (See Exodus 12-14). Yet it was exactly what God had in mind in order to demonstrate his mighty power in what seemed to be an impossible situation. Remember, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Luke 4:1). So if we’re facing difficult or what seems to be impossible situations, it may be that this is exactly where God wants us in order to lead us away from prideful self-sufficiency and teach us trust and patience. Just because something is hard doesn’t make it wrong. One of the most remarkable passages in all Scripture tells us that “Although He was a Son (speaking of Jesus), He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8). If even the Son of God had to “learn obedience”, what of us?
Stay Faithful!
Pastor Howard
For further reading and reflection: Psalm 23, Hebrews 12
Thirteen Years…
January 23, 2012
...That’s the interval of time between Joseph being sold into slavery and his rise to power as “Prince Of Egypt” (Genesis 37, 39-41), during which he was falsely accused, thrown into prison, and forgotten in prison. Yet after all that, when the perpetrators of the crime of selling him into Egypt (His own brothers, no less!) came to him, he “spoke kindly to them” (Genesis 50:21b), refusing to let bitterness take root and grow into retaliation. Only the supernatural work of grace in the soul can account for such a trusting, calm peace of mind and heart in the face of all the wrongs that had been done to him. Only the gracious work of the Holy Spirit can direct us to the sovereignty of God in order to live in simple trust even while all our circumstances conspire against us. As Joseph spoke with his brothers after revealing himself to them, he told them that is was “God who sent me before you to preserve life.” (Genesis 45:5b). That is the life of faith and it is the life of patiently trusting God even when situations don’t change, best efforts don’t seem to bring desired results, and the “battle” gets tiresome. The work of the blessed Spirit of God is that of leading us to “cling tenaciously to Jesus” when nothing (or everything) seems to be going right.
Yours, for trusting, hoping, and resting in Jesus…
Pastor Howard
For further reading and reflection: Genesis 37, 39-45; Philippians 1; I Peter 4
Just One…
January 08, 2012
Making New Year’s resolutions (i.e. – exercise more, eat healthy, lose weight, spend less…etc…etc.) is OK, but the fact-of-the-matter is that the vast majority of “new year’s resolutions” are broken by…oh say…January 2! There are, no doubt, any number of reasons why those resolutions end up in life’s “dust bin”, but due to the reality of the weakness of human nature because of the effects of sin, it shouldn’t surprise us that good intentions so often fail to get translated into consistent good actions. However, there is one resolution that, because of its very nature as being something created and birthed by the Holy Spirit, is possible to keep and it is this: To be a follower of Jesus! Because of the work of the Holy Spirit to create genuine faith and conversion, no person can even have the desire and resolve to follow Jesus through whatever life throws at us apart from that gracious work of the blessed Spirit. Through the working of the Holy Spirit, we have the ability to make one resolution that is sure to last, not only for a year, but for a lifetime. No matter what may come, I am resolved to follow Jesus!
Resolved, to live in simple “followership”…
Pastor Howard
For further reading and reflection: Romans 8, I Corinthians 12:3, Philippians 1:6
A Prayer for the New Year…
January 02, 2012
A Prayer for the New Year…
Eternal Father,
You who are not constrained by time and space, have mercy on us who mark the passage of time and who are but mere mortals. Forgive our sinful impudence in worshipping ourselves, the creature, rather than you, the Creator and giver of life. You never grow weary and your days are unending. Have mercy on us who become tired in the battle and who face the ultimate limitation of our own mortality. As you spread before us the beginning of another year, grant us grace that our followership of Jesus may be unhesitating and unreserved, willing to accept as matter-of-fact that loving Jesus will come at a price in a world in love with itself. Remove from us the love of ease and cause us to joyfully embrace the cross of Christ. By the gracious work of your Holy Spirit in our lives, cause us to leave behind the trivial and set our affections on that which is of ultimate and everlasting significance. Gracious Father, you have set your love on us in Christ and granted us, by your Spirit, the repentance that leads to eternal life. By the work of that same Spirit, always keep us in the love of Christ, for it is there we are secure and find pure joy. This we pray in the Name of the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.
Amen
Christmas Went Away…
December 25, 2011
Christmas Went Away…
I don’t know about you, but I really like the lights and decorations of the Christmas season. They add cheerfulness to the dark night sky of the long winter nights. Today Christmas “went away” (on Christmas Day, no less) as we took the decorations down at the church building following the Christmas worship service and fellowship lunch. OK, so we had a “captive crew” of people available to enlist in the “un-decorating” effort so that “many hands would make ‘light work’”. Still, there’s a sense of sadness (sniff…) at seeing the decorations come down for another year. Even though the decorations came down today, Christmas didn’t really “go away”. In fact, in the hearts of believers, Christmas never “goes away” because the light of Christ is always “on” in our hearts; the love of Christ is always stirring; the grace of Christ is always forgiving; the passion of Christ is always motivating; the peace of Christ is always comforting; and the presence of Christ is always heartening! So…maybe Christmas never “goes away” in hearts warmed by the miracle of grace in Jesus.
Merry Christmas!
Pastor Howard
For further reading an reflection: Matthew 1:18 – 2:15, Luke 1- 2:38
