Sinner & Saint

Preface:

These words are for you.

If you are currently married, these words provide understanding for your current situation.

If you are single, dating, or engaged, these words provide understanding for your future situation.

If you are divorced, first, I want to say that I am truly sorry for the pain, suffering, anger, bittiness, and hurt that you have experienced. Second, I want to comfort you with the good news that we all have, the good news that you are Jesus Christ’s bride, first and foremost, and that marriage is perfect in every way and will last forever. It is a marriage in which you will never be hurt, never suffer, and never be forsaken.

Whether you are young or old, married, engaged, dating, or single, male or female, God has been gracious to you and gives you these words about marriage.

[22] Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. [24] Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

 [25] Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, [26] that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, [27] so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. [28] In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. [29] For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, [30] because we are members of his body. [31] “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” [32] This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. [33] However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

–Ephesians 5.22-33–

Theologians Andreas Köstenberger and David Jones sum up the West’s current situation well when they write,

“For the first time in its history, Western civilization is confronted with the need to define the meaning of the terms “marriage” and “family.” What until now has been considered a “normal” family, made up of a father, mother, and a number of children, has in recent years begun to be viewed as one among several options.” (God, Marriage, and Family, 25)

That being said, Biblical Scholar John Stott summarizes God’s definition of marriage for us.

“Marriage is an exclusive heterosexual covenant between one man and one woman, ordained and sealed by God, preceded by the leaving of parents, consummated in sexual union, issuing in a permanent mutually supportive partnership, and normally crowned with the gift of children.” (Involvement, 163)

In response to God’s ordaining of marriage, Paul gives the Christians in the city of Ephesus instructions for their relationships.

Paul’s instructions are simple and he defines each gender role with one command.

To the woman he says, “Wives, submit to your own husbands.”

And, to the men he says, “Husbands, love your wives.”

In the sports of ultimate fighting and wrestling, there is something called a submission hold. When one fighter has his opponent held in a painful position where he can’t move or escape, this is a submission hold. Left without any other options, the opponent is forced to either submit (give up) or deal with the extreme pain of a dislocated joint,torn tendons or worse.

Our self-centered mindset causes us to get caught up in the commands present in this section of Paul’s letter as if these instructions for marriage were putting us into a submission hold where we either give in or suffer pain for the rest of our lives.

With this self-centered mindset, we only hear, “Wives, SUBMIT to your own husbands!” and “Husbands, LOVE your wives!”

When we only hear those two sentences and neglect the rest of the words surrounding them, we immediately react with an attitude that says, “Oh, no he didn’t just say that!”

We experience feelings of anxiety and anger believing that Paul’s commands demand us to be slaves to our spouses.

We believe that these commands hold us in a position where we can’t move or escape.

We believe that if we want to make it out of marriage alive, we have to give in, give up, and begrudingly do what the other desires for us to do.

We begin to feel like we are going to spend our lives as prisoners.

We huff and puff while thinking, “Nobody is going to tell me what to do” or “I make the money and that makes me king of this castle and everyone else in it is my servant!”

We also begin to justify our selfishness with thoughts such as, “I have a college degree and I am going to get exactly what I want out of life!,” “I have a job and I am entitled to get my way!,” “I spend my day busting my hump, I deserve to disappear into my man cave when I get home!,” and “Weekends are for sports and beer. Stop bothering me!”

When we ONLY hear, “Wives, SUBMIT to your own husbands!” and “Husbands, LOVE your wives!,” we are missing out on the good news found in the majority of these 12 verses.

These two commands that define the gender roles within a marriage relationship are beautifully tucked into a thick nest of good news.

All around the commands for a woman and a man bound together in marriage are words telling us who Jesus Christ is and what Jesus Christ has done for us.

You who find yourself having faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are included in the Church and are therefore part of Christ’ living and active body. As a member of Jesus’ Church, you have the grace of God poured out upon you and Ephesians 5 tells you that:

• Jesus is your Savior.
• Jesus gave Himself up for you.
• Jesus sanctified you.
• Jesus cleansed you.
• Jesus washes you through Baptism and His Word, the Bible.
• Jesus presents you to God the Father in Heaven without any wrinkle or blemish.
• Jesus makes you holy.
• Jesus nourishes you.
• And, Jesus cherishes you.

You are loved by Jesus.

Through Jesus’ submission to the will of God the Father, the will that sent Jesus to live, die, and rise again, Jesus holds you close, gently assuring you that you are loved, cared for, and provided for.

God’s grace has been poured out upon you and your sins have been forgiven and eternal life is yours.

God looks at you and calls you perfect and holy because of Jesus’ completed work for you.

When you believe in the incomprehensible love that Jesus has for you, a love that caused Him to die on the cross for you, you cannot help but want to submit to Him and His authority because you know that He will never harm you but will always love and accept you.

One thing becomes clear to you is that Jesus does not have you in a painful submission hold, forcing you to obey Him and love Him.

Through His Spirit placed in you, you now want to do those things!

Outside of Christ, you are resistant and you hate.

In Christ you are submissive and loving.

Charles Spurgeon, the 19^th century English preacher, said this about Jesus’ love:

“This love of Christ is the most amazing thing under Heaven, if not in Heaven itself. How often have I said to you that if I had heard that Christ pitied us, I could understand it. If I had heard that Christ had mercy upon us, I could comprehend it. But when it is written that he actually loves us, that is quite another and a much more extraordinary thing! Love between mortal and mortal is quite natural and comprehensible, but love between the Infinite God and us poor sinful finite creatures, though conceivable in one sense, is utterly inconceivable in another. Who can grasp such an idea? Who can fully understand it? Especially when it comes in this form—“ HE” (read it in large capitals) “loved me, and gave Himself for me”— this is the miracle of miracles!” (“ Christ’s Love to His Spouse,” emphasis in original)

If the starting point for marriage is me, then I am starting at the wrong place. Marriage exists for Jesus Christ’s glory. Let your marriage be an offering of worship as you love each other, forgive each other, and serve each other. Let your relationship serve as an aroma of Christ before a watching world.

Because Jesus submitted to God and loves you without limit, wives, submit to your own husbands as the Church submits to Christ.

Know that your husband loves you.

Know that your husband cares for you.

Know that your husband provides for you.

Know that your husband is willing to give Himself up for you.

Husbands, love your wives as Jesus loves the Church.

Care for her.

Provide for her.

Put your wife’s needs above your own.

And always be willing to give yourself up for her.

In all of this, prayerfully dwell on the love of Christ daily, as you seek to live out a Spirit-filled marriage.

Amen.

Pastor Fred

July 9, 2017

“I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.”

–Joshua 24.13–

Each of us lives on land on which we labor. In order to sustain and maintain the property that our homes occupy, our hands have to get dirty, our clothes have to get torn and worn, and our muscles have to ache. Mowing the lawn, trimming the hedges, raking the leaves, weeding the garden, power washing the siding and/or deck, and shoveling snow, are just some of the physically intense activities that require our blood, sweat, and tears on a regular basis in order to keep our land safe, healthy, and hospitable.

We also live in cities that we help build. Some help build the cities that they live in directly through the vocations of construction, carpentry, iron working, electrical engineering, etc. While others help build the cities that they live in through the indirect work of paying taxes to support the vocations that are directly involved in planning, creating, and executing the livable space that they occupy.

And, finally, each of us eats from the fruit of vineyards, orchards, and farms that we plant. Again, some do the direct work of providing food for themselves through the vocations of farming and husbandry. While others do the indirect work of providing food for themselves by purchasing the fruits, vegetables, and meat, that in turn pay those in the vocations that do the hands on, blood, sweat, and tears, work of planting, harvesting, and raising of animals.

You know what it is to work hard and earn what you have.

You also know what it is to work hard and fail.

There are times that you labor for hours, days, weeks, months, and even years without being able to obtain what you need and want.

You have pulled many all-nighters while in school only to receive a failing grade, or a grade less than you hoped to receive.

You have worked overtime, hardly ever called out sick, and worked every holiday, and never received a raise, a raise that reflects the work you have done, a promotion, or even simple recognition for the dedication you have shown.

You have loved as best as you could only to end up divorced, separated from your children, or both.

You have served in any and every ministry at church, put countless hours in behind the scenes as well as in front of the scenes, never to be thanked privately or publically, and never to have been offered the position within God’s local kingdom that you have desired more than anything else.

You have done your best in life but still lack confidence that God loves you and cares about you.

God’s promise to you is the promise of the rest and peace that comes from having land and food that will never fade, decay, rot, be stolen or destroyed.

The land that you are promised is a place in God’s Kingdom of Heaven.

The food that you are promised is the provision for all of your needs today and forever.

Due to the sin that corrupts, you see this promise of God as something that will only be received as a compensation for the hard work you have done.

However, you fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3.23) and cannot offer God anything in exchange for God’s land and food. Only a completely different person, a completely new person with a new mind can know, understand, and believe that their work leads only to death and separation from God (Romans 6.23). Only a new creation can believe and trust in the truth that Jesus Christ did all of the work to provide for their needs and secure a place in God’s Kingdom through the forgiveness of their sin (1 Corinthians 2.16; 2 Corinthians 5.17).

God, the Father Almighty, speaks to you through His servant Joshua and gives you the good news that He is giving you the gift of land in a city and food to nourish your body without any work on your part. God, the giver of good gifts, is providing you with confidence, security, provision for your needs, and hope in a perfect and eternal future.

Through faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, God, your Creator and Redeemer, promises you and inheritance with all of those that He calls His children. God promises you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29.11).

The hope you have been given is the hope that you are and will always be called right and just before God’s throne because of Jesus Christ’s work on your behalf. Jesus worked during His life to be completely obedient to God for you. Jesus worked on the cross to release you from your debt before God, incurred by your sin, and forgiven by His gracious and merciful death (Colossians 2.13-15). God worked when He miraculously raised Jesus from the dead, defeating the power of sin and death for you (Romans 6.8-10).

The future that you have been given is defined by rest and peace. It is a future defined as being free of pain, free of suffering, free of mourning, and free of tears (Revelation 21.4).

You did not labor for land that lasts.

You have not built the Heavenly city.

You have not planted food that truly nourishes.

Because of God’s love for you, you have been gifted land and a city for which you did not work, but for which Jesus worked to obtain for you.

Because of God’s love for you, you have been given food to eat for which you did not labor, but for which Jesus labored to obtain for you.

You will live on the eternal land that God created for you in the eternal city that God built for you, being sustained by the eternal garden that God planted, harvests, and uses to provide for all of your needs.

Amen.

Pastor Fred

July 6, 2017

While at the gym this morning, attempting to lose weight and shape what I have been given by God back into something that resembles a human body (a common personal thread here on this blog), the following lyrics streamed from my playlist and coursed through my ear canals,

“Show me a leader that won’t compromise

Show me a leader so hope never dies

Show me a leader that knows what is right

Show me a leader so hope can survive.”

The band is Alter Bridge. The song is titled, “Show Me A Leader.”

Written and released during the 2016 Presidential election, the song comes with politically charged words from musicians writing from inside a politically divided nation.  To those watching the debates, tweets, smear campaigns, and verbal attacks of the candidates and their respective representative political parties, all hope seemed to be lost for a truthful, just, and upright leader.

What the boys in Alter Bridge are asking to see is impossible to find when looking only at finite men and women.

Every man and woman is brought into this world corrupted by sin and separated from God.  When these men and women are put into positions of leadership, they will only do what comes naturally.  They will act selfishly.  They will put themselves and their personal needs above others. They will lie, cheat, and steal to get ahead in the race.  They will hide, deceive, and bend the truth to accomplish their agendas.

When looking at candidates from the human race,

you will not see a leader who won’t compromise,

you will not see a leader with whom hope never dies,

you will not see a leader who knows (and does) what’s right,

you will not see a leader with whom hope survives.

However, when you look at the Godman, Jesus Christ, you see the perfect leader sent to take you back to your Father in Heaven by forgiving your sins and giving you eternal life.

Jesus came proclaiming, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1.15).  Jesus also offered leadership to those who heard and believed the good news of God’s grace when he spoke the words, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4.19).

While Jesus was alive and active in the flesh of His human body, He trained the men and women who answered the call to be led by Him, with words and deeds of mercy and then commanded them to follow His example as they lived their individual and corporate lives (John 13.1-20).

In the person and work of Jesus Christ, God has given you a truthful, just, and upright Savior.

Jesus is the leader that won’t compromise and who knows (and does) what’s right.  When offered the riches, power and status of the world, in exchange for denying God the Father’s goodness, Jesus spoke the truth of God’s provision for all of His needs  (Matthew 4.1-11)

Jesus is the leader with whom hope never dies and with whom hope can survive. The hope that you have in Jesus as a leader comes from the fact that He is unchangeable.  You are reminded by the author of Hebrews that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13.8).  You will not wake up tomorrow or the day after that to find that Jesus has lied to you, given you false hope, or harmed you.  Because of God’s love for you, you can live confidently knowing that Jesus is leading you every day to His cross for forgiveness and out of the grave for eternal life.

God has shown you the leader that won’t compromise.

God has shown you the leader with whom hope never dies.

God has shown you the leader who knows (and does) what’s right.

God has shown you the leader with whom hope can survive.

Today, follow Jesus (Matthew 16.24-25).

Today, perform acts of grace and mercy out of the love with which you have first been loved (1 John 4.19).

Today, lead others to the cross as you have been led to the cross for the forgiveness of sins.

Today, lead others out of the grave as you have been led out of the grave into eternal life.

Amen.

Pastor Fred

July 5, 2017

–Ephesians 5.1-21–

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.  But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

 “Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwisebut as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

In our home, there is no question that I dread more than, “Do you want to go for a family walk?”

This question brings out feelings of pride, selfishness, and anger.

The unspoken thoughts of my mind race through sayings such as, “I didn’t put this on my schedule,” “I am not mentally prepared for this,” “No one is going to force me to do what I don’t want to do,” “This is not how I want to spend MY time,” and “I hate exercising,”

So, I would often say, “NO!,” before my wife was finished asking the question.

However, in the recent past, due to the desire to lose the 40 pounds of pregnancy weight that I gained, I have come to a place of begrudgingly agreeing to the pain, suffering, blood, sweat, and tears, that come with the physical activity of a family walk.

So, off we go!

I start out walking strong, both mentally and physically, but after some time has passed and some distance has been covered, I begin to perspire, to ache, and want to give up.

I now think, “This wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be,” “Let’s turn around,” “I can’t do this,” “I don’t want to do this,” “I hate this,” “Oh, sweet death, embrace me!”

In your life, there is no set of commands that you dread more than those found here in Ephesians 5.1-21.

The commands to “walk in love,” to “walk as children of light,” and to “look carefully how you walk,” filled out with the specifics of always being thankful, spending time discerning what the will of God and then actually following that will of God for you, being wise in all situations, seeking to understand all situations, making the best use of your time—meaning, always loving God and loving others, exposing the evil in the world, and always obeying God’s commands, often cause you to experience feelings of pride, selfishness, and anger.

The unspoken thoughts of your mind race through sayings such as, “God, I didn’t put this on my schedule,” “God, I am not mentally prepared for this,” “God, no one is going to force me to do what I don’t want to do,” “God, this is not how I want to spend MY time,” and “God, having to love ALL of the time is the worst!”

So, because of the sin that drives you to disobey God, you hear these commands and answer, “NO!”

You proclaim your defiance to God, your Creator and Redeemer, before He is finished speaking His perfect will for your life.

However, after you have heard and believed in the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that are yours through the person and work of Jesus Christ, you come to a place of agreeing to the pain, suffering, blood, sweat, and tears, that come with the spiritual, mental and physical activity of walking in love as Christ loved you.

You start out walking strong, spiritually, mentally and physically, but after some time has passed and some distance has been covered, you begin to perspire, to ache, and want to give up.

You find yourself thinking, “This wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be,” “I am going to turn around,” “I can’t do this,” “I don’t want to do this,” “I hate this,” “Oh, sweet death, embrace me!”

Here, in this letter to the Christians in the city of Ephesus, Paul reminds the Christians in that place that outside of Christ, they are darkness.

Outside of Christ, YOU ARE DARKNESS!

Therefore, you walk in the darkness of disobedience to God.

In sin you find pleasure and satisfaction in sexual immorality, impurity, never being satisfied with what we have and always wanting what others around you possess, while using your mouth to tear others down, to gossip, to insult, to verbally speak out filthy thoughts, and to share crude jokes.

In Christ, but still in the flesh, the saint in you still struggles with the sinner in you.

In Christ, but still in the flesh, the light in you still struggles with the darkness in you.

The beginning of Ephesians 5 speaks the good news to you that before God was finished giving Jesus the mission to live, die, and rise again, for the purpose of forgiving your sins and gifting you eternal life, to transfer you from darkness to light (Colossians 1.13), Jesus said, “YES!”

Jesus willingly agreed to the pain, suffering, blood, sweat, and tears, that came with the spiritual, mental, and physical activity of always walking in the light of God’s commands for you.

Jesus always walked in love.

Jesus always looked carefully at how he walked.

Jesus always walked as a child of light, even to the point of walking to His own death on a cross for you.

Outside of Christ, you walk in darkness.

But, in Christ you walk in the light of love.

Through faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, you have had your eyes opened to see the light of God’s love for you.

Therefore, walk continually and confidently, giving thanks to God with every step.

In another letter that Paul wrote to the Christian Church, he says,

…if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:1-11).

Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5.1-2).

When your children ask in time to come, “What do these stones mean to you? then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.

–Joshua 4.6-7–

People use the mantles and shelving in their homes to display items of importance.

Some of these surface areas hold pictures or painted portraits of family members. Some of these storage spaces hold trophies, medals, special gifts, and mementos of relatives long passed. I have even seen the remaining ashes of loved ones and loved pets proudly displayed in fancy urns and boxes as the centerpieces above the house warming fireplace.

In our home, I wish we had a glass jar filled with half of my tongue for all who entered our home to see (note: my wife probably disagrees with my choice of this home décor piece).

Sounds strange (and possibly grotesque and nauseating), doesn’t it?

The reason that I wish for this mad-scientist like appendage containing jar in our home is because that half tongue represents a memorial in my life—that half tongue (that is now in some medical waste container) was cut off 10 years ago in an act that saved my life.

God, the Great Physician (Matthew 9.1-13), used His gift of medical professionals and medical procedures to remove a cancerous tumor that was plaguing my body and threatening to take my life all the way to the grave.

After the discovery of the corrupted growth and the removal of the half of my tongue that was home to this group of diseased cells, the doctors have declared my body cancer free.

The reason I would want to have my tongue preserved is because I would want my sons, family, and friends to be able to ask, “What does this tongue mean to you?” And, I shall tell them, and all others that ask, “that this tongue was cut off in order that His miraculous power to heal and save the human from the effects of sin would be known throughout the world. So, this tongue shall be to our family and friends a memorial forever.”

God commanded His people, whom He was actively working to save, to remove stones from the middle of the Jordan River. This was the river that God, the one in control of all things, including nature, stopped from flowing in order that Joshua and God’s people could cross safely on their journey to the Promised Land—a place that God was preparing for them and a place where they would find provision, rest, and peace.

God desired for His people to have a visual representation of God work of providing a safe river crossing so that when sin crept in and grumbling and complaining against the perceived shortcomings of God to provide, they could look back at the pile of stones taken from the dry ground in the middle of the river and be reminded of God’s goodness and faithfulness to them. The pile of stones would also act as a conversation piece between those who saw it and God’s people who experienced God’s saving grace in their lives. In other words, the 12 stones provided continual opportunities to share the good news of God’s love.

There is one item that every Christian can place on a mantle that acts as a reminder and testimony to God’s love and provision for those who have faith.

That memorial piece is the cross.

It is on the cross of Jesus Christ that God forgave your sin and gave you eternal life (John 3.16).

It is on the cross of Jesus Christ that God took you who were unwise for salvation and gave you the knowledge of and belief in His Son’s life, death, and resurrection (Ephesians 1.15-22).

It is on the cross of Jesus Christ that God made you who were dead in sin come alive in righteousness (Ephesians 2.1-10).

It is on the cross of Jesus Christ that you who were once far away from God have been brought near to God (Ephesians 2.11-22).

It is on the cross of Jesus Christ that you who did not have access to God, the Father in Heaven, have been given access to God, the Father in Heaven (Ephesians 3.1-13).

It is on the cross of Jesus Christ that you were weakened by sin have been made strong to love God and love your neighbor (Ephesians 3.14-21).

It is on the cross of Jesus Christ that you who were naked before God have been clothed with the holiness of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4.17-32).

It is on the cross of Jesus Christ that you who were walking in the darkness of sin have been brought into the light to walk in love (Ephesians 5.1-21).

It is on the cross that God took you who were corrupted and impure and made you pure (1 Corinthians 6.9-11; Proverbs 25.4).

It is on the cross of Jesus Christ that God took sinners and made them saints.

Romans 10:8-13 gives you comfort and a command when Paul writes,

“…The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

In addition to a cross, each of us has many other specific items that are able to tell the story of God’s grace, mercy, faithfulness, and love toward us.

What items of importance would you be able to place on a mantle in your home that gave direct testimony to the miraculous and saving work that God did in your life?

With faith in God’s saving grace for you through the person and work of Jesus Christ, be strong, bold, courageous (Joshua 1.6, 9; Ephesians 3.12) and,

“Tell the world that Jesus lives;
Tell the world that he died for them;
Tell the world that he lives again” (Hillsong, Tell the World).

Amen,

Pastor Fred.

June 29, 2017