12-13-2013

   Good Morning All,

    Matthew 16:18; “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

    Jesus said “I will build my church.”  Well sort of, anyway.  Jesus didn’t speak English; he spoke Aramaic.  This verse was originally written in Greek.  Neither use the word “church”; that was a later translation.  The word in Greek is “Ecclesia” which means the “out called”.  It was translated in the Middle Ages to the German word “Kirche” meaning church.  Yeah, this I kind of boring but there is a point.

    We are the “out called”.  We are the people who Christ called and made into his body.  We are a living, active being.  We are not and institution or an organization; we are the body of Christ.  We are the people whom he has gathered together, from all over, to do his work here on earth.  We are gathered together based on the same proclamation that Peter made.  Peter proclaimed to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!”

    We are part of the body of Christ; not by wisdom, might, wealth or any other man made thing.  We are part of the body by faith.  If we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord; we are saved.  It is that simple.  We are then part of the body.  We are called out of the sinful world and gathered together as the redeemed, forgiven body of Christ.

    We are called to action.  We are called to make a difference in the lives of those around us.  The Word of God in the hearts of men changes lives!  Your life is changed; the lives of those who you touch are changed.  God in your life, Jesus as your Lord changes the lives of people.  We go from hopeless, lost creatures to hopeful, saved children of God.  We are gathered as a living, breathing being.  We are called out of the sinful world into God’s grace-filled kingdom.  From here we reach out to those around us, one at a time, as each has need or is willing to hear.  We are the physical presentation of Jesus on the earth.

    Jesus calls us to be an active heartbeat in the world.  He calls us to make a difference in this world.  This is what Christmas should mean to us.  When Jesus came to this world, he made a difference in the lives of people everywhere.  Now, until he returns, he wants us to make a difference in the lives of those around us.  Show them God’s compassion.  Show them God’s mercy.  You have seen it; you have experienced it.  God wants you to be an active force for his love in your world.  Be it your neighbors, your family and friends, or just the people you interact with on daily basis.  Be the living presence of Christ in the life of those around you.  It doesn’t require money or fame or strength; it only requires faith, the rock upon which we are built.

Father of grace, you bring us together to be your hands and your arms; to be your presence here on this earth.  Stir us up, by your Spirit, to reach out to those who are in need of your compassion, your mercy and your love.  Bring peace to this world and give hope to all.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret