2-1-2014

Good Morning to All,

      Romans 1:16; “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

      Not too long ago we were without electricity for a few hours.  Now that in and of itself isn’t that big of deal; but the weather outside was frightful.  It in the negative teens and the wind was blowing.  Warmth was leaving in a hurry.  After about six hours, concern began to set in.  What about water pipes and things like that?  They would freeze and break.  What about those who had a house that wasn’t that well insulated or well protected from the wind?  They could get cold in a hurry.  It is tough to get enough blankets when you are very old or very young, they just don’t generate the body heat needed.

    But then, the lights came on, the furnace kicked in and you knew another day would dawn.  It is kind of funny but actually refreshing that after an event like that, no power in frigid conditions; no one complained about the loss of power but expressed gratitude to the men and women who got it back going again.  Yet once again we saw the incredible power, not only of the tiny electrical lines, but the power of God in nature.  How often we hear where men claim to build something that is “unsinkable” or “stormproof” or “indestructible” only to see it crumple like an aluminum can when a storm of full fury hits. 

    That is the one thing that we often miss in the Bible; we tend to overlook God’s power.  We let it roll off of our tongues as if it were no big deal.  God speaks and the mountains quake.  Darkness arises as he passes by.  Lightning and thunder, fire and as if it were no big deal.  God speaks and the mountains quake.  Darkness arises as he passes by.  Lightning and thunder, fire and smoke, all display God’s power.  Creation by the spoken word displays power beyond our imagination.  Power; that is used to bring you to salvation.

    There is nothing more amazing that God, with all of his power and majesty, chose to love you so much that his love moved him to save you.  All that power was used to display the love that God has for you.  He could have simply spoken and you would have been saved.  He could have wiped it away with the flip of a wrist.  Yet he chose a way that demonstrated hid unending love for you.  He chose to die for you.  He chose to die as the only Son of the Father and experienced the anguish of knowingly letting his son die a heinous, tortuous death for you, so you wouldn’t have to die in that way.

   God’s love is the power of salvation; displayed by the death of the Son, verified by the empty tomb.  It is the power that redeems you from the devil, defeats death and gives victory over the grave.  All this is freely given to you because of God’s love for you.

Father of mercy, through your wondrous gift of love we are redeemed to salvation.  With this power in us, cause us to go forth as your beacons.  Lead us to shine in the lives of those around us, especially those who are burdened by the weight of sin and its guilt.  Bring them to the light by the power of your love.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret