11-9-2014

Good Morning All,

         2 Timothy 3:15; “and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

      I have had some interesting conversations with some people when discussing my serving the church.  Since I was ordained at 53 and in a “second career” situation, they assume there is a great story.  They ask me, “When did you think of being ordained?”  Well the pastor who confirmed me suggested it when I was 13-14.  “So what happened?”  Well I went to college, married the prettiest girl I knew, farmed with my parents and raised three sons.  “So did you leave the church for a while?”  No, my wife and I have always been active in the church; our faith was always important to us.  At this time, they begin to be either confused or bored.

    I didn’t have some dramatic event that occurred in my life.  I didn’t almost die from a drug overdose; I didn’t experience some tragic emotional event; I didn’t lose everything only to be brought to a remarkable transformation.  I just lived my life until God called me to move forward in this fashion.  One man asked me, "What took you so long?”  So learner I guess.

   Not everyone has a dramatic event in their life when they experienced what the world calls a “come to Jesus” moment.  Not every Christian experiences what Paul experienced on the road to Damascus when Jesus appeared to him and spoke to him and changed his life right there on the road.  We don’t all “find Jesus” while we are in jail, or nearly dead, or living homeless somewhere.  Some of us are more like Timothy.  Timothy was brought up in the faith, especially mentioned are his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice as those who taught him the faith.  Some of us grow up in the church and don’t let go.

    It is truly a miracle when God gives someone a “road to Damascus” moment but it is just amazing when someone has more of a Timothy type life and grows in God’s grace and church.  Both show God’s incredible grace; one by an intense conversion and one by an intense love that grows from the beginning.  Whether there is a moment that you specifically remember or whether you simply grew up in the church, the truly important issue is that you hold onto faith. 

    Faith, and holding onto it, this is the issue that matters.  We all receive God’s grace poured out upon us.  Jesus died for all.  Recognizing this as God’s great gift to us and clinging to it for the comfort and peace to face all the world will throw at us, this is the essential element.  Whether you are new to the faith, never remember not being in the faith, whether you can pinpoint the exact moment you knew of Jesus’ salvation or if you have told the “old, old story” all of your life; God’s grace active in your life is the key.  Neither existence is better or stronger than the other.  God’s grace poured out on you that is the key.

Merciful Father, in your amazing grace we have life.  Some of us have been in your arms all our life and some are relatively new to faith.  We give you thanks for all who are saved.  Protect them from all the devil throws.  Keep us safe in your mercy.  Bring those who are lost to your saving knowledge.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret