6-27-2015

 Good Morning All!!

            Romans 12:20; “To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

    So now what?  That seems to be the question that many Christians are asking in light of the Supreme Court ruling; now what?  What do we do?  Well first, what we don’t do is panic.  Don’t grab your guns and run for the hills; don’t retreat or withdraw but stand firm.  In spite of what the media and a lot of the world want you to believe; this world still needs to hear about Christ Crucified.  This world still needs God’s grace; we still need God’s grace and we are still agents of that grace through the Body of Christ, the Church.  So now what?

   First, remember Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”  God is always in control; always.  You and I may not see it or understand it but we can always be sure of it; God is always in control; always.  We can have total confidence in this truth; we can rest assured in this truth.  This means we do not have to “figure it out” or “come up with something new”; remember God has it figured out and is in control; always.  Since God is in control we should continue to live our life in devotion to him.

   I would encourage you to read the expanded portion of this verse.  Read Romans 12: 9-21.  The ESV title of this section is “Marks of the True Christian.”  The NIV titles it “Love”.  The NAS defines the whole chapter as “Dedicated Service.”  These are all the same thing.  Yet here Paul explains it in a way that can and should give us that needed breather.  Rather than go off in some wrong fashion, stand firm (Ephesians 6:10-18) and live as a True Christian.  While the world claims it is all about “love”; show them what true love, love that is genuine and not just popular at the moment, means.  Live as God desires us to live; in joyful contentment of his grace.  Live as God desires us to live; bringing hope to the hopeless, comfort to the sorrowful, healing to the broken.  This section of romans is a good primer in what that means.

    Finally, remember the words of Jesus to his disciples (and we are his disciples) “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)   The victory is won; salvation is ours so live in peace.  Live in the peace of God which the world does not understand.  We do not have to defeat the world; Jesus has already accomplished this.  So live as Jesus wants us to live; caring for each other, caring for the creation, praising God for his blessings and be at peace; our sins are forgiven and our salvation is secure.

Father, many times I shake my head in sorrow and wonder.  Do not let me be discouraged.  Keep me strong in your grace.  Lead me to be your agent, your ambassador in this broken world.  Guide me to bring healing to those who have need of it.  In the precious name of Jesus our risen and victorious Lord we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret