12-19-2015

Good Morning All!!     

      Romans 1:6; “ including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,”

       “Where does that belong?”  “Everything has a place and there is a place for everything.”  “Put things where they belong.”  Most of us have heard this in our younger days.  Some of us still hear it today.  We were told that everything had a place to be and to put it there.  When you put things where they belong then others can find it and know where to find if they need it.  If you always put your tools away you will be able to find them next time you need them.  If you always put your cell phone in the same place, it will always be there when you look for it.  You won’t need to call yourself to find your phone.  Everything has a place but does everyone?

     Sin separates.  Sin separates you from God.  Sin separates you from your family.  Sin takes us to a place where we do not really belong.  We are out of place and no one can find us.  Because of sin, we are all alone and when we are all alone; the devil has all the time he wants to taunt us.  The devil has all the time he wants to make our lives miserable.  That is what he does; he takes those people who do not belong, who do not have a home and he torments them.  He causes you to worry about things you cannot influence.  He causes you to dread events that probably will never happen.  He is the one who makes the visit to the doctor feel like torture.  The devil is the one that taunts us with thoughts of how we are always the odd man out and that no one wants us to belong to anyone.

    This is why Jesus came to this world as a baby, to grow up and to bring about the healing that the arrival of the kingdom of God gives us.  Through the death and resurrection of Jesus you belong.  You belong to Jesus and are now an integral part of his body the church.  This is why we properly say that we don’t go to church but that we belong to the church.  We are a member of Christ and a member of his body the church.  We are not outsiders.  We are not left alone to suffer and to experience the torment of the devil but rather we have God’s promise that we are never alone; we belong to him our loving Father.  We have a place; we have a safe home in him.

    So as we go about, we need to be sure that all of our brothers and sisters know that they have a place; they have a place where they are wanted and loved.  They have a place where they can find comfort and hope.  They have a place where they can stay to withstand the assaults of the devil.  It is the same place where you can go; we all can go to the Lord’s house to be safe.  It is where we belong.  Because of all that Christ does for us, we belong in his family we belong in his house.  It is here we are safe it is here that we find peace and rest.

Gracious Father, in you we have peace.  We have peace because we belong to you.  Guide us by your Spirit to bring those who are hurting and lost into your family that they may belong to you.  Defend us against the power of the devil and free us from his torment.  Keep us safe in your arms.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret