Thursday, March 10, 2016

3-10-3016



Good Morning All!!                 
        John 6:68; “Simon Peter answered Jesus, “Lord, to what person could we go? Your words give eternal life
    “If there is something strange in your neighborhood; who ya gonna call?”  Some of you are already singing along.  When there is trouble who do you turn to?  This has been a theme of many movies and TV shows.  Mission: Impossible, Charlie’s Angels, many of the lawyer shows and many of the detective shows like Rockford Files, The A-Team all fit the bill.  When you are down to the last straw and you can’t find anybody to help these are the people you call to fix stuff. 
    Our verse for today occurs after a somewhat difficult teaching by Jesus to his disciples and followers.  Many of the followers left because the teaching was too hard for them.  When Jesus asked the disciples why they stayed with Him; Peter answers with this verse.  Peter’s answer in the form of a question is the question that we need to answer today.  “To what person could we go?”
    In our pluralistic society today, you can find many answers.  Most of the answers actually end up telling you to just ask yourself for you know what is best for you.  So when the Bible tells us that this path is the best for us and the world tells us a different path is acceptable, who do you turn to?  God gives us the Commandments because this is how we best achieve our maximum potential and our greatest happiness.  When God speaks of respect for each other in terms of those in authority or of our own body or the health, property, or reputation of our neighbor; we benefit from this as well. 
    Yet the world tells you that you can ask anyone we want and take whatever advice we want.  So the question we have to decide is do we want the guidance and direction of the omnipotent Creator who loves us enough to have his only Son die for us or do we want those of the world who seek to take advantage of us, who want to manipulate us and take from us what God has given?  Who are ya gonna call?  Who are you going to trust?  That is what it really comes down to.  Do you trust God, who loves you, redeems you, and has given you the hope of salvation and eternal life or do you trust the devil and the world?  Both of these seek to destroy you, to deceive you and to make your life a literal living hell?  To what person could we go?
    This is what Peter meant.  There is only one source of comfort, one source of consolation, one source of hope and that is Jesus.  We really and truly have no one else to turn to.  So who ya gonna call?  Call upon the Lord and he will deliver you.
    Dearest Father, in this world you are our only hope.  You are our only source of comfort and consolation.  Give us the wisdom and courage to trust in your unfailing love.  Give us the courage to cling to you as our only source of hope.  Give us the peace that we so desperately need.  We ask this in Jesus’ precious name, amen.
God’ Peace,                                                                      
Pastor Bret    

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