8-29-2016

Good Morning All!! 

Exodus 14:14; “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

       It is one of my favorite professional basketball quotes.  Stacey King was talking with a sports writer and told him, “I will always remember the night that Michael Jordan and I combined for 70 points.”  It sounds impressive until you realize that Michael Jordan scored 69 of the 70 points and Stacey King contributed a whopping 1 point on the night.  The interview was given in a very light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek fashion and everyone who heard it got a good chuckle out of it.  Stacey King contributed mightily that evening.  Most people will never remember this event other than Michael Jordan scored 69 points.

     There are some who mistakenly believe this is how their salvation works.  People think that somehow, they help God in their salvation.  Oh they realize that God does most of the lifting.  They acknowledge that God does most of it but they insist that they help.  I have never understood why they find comfort in their assistance.  If we have to rely on adding to our salvation, how do you ever know if you do enough?  How can you ever know that your contribution is adequate?  The truth is that we cannot ever be certain.  The better truth is that we do not have to worry because God does all the work.  The Lord has fought for you and has won the victory.  You only have to be silent.

    We can have great comfort in that God does all the work for us.  God has claimed us as his own.  He came to save us while we were still enemies with him.  He took the whole fight upon himself in order that it would be complete, that it would be finished.  He took up the whole fight because of his love for us.  I don’t have to look at my efforts and ever wonder if they are enough.   I can sit back and give thanks for the victory that God has given me to through Jesus.  I can give thanks and cling to this victory knowing that it is complete.  No believer has to; we are given his victory as Jesus takes on our sin.

     We have no need to fight; we only need to stand firm while God carries us to the victory.  Our only task is to give thanks.  Our only task, the only thing we contribute is to trust in God’s promise to deliver us and to protect us.  We don’t have to engage in any great battle plan we only need to rest in his loving arm and trust the strength of our loving Father. 

    All our needs, all our strength rests in God’s love for us.  Our victory is assured because of Jesus’ victory over death and the grave.  His victory is our victory; his life is now our life.  Rest in his unfailing love.

Father, your love is poured out upon us and gives us the victory over sin, death and the devil.  You carry us through all our battles and struggles.  Be with those who are struggling at this time and give them the comfort of your Spirit.  Defend us by your arm.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret