1-10-2017

Good Morning All,

            John 16:33; “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.”

    Watching the college championship football game, I am reminded about how the great coaches, and players, are able to read and anticipate the ebb and flow of the game.  It seems that in most games or contests, the energy of the game sways between the teams.  Each team gets a chance to score or to stop the opponent.  When that opportunity occurs, the great teams, players and coaches take advantage of the opportunity.  I always told my teener age baseball team that we will get a chance to score some runs and we need to confidently take advantage of that chance.  By the same token our opponent will get a chance, we must not panic but calmly and confidently play our game and hold the opponent down as best as possible.  When you can anticipate the flow of the game you can play through them knowing that you will get a chance to score your points as well.

    When the athlete knows this going into the game, they remain calm when it seems that things are going against them.  When the athlete knows this he can take a deep breath and focus on his task in the game, doing what he is supposed to do.  In many ways, as Christians, we need to know that there may be times when it feels like it ebbs and flows in life but that, through it all, we have victory through Jesus.

    Over the past year or so many Christians have mentioned to me how it seems that everything is getting worse.  Church attendance is down, knowledge of the Bible is down, people seem to think and believe whatever they feel like.  We need to take a breath and remember what Jesus tells us here and what the Holy Spirit tells us in the rest of the Scriptures.  Things may seem bad, they may even get bad but our victory is secured.  Even if all around us fall away, even if we are ridiculed and attacked; we know we have victory.  It may feel like we are losing but feelings and emotions are not trustworthy.  We may think we are feeling one emotion when it is really a different one.  It is far better to know than to feel.  Just like the athlete may feel the flow changing, he knows where his confidence lies; our confidence lies in Jesus.

    The world will seem to be going bad and the devil will try to convince you that you that he is winning but he has been defeated.  The open tomb of Easter is our proof.  We know we have victory but we also know that we can expect trials and tribulations in this life.  So take a breath and know that our victory over sin, death and the devil are secured by Jesus, given to us so that we may have life.

Gracious Lord, strengthen our hearts as we go forward in this life.  Strengthen us with your Spirit that our confidence, our faith may never waver.  Keep us in your loving arms.  Be especially with those who are struggling at this time and feel overwhelmed.  Send your Spirit of hope and comfort that they may know your peace.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret