12-31-2017

Good Morning All,

         Romans 6:1; “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?”

         It always makes for an interesting, and lively, discussion.  This is especially true when you are talking to sixth, seventh and eighth graders.  They always answer so enthusiastically.  It starts with the discussion about the completeness of God’s grace and the completeness of Jesus’ sacrifice.  It goes something like this. 

   Student: “So I don’t have to do anything to get into heaven?”  Me: “No, in fact, there is nothing you can do.”  Student: “So now I am free, to do what I want?”  Me: “Yes you are free to do what you want; your salvation has been given to you because of God’s love and not because of your hard work or value.”  Student: “So I can sin if I want to?”  Me: “Yes.”  This is when bedlam breaks out.  I usually take a drink of water, or tea, or coffee, or something until it settles down a little.  A few of the kids are thinking of all the things they want to do but most are trying to figure out what is coming next.  So then I turn it around and ask them questions.

   Me: “Yes, you are free to sin but why do you want to?”  Students: “It’s fun.”  Me: “Sin is what separates us from God’s love; why do you want to do something to hurt your relationship with God?”  “God has just forgiven you all of your sins; he has freed you from the bondage of sin and the slavery to the law; why do you want to sin, why do you want to go back to that?”  Now it is a little quieter.  Me: “Since God has shown how he loves you by sending Jesus to die for you; what should be your response?”  Student: “Love him and give thanks.”  Me: “How can you do this by sinning?”  Now it gets real quiet.

    This is the jist of Paul’s rhetorical question at the start of Romans chapter 6.  We have God’s grace poured out upon us; so if we keep sinning we get more grace so we might as well keep on sinning.  This is the argument put forward.  Paul responds with the dramatic and forceful response that we are dead to sin.  Our desire should be toward God not toward sin.  When our sinful nature has been changed from desiring to sin to desiring to love and serve God, this is the result of forgiveness alive in our life.  Our faith is moving forward.  Why would we want to sin?  The truth is that we do not want to sin.  We may slip into sin again (and again) but we do not desire it and often feel guilty after we have committed it.  This type of sin is not what Paul means.  It is the desire of the heart that reflects what is in our heart.  Is faith in God’s forgiveness and the completeness of Christ’s sacrifice in our heart or do we deny and reject it?  If we have the Spirit living in us, we desire to do God’s will; it is about this simple.  The hard part is that we still have the sinful nature which battles against the new creation we are because of Christ.  We battle against sin, we hate sin and we do not desire to sin.  We desire God’s love and grace.

Father, lead me away from sin.  Guide me by your Spirit to desire your will.  Be with those who are especially tested and challenged at this time.  Protect them with your loving arm and keep them from falling.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret     

12-30-2017

Good Morning All,

              Psalm 25: 14-15; “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.  My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.”

    Just someone to talk to; just someone who you can share your thoughts with; just someone who you can be yourself with.  Most people want and need a friend.  They seek that special companionship that only true friendship can bring.  The main thing about true friendship is the complete honesty that you generally have.

   It is your best friend that tells you the person you are dating is not the right one.  Your best friend is the one to tell you that the clothing you have on isn’t you.  It is your best friend who you share your dreams with and who helps you keep your life grounded.  It is usually your best friend that you call first, whether it is wonderful news or the worst news.

    In many ways, we can view Jesus as our best friend.  He is the one who truly knows you better than anyone else.  He knows your fears; those things in your life that cause you to stay awake at nights.  He knows those events that cause us to worry.  It might be struggles with your spouse, or other family member.  It might be struggles with your boss or a co-worker.  It might just be the struggles that can come with getting older; but the fears can make us feel very lonely.

    It is through that loneliness that Jesus leads us to hope.  It is by his love and grace that we are kept safe.  He protects us from the snares and the traps that the devil sets for us.  He protects us from the fears that can paralyze us.  He gives us the confidence of our salvation and to us the peace that only he can give.  It is through his loving kindness and patience that we receive form him the blessings of this life and the ability to face the trials and struggles with hope.  It is that hope that secures us

    Jesus is your best friend especially in that he will never abandon you or forsake you.  Even when others do, he will always be there to comfort you and to guide you through the trials and fears.  He speaks to us those words of comfort through his Word and hears our cries.  He listens better than any best friend because he offers true healing and true hope. We can live in the certainty of his wondrous grace.  In him and in him alone we know that our salvation is secure.  It is only by his grace that we win those battles and can face those fears with the certainty of the victory promised to us by God.  Given to us at our baptism, we can hold onto that promise that absolutely nothing can separate us from God’s love.  He is our friend; he is our salvation.  He protects us from all the devil throws at us.  In him alone we have peace.

Gracious Lord, you are our hope and salvation.  In you we have the peace and comfort to face this world.  Guide us by your light of truth.  Be with those who feel lonely and without anyone to be with them.  Guard and protect them from the traps that the devil lays before them.  Keep them safe in your loving arms.  Bring them safely home.  In your precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

12-29-2017

Good Morning All,

        1Timothy 2:1; “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people”

      I am always fascinated by the looking at FaceBook at what people write or think.  One thing that is interesting is that so many people place requests for prayers on the site.  People ask for prayers for themselves, for their children or other family members.  It might be prayers for health or success in a new venture or just for the Holy Spirit to give them so comfort and peace.

    Of course the standard reply is something like “I’ll pray” or “prayers are being offered” or something like that.  I often wonder if it is meant or if it is just a comment that is made along the line of when we say, “How are you?”  We usually don’t want the person to give us a real answer.  Is the saying “I’ll pray for you” the same thing; just and answer.  I hope not.

    Prayer is one of the most beautiful gifts that God gives his people.  First, it helps to connect us to God in a family fashion.  We are told to approach God as our loving Father.  This allows us to speak honestly and frankly from our heart.  We speak, even when God already fully knows what is in our heart.  God knows what weighs heavy on our heart, what our fears are and where our struggles lie.  Yet he invites us to speak to him, in what is best thought of as the holy conversation, the reading of Scriptures (listening to God speak) and the response of prayer (speaking to God as he listens).  It is in this that we find comfort and consolation.

    Yet there are other benefits which all Christians should rejoice in.  Prayer, when offered with others and for others, tend to bring a closer relationship with those people involved.  Married couples often report a closer relationship with their spouses when they pray together and for each other.  Family members claim a closer relationship with their siblings when they grew up actively praying for each other.   Church members tend to be closer when they join in prayer for each other and with each other.  This is part of the “bearing one another’s burden” that we are encouraged to engage in with one another.  Prayer strengthens our personal relationship with God and it strengthens our personal relationships with our fellow believers.

    It can also strengthen our compassion and empathy for those for whom we pray.  We tend to connect with their experience more intensely when we pray for them.  There also tends to be more grace offered for their lives and less judging of their actions.  Prayer, true prayer, brings us peace.

    So, if you are a FaceBooker, and you say that you will pray for someone; mean it and do it.  Often, it is easiest to pray for someone immediately when the need is brought to your attention.  Write it down to remember it if you can but pray right away and you will keep your promises and you will hear God’s call to make supplications and intercessions for everyone.

Father, teach me to pray for others, especially those who are in great need.  Father, you teach us that the greatest in the kingdom of heaven are those brothers and sisters who are in the greatest need.  Lead me to make intercessions for them.  In the precious name of Jesus, our Risen Savior, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret