8-5-2018

       Good Morning All,

             John 3:17; “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

    Most people really aren’t into second place or second best.  Many will claim that second place is really just the first loser.  There is a reason we call the second-place trophy the “consolation prize”; it implies that we need to be consoled for coming in second.  Do you know who Major Gherman Titov is?  He was the second man to orbit the earth in space.  Do you know who the second man to walk in the moon was?  It was Buzz Aldrin.  We often know who the first person was but we rarely know who the second one was.  We all know the first one, the “stars” but what about the second ones or the back-ups?  Who was Babe Ruth’s back-up?

    In many ways, our verse is like that.  Almost everyone knows the verse that precedes this one.  We call that verse “the Gospel in a nutshell.”  It is often times the first verse we teach children to memorize.  It is the favored Confirmation verse.  It is a really good verse; “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son; that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  That is a great verse but our verse today should be the second verse and really should be read as it is written; as the continuation of the thought in verse 16.  God sent his son to save us not to condemn us.

    We can find great comfort in this.  As we go on our journey through life; we will have many bumps and slips.  We will fall down and occasionally get lost.  Through it all, Jesus is seeking you.  He is looking for you and we can take comfort and consolation in that he is not looking for us to criticize us.  He is not trying to catch you with a “gotcha”.   He is not seeking you to attack you or to condemn you in your failures and shortcomings; he seeks you out in order to bring you back into his kingdom.  He comes to save you from the falls and the fears that the devil will launch against you.  He is looking for you to give you life.  He seeks you out to bring you salvation.

    So no matter what we have done in the past; God seeks you out to bring you through forgiveness into eternal life.  God seeks to put you back on the course to salvation and just as importantly, on the path where you will have peace in this world.  God seeks to put you on the path to live this life secure in certain knowledge that you are his child and you are loved and protected by him.  You are not on this journey by yourself; you are not left to face the trials and tribulations alone.  Jesus is with you every step of the way to bring into the perfect existence with him in eternal life.

Gracious Lord, you seek me out in order to give me life.  You came to give me salvation and you continue to give me life.  Keep me safe in my journey.  Keep me safe in the trials that I can remain strong and safe in the comfort of your loving arms.  Guide those who have fallen to safety in your mercy.  Bring all your children home.  In your precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret