9-24-2019

Good Morning All,

     Psalm 18:17; “He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.”

    At some point in time, every little boy (and many little girls) wants to grow up and be a fireman.  There is something about being a fireman that brings out our deepest desire to serve.  We don’t think of them often but we do when we really need them!  If our house is on fire, we want the firemen to be there to put out the fire.  We want to be rescued from the flames, we want our property saved and protected from damage, we want our neighbors to be safe so we want the firemen to come and rescue us.  Yet, what would happen if we didn’t want them to save us?

    Imagine, for a moment, that a house was on fire and there were still people inside that house.  The firemen arrive and break into the house and find the people and with the flames growing and the heat and smoke getting more intense; the people inside say, “Thank you for saving me but I will stay right here.”  If you know a fireman, ask him what he would do.  My guess is they would say fine and then pick up the people and carry them out of the house; after all, who would stay inside a burning house?  Well, actually, a lot of people do; they just don’t understand it.

    This is exactly what happens when someone claims to repent of their sins but then continues in those sins.  Jesus has rescued you from those sins; he has pulled you from the fire; why would you want to stay in the fire?  It is in the fire, it is in our sin; that we suffer; we suffer greatly.  So why do so many want to stay there?  Sometimes we are afraid to leave what we think is comfortable.  Sometimes we secretly desire to continue in that sin.  Sometimes, we just miss the point.  This is why the Apostle Paul asked the question, “Are we to continue in son so grace will abound?  By no means, how can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6)  Dying to sin means to leave it; it does not mean that God condones it.  Sin still violates God’s Law and we are to live according to God’s Law; it is still the standard.   Willfully disobeying this Law is a sign of no true repentance and is a rejection of God’s forgiveness.

   This can be tough for us to swallow.  Many like to think that Jesus loves me just as I am.  He does but he doesn’t leave you wallowing in that state of sin; he doesn’t leave you in the burning house.  He pulls you out and then gives you his Holy Spirit to empower you to live according to God’s Law, to live out your life for the purpose that God created for you.  Jesus came to rescue you from your sin.  He came to give you life.  He came to give you hope.

Gracious Father, too often I dwell in my sin and feel comfortable there.  Forgive me and cleanse my heart that I may truly follow your will.  Defend me from the lies of the devil and keep me in your grace.  Be with those who struggle with pet sins and persistent sins.  Send your Spirit to lift them up that they may be cleansed by You in order to serve You.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,                        

Pastor Bret