1-25-2022

 Good Morning All,

         Matthew 17:20; “He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you,"    

    Imagine that I would offer you an incredible weekend of fun, excitement and great entertainment for you and your family. I would show up at your house and pick you up. You do not need to bring anything, it will all be provided. I will not tell you where we are going or what we are doing. My answer to you is simply, “get in, it will be fun, trust me!” Do you? Do you trust me? Do you trust the situation? Do you trust that the experience will be as wonderful as promised or do you have doubts? Do you have a million questions in your mind? What would be your response? Would you get in or pass?

    This is, in many ways, what faith is like. In confirmation class, the thumbnail definition of faith is “the desire to trust God’s promises.” We read and hear God’s promises made to us when we read Scriptures or listen to a sermon. We experience God’s promise of eternal life; we hear the promise of forgiveness of our sins, We read of a perfected body, a perfect creation, no more sorrow or pain or death. Do you trust it? Do you believe? This is faith.

   God makes his promises to us in His holy Word. He shows us the promises in Jesus and then keeps them in the resurrection. But to some, the promises are not fully explained. What will the perfected body look like? When will it happen? Where is it now? “Just show me a glimpse and I will be happy” is the thought of many. They do not trust God to deliver on the promises he makes. They do not think the promise is equal to the hype.

   God has promised us eternal life with Him in the new creation and then He says to trust in the certainty of this promise. We have the certainty of Scripture; we have the Holy Spirit as the down payment, and we have the knowledge that God cannot lie; but is that enough? Not for some people but what about you? Jesus once asked his disciples, “who do you say that I am?” That same question we must answer because it reveals our true faith. Do you believe in Jesus or in something else?

    God has promised us something far greater than any weekend that I could plan. It is an eternity of perfect bliss, joy, and celebration. It is the certainty of life in the perfected creation, walking in the cool of the morning with God. This is His promise, do you trust it, do you believe it?

   Faith in God’s promises then can lead us to a peace and contentment that the world cannot give or understand. When you know that you end up with God in perfect eternity, what is there to fear? Nothing can separate us from the promise once God has given it. Trust in His never- ending grace for you, his beloved child.

Father of all mercies, give me the strength to trust in Your wonderful promises. Give me the peace that comes with faith in Your saving Name and keep me in Your steadfast love and mercy. In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret