2-9-2024

Good Morning All,       

         John 20: 25; “So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

     Whenever the NFL has an awards ceremony, I think of Jim Marshall, pro football player for the Minnesota Vikings, who is best known for recovering a fumble and running the wrong way 66 yards.  So instead of scoring a touchdown for his team (6 pts.), he scored a safety (2 pts.) for the other team.  This play is considered the first “blooper” highlight in the NFL.  Even though Jim Marshall at the time of his retirement had the record for most consecutive starts at 270, most consecutive game appearances at 282 and the record for most opponent fumbles recovered at 30; he is best known for running the wrong way in a football game.

    Most people only know of Thomas as “Doubting Thomas.”  He is the one who wouldn’t believe unless he touched Jesus.  We go to great lengths to call out our friends and neighbors who question our ability to accomplish a goal as being “Doubting Thomases.”  Yet Thomas went on to be a great Apostle. Taking the Gospel of Jesus well into India where tradition says he was murdered by the Brahmins preaching the Gospel of Jesus to the locals.  He did many great things but we only know him as the doubter.

    Maybe you have something in your life that weighs greatly on your heart and mind.  Perhaps you are a woman who had an abortion.  Perhaps you are a man who encouraged your partner to have an abortion.  Maybe you were involved in a car accident where someone was killed.  Maybe you had an affair that broke up a marriage.  Perhaps you abused your children or spouse.  Maybe you are holding onto something else that, if known by many people, would change how they view you.  Your past does not define you in God’s eyes.  In God’s eyes you are a redeemed child whom he loves dearly.  One major mistake, failure, bad choice, whatever you want to call it does not have to define you before God.  You are defined by Christ’s atonement for you.

   So, no matter what is behind you, no matter how “infamous” it may be or seem; God’s grace is there for you.  No matter how bad you view it, God views it as forgiven.  You have a whole new life ahead of you.  You are not so far gone that you cannot be saved because you are already saved.  God has placed your sins as far as the east is from the west.  Past errors, past sins, past failures are just that, in the past.  We live to look forward to God’s love, to God’s mercy and to eternal life with him.

Gracious Father, guide us by your Holy Spirit that we may leave the failures of the past behind us and move forward in the glory of your mercy.  Show us that our life in your kingdom gives us the security that we need.  Be with those who cannot throw off the past and live in pain and fear.  Free them from their bondage.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret