From the PASTOR
Two Christians were called to serve the Lord in a very difficult way. One Christian had the attitude, "Yes, we can do this! No problem! There's no way we can fail!". The other wasn't so sure, doubting their ability, saying, “This is going to be all too hard".
On the surface, it looked as though the first Christian wanted to set the world on fire, and appeared more confident and a far more dedicated follower of Christ than the other. But it was this Christian, the very self-confident one, who crumbled in a matter of weeks and gave in because the task was too overwhelming. And the second Christian, is the one who didn’t crumble under pressure, and stuck it out to the end.
How did the second Christian tough it out when there was so much doubt and fear to begin with? This person gave up using their own resources and understood that if Jesus wasn't there to give strength day by day; the task could not be done. Every day, with Bible open and hands folded in prayer, strength from the Lord was given.
Being a disciple of Christ is a matter of letting go of our own resources and relying on God's resources. Where do we find God's resources?
Right here in God's house, when we hear his word in worship.
When we receive his power in the Lord's Supper.
After worship we encourage one another with that Word.
We open our Bible at home; let God speak to us through his word. And when this happens, the result is being in tune with the Holy Spirit giving us direction and meaning in daily life.
We think of the gift of our Baptism, it’s promise, it’s meaning and its power.
Like the second Christian, faced with an enormous task, we go back again and again to the cross and the empty tomb which comforts our hearts; especially when we are fearful. We are comforted by the promise of the Holy Spirit which points us to Jesus and through faith in him, we are re-dedicated to be his disciples, to face whatever task that lay ahead.
On the surface, it looked as though the first Christian wanted to set the world on fire, and appeared more confident and a far more dedicated follower of Christ than the other. But it was this Christian, the very self-confident one, who crumbled in a matter of weeks and gave in because the task was too overwhelming. And the second Christian, is the one who didn’t crumble under pressure, and stuck it out to the end.
How did the second Christian tough it out when there was so much doubt and fear to begin with? This person gave up using their own resources and understood that if Jesus wasn't there to give strength day by day; the task could not be done. Every day, with Bible open and hands folded in prayer, strength from the Lord was given.
Being a disciple of Christ is a matter of letting go of our own resources and relying on God's resources. Where do we find God's resources?
Right here in God's house, when we hear his word in worship.
When we receive his power in the Lord's Supper.
After worship we encourage one another with that Word.
We open our Bible at home; let God speak to us through his word. And when this happens, the result is being in tune with the Holy Spirit giving us direction and meaning in daily life.
We think of the gift of our Baptism, it’s promise, it’s meaning and its power.
Like the second Christian, faced with an enormous task, we go back again and again to the cross and the empty tomb which comforts our hearts; especially when we are fearful. We are comforted by the promise of the Holy Spirit which points us to Jesus and through faith in him, we are re-dedicated to be his disciples, to face whatever task that lay ahead.