FROM THE PASTOR
"you are forgiven"
& the freedom these words bring
What good word do you desperately want to hear today? How about, “From tomorrow, all restrictions will be lifted”. What would that mean to you right now? Wow, just think about it.
What words would you say are at the heart of the Christian faith? I’m no mind reader, and these are just off the top of my head, but some would say:
“Love the Lord you God with all your heart…,”
“Love one another as I have loved you”
“For God so loved the world”
“Since we have been justified through faith in Christ, we now have peace with God”.
“Christ humbled himself…,”
“Christ came not to be served, but to serve and give his life…”
“This is how we know what love is: that Christ laid down his life for us”.
Some of those words above, proclaim the good news of God, some were at the heart of the Lutheran reformation, and others are a response to God’s grace. But the words what we so desperately need to hear, and the words at the very heart of the Christian faith are the words:
“You are forgiven”
Those words, are the words at the very heart of the Christian faith. Why these?
Dear Christian, are you not under the law every day? Demands that are placed on you, here, there and everywhere. No matter where we go, we feel the burden of the law every day. Anything from a speeding fine, to feeling the pinch of some kind of failure; a thoughtless word, a selfish act, some kind of burden we may even place on self. Whatever.
The words, “you are forgiven” bring such sweet comfort and freedom and are such good news to those who know:
they have fallen short
they are not the people they should be
they have hurt others
“You are forgiven”, is good news even for those who think they have said and done things that God would never forgive. How can this possibly be?
JESUS.
Jesus, God in the flesh who came into this world to forgive you and therefore set you free. Free from shame; free from guilt and free from death.
“You are forgiven”, this good word from Jesus, are for all who admit their need for forgiveness and trust that what Jesus did here on earth, in his living, dying and rising from the dead; all this in effect, actually provides that forgiveness, covering anyone and everyone who believes.
We Pray For:
† The church and its leaders (Bishop, District Bishops, Department Heads).
† Pastors and their service to the church.
† The witness of the church in all facets of mission.
† All healers including doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, specialists, etc).
† All places of healing (hospitals, nursing homes, surgeries, etc).
† All who have incurable diseases or life-threatening injuries.
† All children who don’t understand why they are so often in hospital.
† The sick and injured of the congregation.