Month: November 2021

Our scripture this morning is Hebrews 10:19‭-‬25.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Knowing of Christ’s sacrifice for us and living in that blessing are two different things. Our awareness of His gift is the first step, but we must also use what He has given us. Paul says we must be “encouraging one another”, an indicator of what God wants of His forgiven children.

Especially during these difficult times we need to lift each other up, through prayer and by our words and actions. It is easy to be frustrated by our world situation, to pull back from interaction with others due to fear or anger. God wants us to remember that we were made for Him and each other, intended for connection.

Look for ways to build and maintain relationships, watching over each other in love. We must have faith, and we must also practice it. Jesus calls us to a living ministry, forgiving each other as He forgave us, and sharing the Good News with all the world.

Gracious God, You sent Jesus to redeem Your fallen children. Help us to live in the light of that renewal and show the world the joy of a relationship with You. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Colossians 2:6‭-‬15.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Paul gives us a firm reminder of where we stand – by our own strength we are dead in sin, but by the power of God we are made alive with Christ (v. 13). We have no chance to save ourselves, only through God’s mercy can we be raised to eternal life. By accepting the sacrifice Jesus made for us, we join ourselves to Him forever.

The Resurrection is God’s answer to evil, His promise to us that by faith, death is not the end. Death is the world’s worst threat, its ultimate weapon. Through His obedience, Jesus “disarmed the powers and authorities” (v. 15), declaring God’s victory over all.

The old hymn A Mighty Fortress is Our God states “the body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still”, exactly what Paul tells us in this passage. Through Christ’s redemptive act we need not fear death as a threat to do the world’s bidding. Our hope is in Him and our salvation is assured.

Loving Lord, we are often afraid, coerced by threats of earthly harm. Help us to calm our fear with faith, secure in the knowledge that You have made a way for us to be saved. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16:1-8‬.

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

This psalm speaks of God’s blessings to the faithful and the danger of letting idols lead us away. In the days of the psalmist there were many “gods” worshiped by other nations and people. The Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and other groups all believed in many deities.

The children of Israel had been saved many times by the one true God, our maker and protector. They knew that idol worship was a sin, that these “gods” made by human hands were worthless. Their hope was in the Lord.

What idols draw us away from God today? We may say there are no idols as in the past, but if we are honest we have created new idols to follow – money, prestige, power and many others. Today let’s think about the things of the world that separate us from God and pray for strength to avoid them, keeping Him first in our thoughts and lives.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the many things that we allow to interfere with our connection to You. May our faith be stronger than any earthly attraction and may we go to share Your love with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Mark 12:41‭-‬44.

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.

I’ve always been a little confused by this passage, especially as a child. Why would Jesus praise someone who gave so little? Jesus Himself gives me the answer in verse 44 “but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Then I find myself ashamed and amazed at the lesson here.

Our church giving is not a regular topic of conversation at dinner – perhaps it should be. I’m not here to give a sermon on stewardship but I would like you to think about what you put into God’s kingdom. Yes, there is more to giving than just money but it is an important part now just as in the time of this lesson.

The widow in this story goes all in. She is effectively saying “I trust You, Lord with all that I have and all that I am.” That’s a pretty heavy commitment, but God asks and deserves no less.

Loving Lord, all good gifts are from You and belong to You. Help us make good decisions about our resources and use them wisely for the good of all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Mark‬ ‭12:13-17.

Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.

Many times the Pharisees and other religious leaders tried to catch Jesus in His teachings. They were never successful but many important lessons come to us from these encounters. Today we hear Jesus tell us to give the government what is theirs and God what is His.

Political discussions have always been difficult and they seem especially hard in the era of social media. We shoot fiery rhetoric across the internet, radio and television. We believe in our opinions and often don’t understand why others feel differently.

Some will say “our time is very troubled, it’s not the same as then”. Remember that when Jesus spoke these words Roman soldiers occupied the land and free speech was severely limited. Jesus wants us to see that all government rule is temporary, while God’s love for us is eternal. If we pay more attention to what God wants of us, we can be less stressed about our earthly situation.

Loving Lord, we are confused and sometimes angry about the situations we find ourselves in and we don’t know what to do. Help us to turn to You in faith and continue to give You what is Yours. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Philippians 1:27‭-‬30.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Paul brings up an important point for our faith lives, that we must “stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you” (v. 27-28). Jesus told us we would face opposition to our faith, just as He did. He taught that God is with us through every trial and that by standing in faith, we stand against the ways of the world.

It is always easier to “go with the flow” and evil is counting on our compliance. Jesus calls us to love even our enemies, but not to compromise our faith in doing so. Paul writes “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). This is the “secret” of our faith, to remain firm against sin without sinning in return.

God wants us to remember we are all His children and to treat each other with the respect and care He intended from the beginning. Jesus forgave those who crucified Him and we are called to forgive those who speak and act against us. Our faith requires nothing less.

Loving Lord, we sometimes feel that the whole world is against us. Renew our faith and give us strength to stand strong in love and share the Good News. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭146.

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.

A praise psalm is a wonderful way to begin each day, offering thanks to God for His blessings. If we start with an attitude of worship, it is harder for the issues of the world to intrude on us. We often blame external things when we have a tough time, but if we haven’t prepared ourselves through time spent with God, the blame falls on us.

No matter what time you begin your day, a few minutes of prayer can make all the difference. Talking with God is always good but “morning” prayer points us in the right direction for a better day from the start. Scripture tells us Jesus rose early and went to pray alone (Mark 1:35), giving us an example for our prayer life.

Scripture also says there is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3). Praying together in worship is necessary, but spending time alone with God is essential. I hope you make time today to share with Him and know the joy of the one to One relationship He intends for us all.

Heavenly Father, we are blessed to share our feelings and our fears with You. Help us to see that our daily lives are made better and our faith strengthened by spending time in prayer. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Micah‬ ‭6:1-8‬.

Now listen to what the Lord is saying: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your complaint. Listen to the Lord’s lawsuit, you mountains and enduring foundations of the earth, because the Lord has a case against his people, and he will argue it against Israel. My people, what have I done to you, or how have I wearied you? Testify against me! Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from that place of slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam ahead of you. My people, remember what King Balak of Moab proposed, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from the Acacia Grove to Gilgal so that you may acknowledge the Lord’s righteous acts. What should I bring before the Lord when I come to bow before God on high? Should I come before him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousand streams of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the offspring of my body for my own sin? Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.

The list of things God wants from us is short – act justly, love faithfulness, and walk humbly with Him. It seems very simple and God intended it to be that way. We are the ones who have complicated things, creating loopholes and excuses for our behavior and attitudes.

We seem to look for any way possible to justify our wrongdoing, and absolve ourselves of guilt. There is no way to right our wrongs but in His mercy, we can be saved by faith. Jesus came to offer Himself as the atonement for all sin, for all time.

We must take the first step, admitting our failures and accepting the love of Christ in our lives. God wants us all to walk with Him in love. We can be renewed through His example, and be part of His kingdom work. 

Loving Lord, we are lost creatures on our own. Thank You for sending Jesus to lead us back to connection with You. Bless us and send us to use Your gifts for the good of all. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Acts‬ ‭7:30-34‬.

After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say: “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.”

Here in a New Testament passage we hear a reminder of the call to Moses from Exodus. The writer of Acts (Luke, according to most scholars) wants us to remember the call to the faithful from long ago – Noah, Abraham, Joseph, and others. He wants us to understand that God still calls us to action in our world today.

In this section Moses goes to see the burning bush, which God has placed to draw his attention. He tells Moses that there is work to be done among God’s children and He has chosen him to accomplish it. It is not an easy task, and while Moses declines initially, we know that he finally accepted his call and went on God’s mission.

God has “burning bushes” for each of us, something to draw our attention to Him so He can call us to service as well. The need for action in the world is greater than ever. We are all part of God’s eternal plan and we are blessed to go in His name.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for Your gifts to us. Help us to use them wisely to fulfill Your purpose in the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭18:20-30‬.

The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God. All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

The end of this passage says God “shields all who take refuge in Him” (v. 30). It tells us that God is waiting to defend us, to offer us His protection against the evil that exists in the world. However, the key is that He is waiting – we must go to Him in order to take refuge.

He is always ready to show us mercy but we must acknowledge that we need it, repenting of the selfish choices we make and asking His forgiveness. We must walk with Him in obedience to His word and will. No other belief or action can save us.

If we accept Jesus and reject the ways of the world, we are led back to the relationship with God for which we were created. This is the eternal connection that seals our salvation. We can’t save ourselves, it is only possible through His love.

Gracious God, we ask Your forgiveness for our failings and Your strength to live in faith going forward. Bless us to be Your servants, sharing the Good News with everyone. Amen.