Author: Pastor Doug

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 100:5 (NLT).

For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

In many translations this psalm has the subtitle “A psalm of thanksgiving”, reminding us that we owe everything to God and without Him we are nothing. In just five verses it leads us to know God’s goodness and offer Him our praise. While this psalm was likely intended to begin a worship service, it is appropriate to begin every day.

Today’s verse teaches us that “His unfailing love continues forever”, and we can never be outside God’s love. Paul tells us “nothing can separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:38). When we ignore His love for us, He is still there for us. Even when we fail, God’s love will not.

It is up to us to open ourselves to God’s love. God won’t make anyone love Him, but He waits for us to be ready for the wonderful gift He offers. When we live in His love, we are blessed to share that love with all our brothers and sisters. 

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the times we have lived outside Your love. Forgive us and strengthen us in faith, that we may bring Your love to the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 25:40 (NLT).

And the King will say, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”

Jesus tells us that when we care for one another, we are showing our love for Him. We can’t directly help or give anything to Jesus; instead we demonstrate our love for Him to those who desperately need Him in their lives. He told us before He sacrificed Himself for us “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:34-35).

Bringing comfort to one another is part of that process. Paul writes “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Perhaps we can’t solve the problem by ourselves, but we can be part of the solution.

Every effort we make on behalf of our brothers and sisters is a step toward a better world for all. Jesus knows we can’t do all the things He does but we can love as He does by sharing our gifts and the Good News of His coming. He says when we do this for those in need “you were doing it to me!”

Gracious God, You have called us to love one another as You first loved us. Help us to hear the needs of those around us and use what You have blessed us with to care for all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 25:35-36 (NLT).

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.

This verse from Jesus expresses so well the care He calls us to give to one another. Washing His disciples feet was an example, practical in that time, but these instructions are for all time. Jesus wants us to notice the last, the least and the lost, and use our gifts to do something about it.

Sometimes we overthink the call Jesus makes on our lives, saying “I don’t have the skills or resources to do big things.” Mother Theresa had an answer for this: “Not all of us can do great things; but we can do small things with great love.” When we turn our attention to those in need it is the first step toward caring for them.

You don’t have to start from scratch. I’ll almost guarantee your church and your community have programs in desperate need of volunteers. Find something that the Spirit leads you to check out and invest some of yourself in reaching our brothers and sisters.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we ignore Your children and the needs they have. May we be energetic, generous and welcoming to all who need our love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 25:34 (NLT).

Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.”

Jesus continues His lesson on The Final Judgement, where each of us will be evaluated according to our faith, not our works as such. Yes, we are expected to respond to His love by sharing our gifts with everyone, but it’s not a contest and there is no quota. Jesus wants us to connect to the Father through Him, and live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Like a lot of things in the Kingdom, this seems backwards to us. If you work hard enough and amass enough “stuff” you can do anything, right? That’s what the world wants us to think, but it’s not God’s way.

In John 14:2 Jesus says “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” The way to the place prepared for us is not achieved through power, prestige or possessions. Only our love for God and our care for each other counts in His Kingdom.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we worry about our things and not one another as You have taught us. Forgive us and may we be the bringers of the Good News to all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 25:31-32 (NLT).

But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

In this prophecy of our future Jesus returns to fulfill the promise of God’s kingdom. Matthew 25:31-46 often carries the heading “The Final Judgement”, He will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. This imagery reflects human nature – goats who are stubbornly independent and follow their own way and sheep who “know their Shepherd’s voice” (John 10:27).

We mustn’t think that good works alone are the standard for judgement. The New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition says “the criterion of judgment is not mere philanthropy (good as that is), but people’s response to the kingdom of heaven.” Are we doing good things “just because”? Unless we have a relationship with Jesus, they do us no good. We can’t earn our way into eternity.

Our good works are a response to the free gift of salvation we have been given, an expression of our love returned to God. They are not eternal life bargaining chips or an account where we store up credit for ourselves. Accepting Jesus as our Savior and following faithfully as one of His sheep is the only way.

Loving Lord, in Your mercy You sent Your Son to love and save and free us. Forgive us the times we have failed and send us to share Your love everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 8:38-39 (NLT).

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

After a long list of things that can’t affect our relationship with God, Paul says “nothing in all creation.” That’s everything! God created all that is and while humans have chosen poorly too often, He is in control and “nothing can separate us from God’s love.”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary puts it this way: “Absolutely nothing in His Creation can thwart His purpose for believers in Christ. What a climactic way to affirm the certainty of believers’ salvation!” This is what Paul is saying so eloquently, that God’s love is always there for us and nothing can interfere with it – except us!

When we choose our own way instead of what God has planned for us, we put up a roadblock to God’s love. He hasn’t changed or moved away, we have! However, even as the thief on the cross received forgiveness from Christ Himself, we can return to Him in repentance to be renewed by His love.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the times we put our faith in created things instead of the eternal love and life You offer. Forgive us and send us to share the joy of redemption with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Mark 12:10-11 (NLT).

Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’

Jesus uses a direct quote from Psalms 118:22-23 to show the religious leaders (and us) that God had planned all that was to happen long before. They rejected Jesus as the savior God had promised and chose their own way. This is a reenactment of sorts, similar to our original sin of believing something other than God’s word for us.

“He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care” (Isaiah 53:3). The prophet said this long before Christ’s birth, a sad commentary on human choice and “wisdom” over what God has commanded and given us. 

As a cornerstone sets the line for building, Jesus sets the line for our lives. When we align our lives with His teaching, we can be restored to the image and purpose God has for each of us. God is the master builder and when we follow His plan the result is beautiful.

Loving Lord, thank You for the gift and example of Jesus, and His sacrifice to save us. Bless us to be bold and energetic workers for Your kingdom, that all may know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 100:4-5 (NLT).

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Ever since the time of the Exodus God’s people have been gathering in faith to worship Him. During their time in the desert there was the Tabernacle. Later King Solomon built the First Temple, which was destroyed by Babylon, and in Jesus’ time the Second Temple, which was later destroyed by the Romans, was the main place of worship. However, none of these structures were the important part.

Giving God our thanks and praise is something we can do anywhere, anytime. Jesus attended local synagogues and the Temple in Jerusalem, but the Gospels show He did much of His teaching out among the people, meeting them in their everyday lives. This is the important part, meeting to share God’s love and His word, and encouraging each other in the ministry Christ has given us.

Paul writes “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:7). This is the basis of our relationship with God, His love given to us and our love, thanks and praise given to Him.

Heavenly Father, we are ashamed of the times we have failed You. Forgive us we pray, and strengthen us in faith to go in Your name, that all the world may offer You their thanks and praise. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 10:14-15 (NLT).

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Paul has a dual purpose with this passage. He warns the people that we have been given the opportunity to accept Christ’s message and the gift of salvation. He was sent to us, He told us, we have heard God’s truth and now it is up to us to believe. We are also called to go in His name to share His love.

Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah, saying “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7). This is an Old Testament statement that applies to us all as the heralds of Christ. We are the messengers Jesus has chosen to spread the Gospel.

In Matthew 28:19 Jesus says “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” In Acts we read “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). This is what He asks of us, to be witnesses for Him to all people.

Gracious God, instead of the justice we deserve, You offer us Your mercy given through the sacrifice of Your Son. Help us to be bold voices of love in a world that desperately needs Your care. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 16:13-14 (NLT).

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.

Jesus gives final instructions and comfort to His remaining disciples in this section of John’s Gospel, known as The Farewell Discourse (John 14-17). They were bewildered by Him washing their feet, angered that one of His own would betray Him, and saddened at His talk of leaving them.

However, Jesus reassures them He will not leave them alone, that “when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.” Jesus is telling them (and us) that this is the next step in God’s plan for our salvation. We can only be saved by Christ’s sacrifice and our faith in Him.

Through the coming of the Holy Spirit God fulfills His statement from Ezekiel 36:26: “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” God will never force us but He gives us the gifts and opportunity we need to believe and obey Him.

God the Father above us, Jesus the Son with us as one of us, the Holy Spirit within us. Lord, You are perfect and we are amazed that You make us part of Your plan. Bless us to be energetic disciples, sharing Your love with everyone. Amen.