The Blessing of Obedience

Rev. Stephenson opened with a question on Sunday...

Where would we be without Jesus's obedience to God?

The question prompted by the text: Matthew 5:17-20.

Stop and read the passage now. (No Bible? Click the Scripture reference to read online.)

Think about it... Where would we be without Jesus's obedience to God?

Jesus fulfilled the law through His obedience to the law. Because He obeyed, we received access to the greatest blessing: eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,

that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 ESV

From the beginning, obedience has been associated with blessing.

Preparation for fulfillment of the law began with the patriarch Abraham. God tested him by calling him to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-14).

Abraham, by great faith, obeyed. He promptly set out to offer his son as a burnt offering; the son God said would be the first among many (Genesis 21:12).

In response to Abraham's willing obedience, God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac's life and promised great blessing.

And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, "By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of the heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice."

Genesis 22:15-18 ESV

Abraham's obedience resulted in great blessing, not only for himself, but for his family and for all the nations of the earth.

The blessing of obedience spreads. 

As followers of Jesus, we are to obey as He did. As Abraham did.

Are you missing out on blessings because of disobedience? 

What about your family? community? nation? the world?

Obedience to God will always bring about blessing. And it's not just about you.

Pastor left us with a final question...

How obedient are you being to Christ?

Just something for you to think about, from Sunday...

Reconciled to Forgiveness

The pastor preached on reconciliation, this past Sunday, from Matthew 5:21-26. 

Take time to read it now. If you don't have a Bible near, click on the Scripture reference and it will take you to one online.

According to Rev. Stephenson, reconciliation requires transparency, which is risky, making the process of forgiveness painful. But he left us with this thought:

God leads us and calls us to be reconciled with each other. 

It begins with an invitation from God.

And I see that invitation in the prayer Jesus taught:

...and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6:12 ESV

Just the Wednesday before in mini-Methodists, the sixth graders and I rewrote this prayer in our own words. And I saw that many who had it memorized --- spout it off rapid-fire --- really had no idea what they were praying. What they were asking of God.

So I try to explain this particular verse ...you are asking God to forgive you the same way you forgive others...

They try to process. One says.. I'll forgive the little things but anything big... No way...

And I translate her prayer for her... So you're telling God to forgive the little things you do, but anything big, don't forgive me...

Eyes grow wide as the magnitude of this prayer sinks in.

It is a hard invitation, this invitation of reconciliation.

...But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable for judgment... and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. ...

And I wonder, what needs to happen in me, to forgive as I want to be forgiven? to let go of anger? refuse to judge those who harm?

Then the answer, it forms. Those who know the depth of their own sin --- come face to face with their own depravity --- and receive a glimpse of grace are the ones prepared to offer forgiveness to others.

Reconciliation comes from a heart humbled by God's grace and forgiveness.

God's law is a law of grace. A law of mercy.

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.

...

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. 

Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2:8, 13 ESV

Those who love God's law, His forgiveness and grace, are peacemakers. Grace givers. Readily reconcile.

Great peace have they which love thy law:

And nothing shall offend them.

Psalm 119:165 KJV

Are you easily offended?

Do you love God's law of grace? for yourself? for others?

How do you want Him to forgive you?

Transparency. It begins with self. Own your sin. Your responsibility for the cross. Fully embrace who you are before Him and allow His grace and mercy to heal, restore, and reconcile to Himself. Then your humbled grateful heart will offer the same to others.

Father God, help me to see who I am before You. My need for Your grace. Heal me. Restore me. Reconcile me to You. Prepare me to be reconciled to forgiveness.

LED Disciples

Read Matthew 5:13-16
[Click the Scripture reference to read online.]

Rev. Stephenson reminded us of our role as salt and light in the world by adding flavor to life and destroying the darkness. He recounted a bread baking experiment gone horribly wrong because there was no salt in the dough and he told us about the wonders of LED lights. LED: light emitting diode.

Disciples, he said, should be light emitting diodes --- LEDs.

And that's when I saw it...

Disciples are meant to be LED.

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

Matthew 16:24 ESV

(emphasis added)

We are meant to follow. And when we are led by the Father through Jesus via the power of the Spirit that is when we will be effective as salt and light.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ..." ---Jesus

John 15:5 ESV

(emphasis added)

Following, being led, is the first step of discipleship. Really it's the only step.

Jesus followed His Father's direction. He was constantly led during His ministry on earth. 

We are to follow His footsteps. Living as He did. Trusting and abiding in Him.

The Psalter from Psalm 112, used on Sunday, echoed the same sentiment.

Light rises in darkness when justice rules our lives.

God is the One meant to rule our lives, He is the One who defines justice. And when He rules, light rises in darkness.

The Rock, his work is perfect,

for all his ways are justice.

A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,

just and upright is he.

Deuteronomy 32:4 ESV

When it comes to being salt and light, we must first be good followers, willing to be led. Laying aside our understanding and accepting His... even if it doesn't make sense to us.

How are you at following Him?

Who rules your life?

Consider places you currently reside, live out your life: home, work, Wal-Mart. Who leads you while you're there? Is the place lighter or darker because of who you are? Does your presence stir up desire in those around you to know Him?

If salt loses it's saltiness or doesn't even recognize itself as salt (as pastor pointed out) it is no longer good for anything.

Don't miss opportunities to let God use you as salt and light. That is what we are when we are led by Him.

Just some thoughts from Sunday.

Father God, I long to be led by You that I might be a LED for You. Teach me how to follow and abide. Open my heart to Your Spirit and His voice. Fill me with the boldness to trust and obey wherever You lead.

Lessons from the Storm

Sunday's message came from Mark 4:35-41.
Take time to read it now. [Click on the Scripture reference to read it online at BibleGateway.com]

Rev. Stephenson began by focusing on the ability of storms to stir up fear in our hearts. The disciples not only experienced fear during the storm --- fear that made them wake up Jesus and question His love for them --- but fear of Him after He calmed the storm. The disciples were filled with awe, not faith, in response to Jesus's power.

Storms.
God uses them to test our faith, not for His information, but for ours.
Storms reveal the depth of our faith.

Do you believe in a sovereign God?
Or a random universe?
Which is greater? The Creator or the created?

What did the last storm you faced reveal about your faith?
What lesson did you learn?
Did you find God asleep?
Or was He just resting, waiting on you?

Be open to the lesson of the storm.
Let God reveal the depth of your faith.
And begin to ask... and seek...

Who then is this? Who is He?