Romans 8:1-39 – No Condemnation

In verse 15 of this passage we are told, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (underlining/italicizing mine).  Some translations use the word sonship instead of adoption, but adoption really gets to the heart of the matter.  The ancient world would have been very familiar with adoption.  Findings have shown examples of adoption from Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, Roman and ancient Jewish sources.  Free men were allowed to adopt others – either individuals or complete families.

The individual or family would come with the man adopting them before a governor to make the arrangement legally binding.  It was common at this adoption event to also draw up a new will to include those who were being adopted.  You see, someone being adopted in this time gained familial ties by changing their last names and gaining relatives, but they also gained inheritance rights.

By adopting someone, the old was gone – the old name, the old rank and status, the old family ties were all gone.  The individual or family no longer belonged to the previous family, they were now part of something new.

In the body of Christ, when we are born again and become adopted into Jesus’ family, the old ties are gone.  We no longer belong to the world – or to ourselves.  We now belong to God and His family.  Our old rank and status as sinner, liar, adulterer, coveter…all titles are gone.  We are all of equal status as children of Christ – none is better than any other.  We all have the same “last name,” we all have the same Abba Father, we all have the same inheritance (eternal life).

You are a new creation in Christ – you have been born again – you now belong to Someone amazingly great! – and as for your inheritance?  Everything that He has is yours!  Think about it…how cool is that?

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Amy

Acts 8:26-40 – May I Be Baptized?

Yesterday, in Sunday worship, we looked at Matthew 13:1-58.  We talked about the many different parables Jesus taught and what lessons we can glean from them.  We talked about the Parable of the Sower and how he spread the seed on all kinds of ground – the path, where it was rocky, where there were thorns, and on good soil.  He was doing his job – spreading seed.  God then takes it from there and produces a harvest – up to a hundredfold of what was sown!

We also talked about how Christian life is one of sacrifice.  We need to have ears to hear – seeking God through Bible reading and study and through prayer.  We talked about how Jesus had to sacrifice not only His time, but also his community.

In our passage today, it seems Philip has learned these lessons.  Philip heard the Spirit speak.  Philip had spent enough time in prayer and in the Scripture, that he was able to discern what the Spirit was saying and he decided to sacrifice his time and follow the Spirit’s leading.  Philip could have gone along with his day, ignoring the promptings of God.  Philip could have convinced himself it wasn’t really God – it was just his imagination.  But no – Philip knew the voice of God and he was willing to upset his schedule for Him.

Philip was also willing to sow seed in a wide way, sharing “the good news about Jesus” with the eunuch.  This man was from Ethiopia, a Gentile.  Philip could have rejected him, saying he wasn’t fit for what he was reading; but Philip spread seed on all kinds of soil – allowing God to grow the harvest.

Are you willing to let God rearrange your schedule today?  If He prompts you to do something unplanned, are you willing to take a detour for Him?  The Christian life requires sacrifice.

Are you biased when sharing your faith?  Do you only share your faith with those who you think “are ready,” aka “good soil?”  Or are you spreading seed everywhere you go – allowing God to grow the harvest?

We need to share our faith, our story, our God with everyone!  We never know when someone, like the eunuch, is ready to make a commitment to Jesus.  If we aren’t willing to sacrifice, we might miss the harvest!!

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Amy

Luke 10:25-37 – What Must I Do?

In today’s culture it seems the majority of people only do the minimum to get by.  At work we only do the tasks that are assigned to us.  Stepping up and helping others?  Well, that’s “not my job.”  Young people in school seem to be there more for socializing and less for learning…only completing enough work to pass the class.

In today’s passage, the expert in the law seems to be asking what is the minimum I need to do in order to inherit eternal life.  The expert already knows the answer, but is looking for an explanation of what it means to love God and love you neighbor.  Who is my neighbor?  Maybe he was hoping Jesus was going to say, “those who live on either side of you – those are the only ones you need to love.”  Or maybe, “those in your same social class – those are the only ones you need to love.”  But Jesus tells a story of how we are to go above and beyond, going out of our way to help those around us.

We need to go through our day with our eyes wide open.  Instead of keeping our head down and not noticing the needs around us, we need to be aware of how we can be Jesus to those around us.  In being different than our culture, people will begin to wonder why – and this may lead to conversations about faith and salvation.  Our being aware of the needs of others may become life and death situations…the eternal life or death of those around us.

Go today – and Love God and Love People…God will do the rest.

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Amy

Proverbs 16:1-18:24 – Commit Your Work to the Lord

Proverbs are great little nuggets of wisdom.  Some are so profound while others are very simple reminders of how to best behave.  An area that the Proverbs often speak pertains to the tongue.  Something I think many of us fall into, oftentimes unintentionally, is misusing our words.  Sometimes we say things to others without thinking and end up hurting someone’s feelings.  Other times we find ourselves sharing someone else’s news or sharing what someone else has said to us with others.  In our “sharing” we are actually gossiping.  In updating our friends and family about other friends and family, we are gossiping.  In telling (or complaining to) a third party how we feel about someone who is not there, is actually gossiping.

I love 18:6, “A fools’ lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.”  What we say has consequences.  Speaking negatively about someone who isn’t there encourages others to change their opinion about that person…or it may alter their opinion about you!

We all need to do a better job of checking ourselves when we speak.  If we are telling a story that includes others not present, either we need to tell the story about “a friend” and not include their identity or maybe we shouldn’t be telling the story at all!

Just like James tells us – we need to be quick to listen and slow to speak (1:19).

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Amy

Psalm 23 – The Lord is My Shepherd

When I was young, this Psalm confused me.  The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.  Why wouldn’t we want the Lord to shepherd us?  I knew this Psalm was often said at funerals, so maybe the psalmist didn’t want to die?  I didn’t know – I was confused.  Everyone else seemed ok with it, so I never asked.  One day, I read this passage in the NIV, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”  Suddenly it clicked.  When the Lord is our shepherd, we are well taken care of – we will want for nothing!

This Psalm encourages us to have confidence in the Lord’s care for us.  First it describes the image of a shepherd caring for his sheep.  He provides for our needs, guides us, and protects us.  Then the psalmist describes an image of a host caring for his guests.  He again provides for us, offers us His grace and mercy, and invites us to be in relationship with Him all the days of our lives.

Enjoy His presence today.  Enjoy His provision and care.  Praise Him for all the blessings He lavishes upon us!

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Amy

1 Kings 2:1-3:28 – Give Your Servant an Understanding Mind

I do not enjoy cleaning.  I’m trying to do a better job of taking care of things as we go so “drastic” cleaning is not necessary when we expect company.  It’s not that I mind the physical act of cleaning, I just always feel like there is something else I should be doing.  And then there is “the pile.”  The mail and other stuff I have that I’m not quite ready to get rid of, but not exactly sure what I should do with – all ends up in a pile.  And in my own defense, oftentimes throughout my week I return to my pile to find something I need.  But when I clean, decisions have to be made.

In our passage today, Solomon is begins his reign as King with some cleaning.  He gets rid of some things that have been lingering and causing problems.  He wipes the slate clean by eliminating some situations that threaten the order of his kingdom.  He starts his rule fresh.

Sometimes in our own lives we need to do a little cleaning.  Maybe its physical cleaning, but we also need emotional and spiritual cleaning.  Now, I know we oftentimes feel like there are better things we need to be doing, but this is essential!  Maybe we’ve been hanging on to something that is lingering and causing problems.  Maybe a person needs to be thrown out of our lives in order to restore order.  Maybe we need to deal with a situation or two instead of ignoring it, hoping it will go away on its own.  We need to evaluate our lives just as Solomon had to evaluate his kingdom – and then we need to develop a plan of action.

Take time today to evaluate your life, how you are spending your time, who you are spending time with, what are you avoiding, and what should you let go of?  It’s time to do some cleaning!!  If not, you won’t lose a kingdom, but your life may be destroyed.

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Amy

2 Samuel 11:1-12:25 – You Are the Man!

Why is it we are so quick to judge others while we are lenient with ourselves?  We are able to make excuses for ourselves, justifying our actions and behaviors.  When we knowingly do something wrong, we come up with reasons as to why it’s not so bad…at least we aren’t hurting anyone else.  But oftentimes we are.

Life is filled with cause and effect.  When we do something that isn’t quite on the up-and-up we have to cover up.  Maybe misleading someone here or omitting some information there…at least we’re not lying – because that would be wrong.  This deception grows and grows until it’s out of control.  But if someone else did the same thing? We would be horrified by their behavior.

From the beginning of today’s passage, David was tangled in a web of sin of his own making.  In the spring, when kings go off to war, King David didn’t go.  Instead, he sent someone else.  Instead of going and doing what he was supposed to, he sent Joab with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army.  Instead of leading his people, he was lounging around Jerusalem.  Truly the phrase, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop” apply here (this saying is often credited to St. Jerome or Chaucer).

First, David takes another man’s wife and she becomes pregnant.  Instead of confessing his sin, he calls for her husband, Uriah, but he sleeps with the servants.  Now here is an upright man, doing what is right.  David isn’t convicted of his sin, instead, he decides to get Uriah drunk – surely then he will stay with his wife.  But no.  Even in a drunken state, Uriah does what is right.  David still doesn’t confess.

So now, David is lazy, avoids responsibility, an adulterer, a liar, and a deceit.  And now, he adds murderer.  This spiral of sin has grown out of control.  But when Nathan comes and confronts David with his story, David is very quick to judge another for a similar wrong.  Sometimes we are harshest with those who struggle in the same areas we do.  Instead of developing a compassionate understanding, we comfort ourselves knowing that “we aren’t as bad as                              .”

The lesson here is just do what you are supposed to do!  Seek God and follow Him.  Then you won’t have time to “play with fire.”  There are consequences to your actions, but confess and repent before things get worse!  Your sins will be taken away – even David’s sins were taken away (11:13b), but the repercussions of your sin will remain.  And have compassion for others who struggle with sin.  We need to lovingly correct one another – not condemn one another.  Though we are not called to turn away and ignore the sin either.

God loves you so much!  I’m praying for you J

Pastor Amy