Follow Your Lord!

I don't know about you but I for one am glad Election Day has finally come. The month and weeks of negative attack ads have been emotionally draining and I don't think I can listen to one more verbal assault coming from either side. I have noticed many people in this country including some of my clients have demonstrated increased anxiety as we hold our collective breaths waiting for the outcome. The division in the country has run very deep and sadly has spilled over into the body of Christ. Psalm 133:1 states, "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live in unity." (NIV) The psalmist's statement almost seems unrealistic in light of what has been happening in this election year. Moreover, Jesus prayed in John 17 for His disciples in what is called His high priestly prayer prior to going to the cross, "I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are one--I in them and You in Me--so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me." (John 17:22-23 NIV) So what's going on? Why isn't that sense of unity among believers evident if we claim to be followers of Christ?

HARDENED HEARTS AND ENEMY LIES

 Some of the blame can be placed on our own hardened hearts. James 4:1-3 states, "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (NIV) There are many believers who are fervently praying that their political candidate wins because they strongly believe that God agrees with their thinking and it is His will. While everyone has a right to exercise their freedom and vote their conscience, how about praying that the Lord help us to have gracious hearts towards those who disagree with us, even if the outcome doesn't go our way. Another reason for the division is we have an enemy who loves nothing more than to drive a wedge between brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus states in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (NIV) Did you get that? Jesus brings life into situations not destruction, division, and death. Furthermore, the enemy of our souls distracts us with half truths that sound like good ideas or arguments but are not in line with the standard that is set by our only true guide book, the Bible. Jesus tells the religious rulers who were coming against Him in John 8, "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When He lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar, and the father of lies." (John 8:44 NIV) Paul also tells us that Satan can masquerade as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14) Some of the political issues that believers are fighting and arguing over may sound right and good but are actually lies that have been twisted to sound like truth. 

TRUST IN THE LORD

So how do we start to move back to a place of unity? I believe by getting back to the source of our trust. The psalmist says it best, "Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." (Psalm 20:7 NIV) Do we as followers of Christ believe this? We cannot deny as human beings that we have our likes and dislikes, as well as personal preferences towards people and things. However, we have a responsibility to reflect Christ to the world for that is our calling. Jesus commands us, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV) We are also called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) not darkness, doom, gloom, or destruction. Regardless of the outcome of the election, remember our hope doesn't lie in people, political parties, or Washington D.C. Lest we forget politicians, although they may exercise power and control for a season, are under the sovereignty of the true King of heaven and earth. Therefore, the choices they make and the decisions they exercise are seen and not hidden from the eyes of our Sovereign God. Jesus in His darkest hour in the Garden of Gethsemane, surrendered all to the Father when He declared, "Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." (Luke 22:42 NIV) Let's adopt the attitude of our Savior and let God be God. May His will be done not ours as we keep our eyes on the Lord and pray for our leaders and our country. 

Peace and Blessings!

Pastor Sheree

The Narrow Road

 I don't know about you but I have enjoyed watching some of the Olympic Games taking place in Paris. I was especially interested in women's gymnastics and cheering on team USA! One of my favorite athletes on the team is none other than the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) Simone Biles. It seems like she can accomplish some of the most amazing gymnastic moves with what appears to be a sense of ease, when in reality the degree of difficulty is very high. She has even created a few gymnastics moves that have been named after her. One of the intriguing and somewhat nail biting events is the balance beam. The beam itself is only 4 inches wide, so there is little margin for error when the gymnasts perform their routines. If the beam were a bit wider, it would be much easier to walk on without falling off on either side. It takes time, patience, and practice to stay on that 4 inch wide beam but in the end as Simone Biles has demonstrated the effort is worth it if it results in an Olympic Medal. 

TWO GATES, TWO ROADS

In Matthew 7:13-14 we read, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only few find it." (NIV) Matthew chapter 7 is part of what is referred to as Jesus's Sermon on the Mount in which He criticizes the Pharisees and religious leaders for their self-righteousness. Jesus' criticism comes in the form of Him raising the bar on the requirements of the law in such a way, that what is expected becomes nearly impossible to achieve thus demonstrating that human efforts will not gain entrance to heaven. In verses 13-14, Jesus focuses on the fact that not everyone will choose the path of faith and righteousness, but instead, many will follow the easier and more popular path that leads to destruction. In the context of ancient kingdom imagery, the wider gate is where commerce took place, and would represent in our day what most people chase after, such as power and wealth. The wide gate is also where religious elders would sit, symbolizing the pursuit of honor and societal approval. On the other hand, the narrow gate symbolizes a life represented by the upside-down values of Jesus's kingdom.The wide gate represents the easy, popular way that many choose, while the narrow gate is the challenging, less traveled path that leads to true fulfillment aligned with the values of God's kingdom. It seems like in our culture and in our world, we prefer not to struggle or be challenged but rather feel entitled to what we desire. Manual labor? "No thank you that requires too much effort. I'd rather sit in an office or at home and work on a computer." Wait for our food to cook? "Nope, I'll just pop it in the microwave." Please don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the convenience in utilizing technology to help improve quality of life. However, it's the accompanying attitude of pride, arrogance and entitlement wherein the challenge lies. 

DESTRUCTION OR LIFE?

The essential idea that Jesus is conveying is the wide road is broad and easy. It is the way of self-centeredness, and the majority travel that road. The other way is narrow and hard to find. Only a few travel the road of personal commitment and discipline. One road leads to destruction and the other to eternal life. These verses are primarily focused on our future destiny but also speak as well of life here and now. It describes two ways to live:two ways that separate and lead to two distinct destinies. Jesus's words call for mindful decision-making regarding one's life direction. He urges His followers to make a conscious decision in choosing their path while at the same time being fully aware of the implications of their choices, both in this life and for eternity. Jesus calls His followers to align themselves more closely with Him and the way of His kingdom. The choice is clear: follow the crowd with it's leaning towards taking the path of least resistance, or join the few who accept the limiting demands of loyalty to Christ. The easy way will turn out hard, it ends in destruction, whereas the hard way will lead to eternal joy, or in other words life. Christianity never promises an easy journey but just like those Olympic gymnast's hard work, perseverance, and keeping their "eyes on the prize" achieves a great reward so the Bible tells us, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:2-4;12 NIV) What gate will you enter through and what road will you choose to follow?

Peace and Blessings,

Pastor Sheree

"Poetry in Motion"

There was a time in my life when I used to write poetry. It was my way of expressing my feelings especially during times of struggle. Perhaps many of you remember having to examine poems as part of your English class curriculum in school. For some, studying poetry was a torturous exercise as the poet at times used words that made no sense and the struggle was to figure out the meaning behind the poet's intent. It's been a long time since I have written a poem but were you aware that God writes poetry everyday? Paul states in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (NIV)  The word "handiwork" has been translated in some Bibles as "work of art" but in the Greek the word is "poiema" from which we get our word "poetry." In Christ, God is writing a beautiful story in our lives. What is God's purpose in doing so? Paul states, "to do good works," but not in some haphazard way that figuratively speaking has no rhyme or reason. No, these good works are prepared by the Master Poet in advance for us to do. The Creator of the universe knows us and gives us gifts and talents through His Holy Spirit to accomplish His will. It's amazing that God would take the time to prepare good works in advance for us to do like the poet who carefully puts together each line of the poem. 

We Are A Living Expression Of God In Christ

The poem is an expression of who the poet is, their thoughts, hopes, and dreams. Thus, in Christ, we are a living expression of who God is when we commit to following Christ and obey His word. We don't have to scratch our heads trying to figure out what God's intent is when the Bible is our guide. Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:18-20, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV) Furthermore, in Matthew chapter 5, Jesus calls us the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" and states, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16 NIV) The same "good deeds" that God prepared in advance for us to do with the end result in bringing glory to God. We come to recognize a poet by the type of poetry they write in their own unique creative style. We are God's poetry in motion that others may come to recognize who He is in the way we live out our love and commitment to Him as well as our love and care for others in Jesus name. 

Peace and Blessings,

Pastor Sheree