Holy Applause!

Many of you are aware that the baseball season has begun. Teams will be vying for a spot in the World's Series in this somewhat modified and shortened season. Additionally basketball players are gearing up in "the bubble" down at Disney in Florida to commence their season. Some teams including our own Boston Celtics have already begun engaging in scrimmage games with other teams. The Boston Bruins hockey team is about to begin their season in Canada. Finally, the NFL has submitted their plans to protect players and their families during the corona virus pandemic. The Patriots are scheduled to start their training camp on time. One thing that all of these sports teams share in common is they will be playing without fans in the stadiums. The corona virus has hindered the ability of people to actively support their teams in person. The various leagues have tried to enhance the experience for the players through piped in crowd noise as well as cardboard cut outs in the stands. The option has even been offered to fans to take a picture and purchase a cardboard cut out which can be placed in the seat of a particular stadium. We as human beings thrive on the support and accolades of others. Players on the various sports teams will be quick to acknowledge that a crowd of fans shouting and clapping energizes them to perform at the highest level. What happens when there is no longer any crowd noise? The game can still be played but there is a sense of loss and diminished level of energy.

 

FOREVER FANS

Followers of Christ are forever receiving encouragement as they walk through the challenges of this life. No matter what may take place, there is a "heavenly crowd of fans" cheering us on. We read in the book of Hebrews "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV)

 ETERNAL VICTORY

Team players have their eyes fixed on accomplishing the ultimate goal of being crowned "the best" in their sport. After the victory of winning the ultimate prize, players will often comment that they won the trophy for their fans with whom they share the prize. A celebratory parade in a major city often follows with ongoing cheers and applause. The lack of an active fan base in the stands and the cancellation of victory parades may diminish the joy in celebrating the win. However, when our eyes are fixed on Jesus and the ultimate prize of sharing eternity with Him, it encourages us to keep persevering in this life. Our "fan base" are all the saints that have gone before us. Friends, family, and other brothers and sisters who have finished the race are now participating in the never ending celebration of glory to God for what Jesus has done through His sacrifice on the cross. So I encourage you as the writer of Hebrews states, not "to grow weary or lose heart" when life challenges us and others oppose us for our faithfulness to the Lord. We have an ongoing "holy applause" that resonates in heaven which will never be silenced by anyone or anything!

Thanks be to God!

Pastor Sheree

"Do And Teach"

I enjoy reading the devotional booklet, "Our Daily Bread" published by RBC Ministries located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The most recent post was a timely message in light of the violence in our country resulting from the murder of George Floyd. The devotional focused on the story of a young man named Patrick, who was wounded yet managed to survive the Colombine High School massacre in Colorado. The story emphasized how Patrick harbored feelings of bitterness following the shootings and wondered why he had survived. During his recovery, God showed Patrick that the key to forgiveness is to stop focusing on what others have done to us and to focus on what Jesus has done for us. Twenty years after the tragedy, Patrick came to the conclusion that maybe God had spared him and chosen him to forgive. Perhaps, God was calling Patrick to a ministry of forgiveness and reconciliation, the very thing that Jesus demonstrated to us.

JESUS WASHED HIS DISCIPLE'S FEET

 After reading this devotional I was drawn to John chapter 13. This is the story of Jesus' last time of intimacy with His disciples prior to His crucifixion. Jesus, in a total act of humility washes His disciples feet, including the feet of the one who was to betray Him. John tells us, "When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" He asked them. "You call Me 'Teacher and Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (John 13:12-17 NIV) Notice how Jesus emphasis in the text is on "doing" and this is the heart of the story. Luke reinforces this principle in the book of Acts, "In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen." (Acts 1:1-2 NIV)

WE ARE CALLED TO ACTION

 We in the church tend to focus on teaching and then telling people what to do. However, many times we fail to follow through with what we have learned. We can acknowledge what a great sermon we heard but then return to our homes and continue on with our lives. When we actively do something first, it opens the door for people to catch a glimpse of Jesus. Many of us will never endure the horrible tragedy of Colombine or have our lives needlessly cut short by someone's knee on our throat cutting off our air supply while we beg for mercy. However, all of us will experience at some point being wronged by another person. A spouse commits adultery, a child rebels, an employer is abusive. What action can we take to move on? Perhaps, we need to look at the example of our Savior. In the face of betrayal, Jesus chose to do something, He washed His disciple's feet. He didn't merely lecture His disciples, He showed them what to do. In the face of rejection, abandonment, torture, and crucifixion, Jesus chose to do something, He went to the cross and ultimately forgave those who crucified Him. (Luke 23:34) Jesus died for our collective sins, for the officer who put his knee on George Floyd's neck, for the people who are perpetrating violence in our cities, for you and for me.

WE ARE CALLED TO EMULATE JESUS

In some ways we are not unlike that officer, putting our collective knees on the throat of Jesus, allowing a sinless, innocent man to die and suffer on a cross in agony. It's an ugly truth to think about and even harder to swallow. However, if we are followers of Jesus Christ, called to be His messengers of forgiveness and reconciliation then we need to emulate the example of our Lord. We need to stop sitting around in our peaceful bubble exchanging gracious platitudes like, "I have nothing against black people", or "I don't even notice color", or "Some of my best friends are black." We need to actively be peacemakers literally "making peace" through standing up for and speaking out against racial inequality. If Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had sat back and simply adopted the attitude, "Well, I'll just pray that the Lord will open the eyes of the white people and hopefully things will change," there would have been no Civil Rights Movement. However, He followed the example of Jesus to do and teach without violence and as a result the world took notice, responded, and change took place. I applaud similar actions that are taking place even in the midst of today's violence. Police officers are walking with protestors and at times kneeling with them. These officers are doing something and by their actions teaching people that the injustice needs to end. I am a black woman but my identity is not found in my color or my gender but my identity is rooted in Jesus Christ. Racism is sewn into the fabric of our culture and will continue to exist as long as the heart of mankind remains unchanged apart from transformation through Jesus Christ. However, like Dr. King brought forth change through peaceful non-violence we can do the same and teach others by example. And as our Lord told His disciples, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (John 13:17 NIV)
Peace and Blessings,
Pastor Sheree

The New "Underground Church"

"On the evening of the first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord." (John 20:19-20)

The corona virus pandemic has certainly changed our world. The ability to move freely from place to place, to come together in large gatherings, and spend time in close proximity to one another has been radically transformed. The disciples world had also been radically altered after Jesus' death. The ability to walk with Him, talk with Him, and eat with Him shifted dramatically after the crucifixion. The rules of the game had changed and the disciples found themselves adopting a new coping strategy. John tells us that the disciples had locked themselves away behind closed doors for fear of the Jews. (John 20:19 NIV) When, in the past, had they ever experienced a situation so dramatic, that it negatively impacted their behavior and the way they did life together? After Jesus' death, the disciples didn't immediately go home to their families, John tells us they were locked behind closed doors together. The text appears to imply there was no family contact out of fear of the consequences. These consequences which could result in potential arrest by the Jews, appeared to be a matter of life or death. 

JESUS IS WITH US.

Our current stay at home advisory is not unlike the feelings the disciples may have experienced. We are "locked away" from our loved ones. We dare not venture out too far or have too much physical contact with others, lest we find ourselves in a life or death situation. As the disciples found themselves with their backs against the wall, they received a wonderful surprise, Jesus came to be with them. Jesus knew what was happening and He came to bring peace, the shalom of God, to their anxious hearts. Jesus could have immediately ascended back to His heavenly Father and left the disciples to figure things out on their own. However, even after undergoing torturous suffering and an agonizing death, Jesus after His resurrection came back to take care of His disciples. After confirming that His presence was real, showing them His hands and side, the reaction of the disciples was one of overwhelming joy because as John states, "they saw the Lord." (John 20:20 NIV) For us, Jesus has ascended back to His heavenly Father but He has not left us on our own. His presence is with us through His Holy Spirit. Jesus speaks the same "peace be with you" as He did to his frightened disciples. When we realize that His presence is always with us, we have in essence "seen" the Lord, not with physical but spiritual eyes. 

JESUS SPEAKS PEACE TO US.

Prior to this pandemic, we as the church are aware that we have brothers and sisters who today find themselves in a similar situation as the disciples. There are places in the world where Christians have the potential to be persecuted and even martyred for publicly sharing the gospel. They need to meet behind closed doors and are often referred to as the "underground church." Yet, they experience the presence of Christ behind those locked doors as they continue to meet, study God's word, and pray together. In our present situation, we in some ways are the new "underground church." We may not be in hiding out of fear of persecution but we are meeting behind closed doors out of concern for ourselves and others related to contracting the corona virus. Nevertheless, like the disciples we are together behind closed doors not physically, yet we remain spiritually connected to one another through the God-given gift of technology. Moreover, Jesus still speaks, "peace be with you" in the midst of our struggles. As a result of knowing our Lord is with us, we like the disciples can experience great joy for we have "seen" the Lord. May the shalom of our Lord encourage and sustain you during this challenging time.
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Sheree