There are people out there who know what it means to put their lives on the line for someone or something else. Police and members of the military armed forces deal with that kind of choice every day. Knowing and believing in what Jesus Christ did for us and how we will benefit from [and are benefitting from already] His sacrifice when all is said and done, then, may I ask what then is reasonable for us to give? Is a life of service to Him reasonable? Personally, I can say that what I have received, while in service to Him, is more than enough of a reward. I, however, believe there will be so much more to come! Praise the Lord! May we feel blessed, now and throughout eternity, by our willingness to serve Him. Amen.
Verses: Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
There are many things we do not know and are not capable of understanding. May we find comfort in knowing that God knows and understands everything. May we look to Him for reassurance when we are uncertain and fearful. My we seek His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the world around us and of our particular circumstances. May we live our lives with Him and for Him. Amen.
Verses: Romans 11:33-36 (NIV) Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Father, we know You are love. Help us to remember that includes your perfect justice as well. Don’t let us fool ourselves into believing only part of Your gospel. Amen.
We must remember that God is holy. While He wants all to come to Him and be saved, it is up to us to choose Him. By His grace, and the work of Christ, may we be found among the remnant on that day… the final Day of Judgment. May the Lord, our God, be merciful to us. Amen.
Verses: Romans 11:4-6 (NIV) And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
We become truly personal by loving God and by loving other humans. In its deepest sense, love is the life, the energy, of the Creator in us. Kallistos Ware
The Lord, our God, is with us and in us. May we have the confidence and courage to proclaim Him to those around us and to our family members and friends. May all of those we love so dearly believe in their hearts and be saved. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!
Verses: Romans 10:8-10 (NIV) But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Opening Prayer: Father God, many of us forget how truly blessed we are and have been. Help us to see our many blessings. But even more than that, help us to see how we might “pay it forward” to some of those who find themselves in need. The needs are many and varied. Some may need a shoulder to cry on, while others may need food on the table. Some may need someone to stand by them when unpleasant or frightening information needs to be shared with them, while others may need some oil in the oil tank to keep their home warm on a cold winter’s night. May we appreciate all we have and may we find a way to help someone who is in need. In the precious name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Message [used with permission from A Sermon for Every Sunday]: “Turned Upside Down” by Father Michael Renninger, Pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Richmond, Virginia.
We’ve heard the Beatitudes often. We are familiar with these words of Jesus from Luke 6:17-26. Father Michael Renninger says, “Despite our best efforts to sugar coat and tame these Beatitudes, they still have the power to turn our world upside-down if we dare to listen to them and dare to live them.” Renninger tells of an emergency room doctor who visited Haiti to help with recovery after the earthquake. This man delivered premature twins in a muddy tent, twins who did not survive. The surgeon told Renninger how this experience caused him to reevaluate his priorities. What will it take to make you reexamine yours? How might God want to turn your world upside-down?
Closing Prayer: What is it that is important to you? Is there anything about your priorities that should change? Lord God, may we make knowing You and choosing to follow You our top priority. Remind us that when we put knowing You and being like You first in our lives that other things seem to fall into place and we find true joy and a purpose in living. May we be humbled by all that You do for us. May we hear Your voice above all the noise of this world. May we act in a way that brings You glory and honor. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law.
There is more to this story. While the people of Israel are God’s chosen people, God shows no favoritism. All people are to come to the Lord by faith. We may expect to see good works from those who have chosen to believe in and follow the Lord, but it is by faith that they are saved. May we see clearly what the Lord God expects of us. May we be certain that what we achieve is seen as righteousness in the eyes of the Lord… because of our faith. Amen.
Verses: Romans 9:30-32a (NIV) What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.
Faithfully Yours Forever 