Good day dear friends.
We continue to thank God for Rebecca Cosgrove's dismissal from the hospital. We pray for her complete wellbeing.
We continue to affirm that overall, the myth of Christianity being a crutch for the weak is weak. Here is our study guide:
Thursday: In Romans 1:16-17 we find the text that could have served as the basic text for this whole sermon series. Read that verse and let it speak to your heart. Ask God to make the words of this passage be the words you need for your life.
Here is that passage from Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, "He who through faith is righteous shall live." (RSV)
If one reaches the point of believing something like the myth we studied Sunday, it serves to reason that we might come to be ashamed of the gospel. One also has to wonder if perhaps Paul in his many dealings with early Christians didn't come across those who began to tell him, "You know Paul, I'm beginning to be a little embarrassed about all this Jesus stuff, so I'm going to kinda back off of it for a while." And you have to think that hearing it once was enough for him to, in his Pauline way to say, "You can do and believe whatever you want, But I am not ashamed of the gospel. I have found power to live, and live freely because of my salvation from sin and eath and you know what, this is available to all as well, Jews and Greeks. Through the gospel we have come to know the righteousness of God revealed. And that revelation has helped us live and live right."
Okay, Paul's English was not quite like mine. And here's a clue: Paul didn't speak English, but I suspect he knew Spanish... but he surely knew Jesus and the God whom Jesus showed him. In the same way we can come to know God's love through Jesus Christ. In that love we can find the fullness of life, that joy and peace that comes even when we face challenges and trials. I've said in many a sermon, if you're looking for an excuse not to believe you already have one. And according to you, it's a good one. But if you're looking to live, you will find life in the gospel. And not just an existence, but an abundant life as promised us in John 10:10.
Don't let secondhand doubt get to you. Like smoke, it can kill you. And there's no such thing as secondhand faith. You must receive it to live it. And once you have it, the fullness of life is yours.
What are you waiting for?
PRAYER: Loving God of life, bring to my heart the fullness of life today through the Good News of Jesus Christ. Let me realize how important and special it is to know You through Christ our Lord. Let me seek to grow and share as You lead me, I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
