God of the Harvest, grant Your grace upon this dear reader so that they too may be workers in those yet to be harvested. In Christ Jesus' Name, amen.
Our church grew by four new members last night, thanks to Coffee with the Pastors. Our church borrowed the model from The Church of The Resurrection from Kansas City. Our first time guests are "mugged," that is, they get a coffee mug from our church, and last night they were invited to come, with their mugs, to have coffee with Pastor Jet and myself. Pastor Katy was there briefly as was Brandon, our student ministries director and Emma Forrest, our UMW chair. We talked about our church, what membership is all about and then gave them time to prayerfully reflect on whether they were ready to join last night or wait until a coming Sunday. Four decided to join last night. We thank God for them. And for those who will join at a later date.
We talked about the newest vow started just last year at General Conference. Besides promising to support our church with our prayers, presence, gifts, and services, now we must vow to support our church with our witness. It is bibilical because Paul declared boldly in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Paul knew that witnessing to one's faith, especially among the citizens of Rome who had yet to hear or believe in Jesus. Theirs was a pagan religion based on emperor worship; to be a Christian required boldness and a willingness to follow Jesus even to death. What's our holdup?
The rest of the verses from 17-23 give evidence of the importance to sharing our faith: "17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, "The one who is righteous will live by faith." 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse; 21 for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools; 23 and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.
Our faith is strengthened by our witness. The challenges and obstacles to sharing faith actually fall when we do give witness to Whose we are when we share Him. Our willingness to live righteous lives in the face of those who are not godly and whose lives are wicked, bless others as well as us. Paul knew that even the wicked knew, that God is at work among us and when we give witness to what God has already done in us, through us we may just reach another person and snatch that person from hell's grip. Let us honor God and help others come to the same knowledge, that God is glorious and eternal and to join and believe God is to be a part of that same glory and immortality.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to be Your witness today. Whatever may be required of me this day, give me of Your strength, courage, wisdom, and boldness to share with You all that is needed. May my witness serve as a lifelife to help those who are indeed perishing. I ask this in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
PRAYER REQUESTS: I remind us to be in prayer for Rusty Benedict of our church who travels this morning to Houston to meet with a new doctor. Rusty is hopeful this new doctor may help his situation. Rusty and his sister, who is driving him up there, return again tonight. May God guide and bless his path. Please remember Barry Lemke, who undergoes a dangerous exam this morning as well to determine what is causing lung complications. We pray the exam go well and that the results show that God has been there first and is already providing healing. Pray also for members of the Hernandez family who travel to Bryan, Texas for the funeral service of Mrs. Isabel R. Hernandez.
Blessings.
