October 18, 2022 —The Words of “Life Age-Long”

“So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67-69

“Even though God’s grace has prepared the way, the path is too narrow and the demands too difficult for most people. Most don’t want to have to give up control. Most want a messiah whom they can tame and manipulate and make into their servant. Jesus would be our King — -not just prince or prophet, not just rabbi or ruler, but King. So will we turn away? Will we leave? No, for he is King. Only he has the words of life.”

(What Jesus Did! ‘Are You Leaving, Too?’ — John 6:67-69 Tuesday, May 17, 2022;

heartlight.org)

The disciples are bothered by what Jesus has said, but they do not flee like the “others” — they stick around because they know that, though they do not always understand, still Jesus has the “words of “eternal life”. The literal definition of the words translated as “eternal life” is “Life Age-long”. “Life age-long” is richer in meaning (I think) than eternal life because eternal life seems to suggest only life “after” we die. But Jesus’ words are more meaningful than just meaning “at a later time”. Jesus words are for us right now, and will last throughout all time. “Life age-long” means we do not wait for eternal life, but instead we begin “age-long” life right now — and that reality should change how we live right now, every day.

“Lord, to whom shall we go – for you have the words of “Life Age-Long”. How we live each day will determine if we agree with Peter or not.

Let us pray,

Lord Christ, sweep out of my heart any other loyalty that would disrupt my wholehearted devotion to Jesus. Help me find life in his words. Amen.

Pastor Dave

October 17, 2022 — Faith Is A Verb

“Then he (Jesus) will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:45 – 46

“Imagine if we viewed every person we met, especially every believer, as if he or she is the very presence of Christ! How much kinder would we be? How much more welcoming would we be to the visitor or the desperate in our church services? How much more attentive would we be to their aches, pains, difficulties, and hardships? How much more careful would we be to not say anything insensitive or uncaring?

Jesus reminds us that this is precisely the case. But he goes one step further. He also reminds us that those who are mean and cruel and hard on others will face ultimate hardship. He reminds us that the ultimate justice is not going to be seen this side of eternity. But when he comes, each will be blessed according to his or her service to him. And, of course, service to him is serving his people!”  (What Jesus Did! ‘To the Least of These (2)’ — Matthew 25:41-46; Monday, November 22, 2021; heartlight.org)

I think one of the greatest challenges for the church today is helping people move from “saying” to “doing — from “believing” to “living”. Our lives have become so “scheduled”, so “prioritized”, that we get caught in the day to day rat race of trying to keep up. Parents of young children spend the weekend running between soccer, ballet, rugby, baseball, basketball, lacrosse practices all the while trying to wash the car, plan a vacation, do the laundry and prepare for another exhausting week. Some may be able to get to church on a Sunday morning, if they can get themselves out of bed. Even retirees — those who have “done their time” — served on committees and chaired them as well, that they believe retiring from their work means retiring from everything, including church.

So, how do we move from “believing” to “living” — from “saying” to “doing”? I don’t know how to answer that question — for it may be different for each person. But one thing I can say is that the Gospel must be lived as well as told. If we are “followers” then we have to also be “doers” — it is a necessity. Faith needs to be a verb, not a noun. But the only way we will maintain that active part of our faith is to constantly review our priorities. The Gospel must be, must be lived as well as told…..

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, help me to see every believer as the very presence of Christ and treat each one with the same dignity with which I would treat Christ. Sweep through your church with the Holy Spirit and pour out your love in powerful ways. Amen.

Pastor Dave