March 6, 2024 – Jesus is Our Righteousness

“Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

“It’s what we all are. We’re all failures. Own it; it will be good for you. There is not a day in any of our lives when we don’t lay down empirical evidence that we are failures. Maybe it’s in an unkind word, an ugly thought, or an ungodly desire. Maybe it’s in a moment of selfish envy or unbridled greed. Maybe it’s in a moment of pride…in the brokenness and grief of conviction, you can run not away from God but to him. You can run into the light of his holy presence utterly unafraid, filled with the confidence that although he is righteous and you are not, he will not turn you away.” (“New Morning Mercies”, March; Paul David Tripp)

If you and I had to rely on our own strength and faithfulness to be right with G-d, all hope is lost. There is never enough that we can do or think or say that makes up for the gap that sin puts between us and G-d. That chasm is too broad and deep. Yes, we are all called to live a holy lives, but our way of living will never be the basis of our standing with G-d. Ephesians 3:12 reminds us that in Christ we can have boldness and confidence through our faith in him – not in the works we try or fail to do thinking we will gain that same Grace. So when you fail again today, where will you run?

My suggestion is to run to Jesus every day – confessing your sins and seeking G-d’s forgiveness. When we live in the assurance that Grace abounds, and when we confess our sins and acknowledge our brokenness, then with contrite hearts we also remember that Jesus is our righteousness.

Pastor Dave

March 5, 2024 – Two Most Important Things

“What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son but gave him up for all of us, how will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?  No, in all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:31-34, 37-39

“There aren’t two things in all of life more important than these—that grace has purchased for you a place in God’s family and that, because you are in his family, God rules over all things for your good. You could never have earned these two unshakable realities.” (“New Morning Mercies”, March; Paul David Tripp)

There are two things in life you simply don’t have to worry about anymore – one is the fact that G-d is for all people. The other is G-d’s dominion is ruled by Grace. We all have plenty of things to worry about in this life. You and I carry enough life concerns on a daily basis. With the economy the way it has been over the last three years it is right to be concerned about your finances. All of your relationships can and will weigh on your minds hoping that they will be held in G-d’s concern and will end up as G-d means them to be. It’s good to focus much concern on the welfare and development of your children. It’s vital to take your church and your relationship to the body of Christ seriously. It would be silly not to see your physical health as an important concern. It is responsible for all of us to carry these concerns on a daily basis.

But to worry about whether or not G-d loves you and to worry that you are outside of G-d’s Grace, well these do not have to be any of your concerns. G-d loves you beyond all measure. Period. And G-d’s grace is sufficient for you every day.

Pastor Dave