“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to condemn it, but in order to save the world through him” John 3:16-17

“Have we ever sinned? Of course. Will we sin again, despite our best intentions? No doubt about it. If sin were “fixed” by jumping through hoops, obeying all the rules, or going on a self-help binge and finding the ultimate diet and exercise program, we would always fall short. But wait! Sin and fear don’t have the last word here. God loves the world. God loves us. God loves you. We fall short, but God’s Son came into the world. And because Jesus died and rose again, we become part of an unending circle of love.” Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Edition.)

Sinners Become Winners

No one is without sin. Period. No matter what you think of your pastor or your parents or your best friend, no one is without sin. We all sin and fall short of the glory of G-d. We look at pictures on Facebook and images from TikTok and we think “those people have the life.” What we do not realize is the mess that so many of those people are facing in their lives. We are so quick to put up good fronts – while in the back we are barely making sense of life, of finances, and of faith.

John 3:16-17 may be just a little overused, quoted way too much, but Martin Luther called it the Gospel “in miniature.” Those verses encapsulate the entire message of G-d’s love for G-d’s people. It is the Gospel in its simplest form. It reminds us that everyone sins, but everyone is also captured within the net of G-d’s love, mercy and grace found in the cross of G-d’s only Son, Jesus Christ. That is why we need to hear that message over and over again.

Let us pray,

God of love, mercy and all-encompassing love and acceptance, I am in awe of what you have done for me. Thank you for bringing me into your circle of love. Amen.

Pastor Dave

“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

“Sometimes it may seem like God is silent. But, for starters, the Bible tells us that creation began with a word from God. The Bible also tells us God’s promises-for a future and a hope, for forgiveness and new life. Finally, the Bible tells us that Jesus is God’s Word-in Jesus we can see and hear God. God still speaks to us today through the Bible. Like the very best stories, you can read the Bible over and over again and hear something new each time. You don’t need to be religious, just open up a Bible. Read. Listen. Repeat. (Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Edition.)

Not Just the Good Book – But the Best Book

The bible has good stories, hard stories, sad stories, and great stories. The Bible has been called the “Good Book” for centuries – but it is more than just a good book to read. It is the best book to read. As such it is one of the few books that you should read over, and over and over again.

For example, one of the best stories to read is the story of Joseph (Genesis 41ff). He is favored by his father which brings scorn from his brothers. He is sold into slavery, accused of misconduct, given the gift of interpreting dreams, and eventually lifted up to second in command in Egypt. It is a story I can read again and again and again. Then there is the story of the woman who is cut into twelve pieces and mailed to the twelve tribes of Israel (Judges 19). It is a horrible story. Finally there is the story of the talking donkey (Numbers 22ff).  

Not everyone is a reader, but the bible is more accessible now more than ever. There are so many translations geared toward particular audiences that everyone can find something that speaks to them. And don’t feel you have to read the whole thing in one setting. Just start with the beginning – and see where your journey takes you.

Let us pray,

Oh God of the message, your good word still speaks. Thank you for your words that continue to ring true to this day. As I read the Bible, help me listen to you. Amen.

Pastor Dave