Tag Archives: Faith

Faith in Jesus Christ which comes through the presence of the Holy Spirit

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on July 8, 2015
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It is a Matter of Life and Death — Rev. David J. Schreffler

July 8, 2015

“Now Jephthah of Gilead was a great warrior. He was the son of Gilead, but his mother was a prostitute. Gilead’s wife also had several sons, and when these half brothers grew up, they chased Jephthah off the land. “You will not get any of our father’s inheritance,” they said, “for you are the son of a prostitute.” So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Soon he had a band of worthless rebels following him. At about this time, the Ammonites began their war against Israel. When the Ammonites attacked, the elders of Gilead sent for Jephthah in the land of Tob. The elders said, “Come and be our commander! Help us fight the Ammonites!” But Jephthah said to them, “Aren’t you the ones who hated me and drove me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now when you’re in trouble?” “Because we need you,” the elders replied. “If you lead us in battle against the Ammonites, we will make you ruler over all the people of Gilead.”
Jephthah said to the elders, “Let me get this straight. If I come with you and if the Lord gives me victory over the Ammonites, will you really make me ruler over all the people?” “The Lord is our witness,” the elders replied. “We promise to do whatever you say.” Judges 11:1-10

 

“In Judges 11 we meet Jephthah, a warrior known for his rash vow and for leading a band of rebels. The Bible bluntly labels Jephthah’s mother a “prostitute” (Judges 11:1). His half-brothers drove him off to prevent him from sharing their inheritance. But when a rival tribe started a war against Israel, the same people who had driven him out wanted to hire him for his military prowess. Jephthah gave credit for any future military success to the Lord (Judges 11:9), and a stunning victory resulted. What a difference from the homicidal Abimelech!

Years earlier, Moses said in his farewell speech to Israel: “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).” Our Daily Journey (June 13, 2015)

We have multiple opportunities to choose life over choosing death — each day, week, month and year. Just because we have had a rough go in this life so far; or if our parents were not good role models in life; or they did not teach us faith; or they didn’t pay our way to college; or they haven’t given you enough in this life, is no reason to ignore your faith life today, and to choose death. If life hands us lemons (as the trite saying goes) it is no license to choose death over choosing life. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight” says the writer of Proverbs. When we trust the Lord, we will be on the right road to choosing life — a life of faith, love, mercy and Grace.

There are too many people in our world, and in radical factions of religions today (even in our country) who are choosing death in the name of life. How can that be logical? We are not barbarians in this world — and the people of our country should be models of tolerance, peace, equality, love, mercy, grace and, yes, choosing life. My life, your life, every life is valuable — not to be diminished in the name of judgment, comfort, religion, race, creed, gender, or even G*d. “You who is without sin cast the first stone.”, Jesus said. There are too many people in this world who are waiting in line holding a lot of stones.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on July 6, 2015
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We Walk By Faith — Rev. David J. Schreffler

July 6, 2015

“So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

I like going to the beach. I am not a sunbather, but there is something about hearing the waves crashing against the beach, and the wind blowing constantly that is soothing to my soul. Once I have covered up from the sun, I can lay upon the sand for hours. However, getting to the place where I plan to repose can be trying. Walking on hot sand is not a pleasant experience. And unless you have the dexterity of a college athlete, it is hard to run in sand — hot sand.

Of course, this is how I often feel in the day to day gymnastics that I call my life. I often feel that I am walking along a hot beach (if not hot coals) and the more I walk, or run, the harder it is for me to get to the end of my journey — a place of repose. And each one of us has our share of hot sand — we cannot avoid it. But no matter how hot the “sand in our lives” gets, we know that each and every experience we have prepares us for the eternal weight of glory to come when we finally join our Lord once again. Until then, we do walk as by faith, not by sight. But there is no harm in trying to avoid the hot spots if we can — because some of those hot spots are from our own bad choices. And when we cannot avoid them, we learn to walk into and through them by faith, trusting in and having the confidence that G*d will see us through.

Pastor Dave