Tag Archives: Service

We go forward to serve others not to earn G*d’s love but because G*d loves us through Jesus

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 5:37 pm on January 14, 2016
Tags: Service,   

G-d Likes New Things Too! — Rev. David J. Schreffler

January 14, 2016

Everybody likes new things – and coming off the Christmas season we have received our fill of new things. But even God likes new things, don’t you think? He created all things, but He also says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” Even the beginning of the bible begins with G-d creating everything – and it was new.

We so far have focused our time on how we are trying new things, learning new things, and experiencing new things in reading the bible. The thing we need to talk about now is how Our heavenly Father wants to do new things in the lives of G-d’s children. In reading the bible, we receive the word of G-d who desires to teach us new truths, provide new opportunities for ministering to others, and take us to higher levels of worship and deeper levels of trust. Now, trusting G-d is not something new, but wholly relying on G-d’s mercy and trusting the promises of G-d may be something new for you. But, as humans we do not have a good track record for “Fully Relying On G-d”. From the time of the Israelites wandering the wilderness, to our own meanderings in this life, we tend to follow our own thoughts and feelings rather than G-d’s guidance.

Of course, I’m like that sometimes. G-d wants to do the new, the fresh, the challenging in my life and in my ministry. But often I try to hold on to yesterday’s comfortable. I don’t want to let go of what is comfortable and familiar—some old way of thinking, a certain way of doing things, my usual area of service to Him. I may miss new and exciting things G-d has planned for me if I don’t fully trust His guidance, even when He seems to be leading me down unfamiliar paths.

One of the best ways to keep our faith fresh and new is to develop and to keep going with the new habit of daily Bible reading. G-d’s Word is timeless—old and new at the same time. When we find something new in the bible, especially a new way to show our love to G-d or each other, I believe G-d smiles and says “Well done faithful servant”.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on January 13, 2016
Tags: , Service   

We are Verbs – Just Like The Great “I Am” — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

                                       January 13, 2016

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” 12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:7, 12

Although reading is a sedentary act, the actual work of reading is an action – you are doing something when you are reading. In the above verses from the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is continuing to teach in his Sermon on the Mount. And much of what Jesus is talking about is action – what we should be doing as a part of determining G-d’s will and intent for our lives. “Ask”, “Seek”, and “Knock” are things we are doing when we read the bible. As we read the lines of scriptures, we are seeking some understanding from the lessons Jesus is teaching his disciples and the crowds who are gathering around him. And as we seek some understanding, we will usually ask questions about what we have read. And in the process of asking the questions, we continue to seek, either through additional reading, or recommendations of other resources that may shed some light on the questions we are asking. The seeking then becomes the knocking as we find the doors of understanding are opened to us through the help of the Holy Spirit. You see, all of this action is not done in a vacuum – throughout the asking, seeking and knocking, the Holy Spirit is fully in the word as we read it, and as we pray and meditate upon it.

It is the Holy Spirit then who drives us (and also guides us) to living in ways that are impacted by what we read. And what we will find that is so prevalent in the teachings of Jesus is how to live in relationship with G-d and with each other. This is where the “Golden Rule” comes into play – verse 12 which reads, in part “Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you.” Notice the verse does not read “Expect others to do to you what you want them to do.” Too many people think the Golden Rule is about how others should treat them. The emphasis on the rule is “Do” – it is action. Which, in essence, is what you are doing by immersing yourself in G-d’s word – you are doing a necessary action that informs your “doing to others” – not learning what you expect others to do for you. G-d’s name is “I Am” – a verb – G-d was, is and is active today. Be a verb today, and “go” and “do”.

Pastor Dave