LIFE
Being Lay Leader during January,
I started the month and told our church they were filled with a great sense of
humor and that we should come to church with joy in our hearts.
January 13, I told them they
should get up on Sunday and say, “I am so excited. I get to go to church today.”
January 20, I was going to say
something about the congregation being the life of the church, but I was not
there. Why? Because our grandson was choosing a new life
– an eternal life! He was baptized!
There are a gazillion articles,
books and papers written on how our lives change once we accept Christ as our
Savior. Some books point out person
after person who continued on with their lives as if nothing had happened and
use that as proof that God is not real.
Others tell of miraculous changes where addictions are instantly left
behind. And some tell how the changes
are subtle, happening slowly as greed turns into generosity and selfishness
into compassion and hate into love.
As I thought about this, I
wondered: What else changes when someone
becomes a true believer?
HEAVEN? Do the carpenters get busy and add another
room to the mansion? Do the angels look
down at Satan and go, “Na, na, na, na.
This one is ours!” Is another
heavenly robe sown?
Yes, I am being a bit silly, but the
question remains: What changes when
someone truly chooses a new life?
THE PERSON: Even a person who grew up in the church and
has always believed changes when they make a personal commitment. Maybe, slowly at first, thoughts change. Attitudes change. Actions change. A person changes when they fully accept that
the Cross is for them!
THE FAMILY: When a family has a commitment to a new life
in Christ, the family changes. I am in
no way saying the terrible twos will not happen, those dreaded teenage years
will be smooth sailing or that life will be a bed or roses. Life changes because the family is united in
their faith. Their faith directs family
situations to be handled with respect and love and wisdom.
(Disclaimer: Pastor Larry also writes a blog: https://larry- fromthepastorsdesk.blogspot. com/
but you need to know we never discuss what the other is writing and it is absolutely
a coincidence when the blogs are on the same topic. It is also a coincidence when the ideas
swimming in my head are mentioned during the Sunday sermon.)
THE CHURCH: What exactly happens when the Church makes a
commitment to a new life in Christ? THE
CHURCH CHANGES! The focus and the
direction of the church changes. Eyes
open and see. Hands unclasp and do. Hearts thaw and feel. Doors open wide. And a church works as one, using each talent
and gift to the Glory of God.
------------------------------------------------
January 20, I was going to say
something about the congregation being the life of the church, but I was not
there. Why? Because our grandson was choosing a new life
– an eternal life! He was baptized!
NEW LIFE BEGINS
One person chooses
a new life – an eternal life – and thoughts, attitudes and actions change.
One family commits
to a new life in Christ and family situations are handled with respect and love
and wisdom.
One church makes a
commitment to a new life in Christ and begins to work as one, using each talent
and gift to the Glory of God
NEW LIFE
One person changes their life,
which can change a family, which can change a church, which can change a
community, which can change a country, which can change the world.
That means we are ---- come back
next week to see.
No comments:
Post a Comment