Rescue Plan!

For Friday, October 2, 2026:

Mark 1:7 NLT: “John the Baptist announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.”

There are a couple of concepts we humans have trouble appreciating. One is that God is all powerful! Everything supplied to us on earth was made by God. If a human claims that they made something, they made it from parts supplied by God. I saw a beautiful wooden rocking chair in an Amish furniture store. A plaque proudly stated, “Handmade by David Miller.” Mr. Miller may have made it into a chair, but God made the wood!

There’s a story about mankind trying to make more people. They talk about special chemicals, water and dirt, all being mixed together. Add a jolt of electricity, and they almost had it, until someone pointed out, “That’s God’s dirt!”

The other concept is that God’s love for mankind is never-ending. We can’t appreciate the length God would go to to continue loving mankind. But God’s love for us goes deeper than we can imagine, so deep that he would sacrifice his Son to ensure mankind’s rescue.

The rescue plan has been implemented. Have you accepted God’s invitation to be forgiven and saved? Today is the best day to repent and return to the Lord!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Salvation!

For Thursday, October 1, 2026:

Mark 1:4 NLT: “John the Baptist was the messenger. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.”

This was fresh theology at the time. The concept of repenting and receiving forgiveness was new. Being baptized as a sign of repentance was fairly new. We speak of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. This theology is part of the New Covenant. Jesus himself was baptized, thereby teaching us to repent and return. (Jesus, being sinless, didn’t really need to be baptized.)

The Bible goes on to say that “All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John.” All? John must have made an impression on a lot of people! With no radio, no TV and no internet, person-to-person buzz was the only way people could learn of John. And a great many signed up for the repent, return and receive forgiveness program.

Here’s an analogy, so don’t take it literally. No longer did people have to try to accumulate heaven points. You could be extra good and get a few more points. But if you messed up, you’d lose points. So how many points do we need to see heaven from the inside? With the total in flux, we would never be 100% sure where we stand. With the New Covenant, we see heaven by grace, not by anything we can do. Believers put their faith, hope and trust in Jesus. That’s why we call him “Savior” – because he saves us!

Believers in Jesus have Assurance of Salvation!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Overcome the World!

For Wednesday, September 30, 2026:

John 16:33b AMPC, Jesus speaking: “In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”

"All’s well that ends well.” That’s what Jesus was saying that day. Becoming a Christian doesn’t mean that your road won’t have any bumps. But despite what may appear to go wrong, none of it will matter in the end. Jesus already has forgiveness on his agenda. The rescue of believers is his mission statement. Jesus states it plainly: “I have overcome the world!”

We are told to not worry or be distressed when confronted by worldly problems. Remember, worry isn’t biblical; trusting in the Lord is! That faith, that confidence in and loyalty to the Son assures us of salvation. The Bible says so!

So when things appear to go wrong in your life, laugh it off! We can let go of the problem and let God handle the issue. Jesus has overcome the world, and believers are with Jesus. We have been born again into a new life that doesn’t include worldly problems. Tell your friends, “I’m with Jesus! Forever!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church