Origins!

For Sunday, September 20, 2026:

John 16:30 NLT, Disciples responding to Jesus: “Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”

Nowadays, becoming a Christian requires believing that Jesus was heaven-sent and knowing that he’s God’s Son. Believers accept that Jesus is our Creator, in human body form, part of the eternal Father-Son-Holy Spirit Godhead. We believe!

But 2K years ago, people were just beginning to discern the divine nature of Jesus. Understand that if Jesus had simply said, “Hey, Son of God here!,” no one would have believed him. But those close to him, his disciples, heard his wisdom and were eyewitnesses to many miracles. Eventually, Jesus spoke to them, summarizing his relationship with the Father and his earthly mission. They came to believe!

Their group acknowledged that Jesus knew everything. He’s omniscient just like the Father. Once Jesus was identified as God, there would be no need to question him further. Believers had found the next step in their religious walk. They had found the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Jesus offered forgiveness and eternal life to the faithful.

Thank goodness Jesus showed that early group the truth, so that they could lock in as believers. Believers tend to make more believers, and today we gratefully hold on to their truth. Thankfully Jesus doesn’t have to prove himself to us again! Share this Good News with another prospective believer!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Clean House!

For Saturday, September 19, 2026:

Luke 6:41 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?”

This example is an analogy. There’s really nothing in our eye! I find it interesting how various writers translate the passage.

“It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.” (MSG) “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and fail to notice the plank in your own?” (PHILLIPS) “Perhaps you want to tell a friend about his little mistake. If you want to tell him, first remember your own bigger mistakes.” (EASY)

Jesus is giving a humorous example of how we tend to be more tolerant of our own sins than we are of other’s sins. He designed it to get a laugh. Picture this in your mind’s eye: You trying to locate a speck of sawdust in your brother’s or sister’s eye while a giant log sticks out of your own? How long is your log? How big around? Can you even see through the log? How egregious is your sin? That’s the real question!

Before calling someone else’s house filthy, make sure your own house has been cleaned. Forgiveness from Jesus can do the cleaning!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Rain, Rain!

For Friday, September 18, 2026:

Genesis 7:12 CEV: “The water under the earth started gushing out everywhere, the sky opened like windows, and rain poured down for 40 days and nights.”

Let’s call this Noah’s rain. The world had become an evil place, and this was God’s sentence, God’s punishment. Noah’s friends poked fun at him for building an ark. But when the water came, they no longer laughed. Noah’s family and pairs of every animal were safe on the ark. Nothing else survived. This was God’s do-over, a fresh start for mankind. Hopefully we’ll do better this time!

It’s supposed to rain here today. I hope it rains where you are. Our state, our country and our continent are suffering a drought. In fact, a shortage of freshwater rain is a worldwide problem.

It works like this. Rivers carry all the gunk, muck and sewage into the oceans. The bad stuff stays there while water evaporates and forms clouds. Wind blows these clouds over land where it can rain purified water onto us. Simple system – ingenious design!

In Noah’s case, water gushed up from below while rain fell from the sky. There was no escaping it! God promised that we’ll never again see a complete flooding of the planet like that! The rainbow is our perpetual sign of God’s covenant with man, a sign of reconciliation, peace and a new beginning.

While the Bible says to not worry about today, prudent care of our planet would be advisable. Our provider, Jehovah-jireh, will make sure we have everything that we need. Jesus loves us, and so does his Father in heaven! After all, believers have been adopted into God’s Holy Family!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church