Love Revealed!

October 31, 2022:

John 14:21 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

Our love of God requires obedience. Those who follow Jesus’ teaching are easily identified as those who love the Lord. And that love is reciprocal. If you love God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, they will show love toward you!

Jesus goes a step further. He says that he will “reveal” or “disclose” himself to believers. Those who repeatedly seek him are shown more and more about our Savior. This isn’t a promise for later in heaven; it’s for right now, for our daily living.

Remember that God is never far away. Heaven may be another dimension, but it is not far from us. God created mankind to live in his presence.

God is closer than you think!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Eternal Destiny!

For Sunday, October 30, 2022:

Revelation 1:18 NIV, Son-of-man speaking: “I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

Q: Who determines your eternal destiny – your place of residence in the life-after-this-life?

Here we are told that it’s Jesus, who called himself “Son-of-man.” He first did these things himself. The Roman Centurions certified Jesus’ death, and he was placed in a tomb. But three days later he was up, out of the grave and walking around, something ultimately witnessed by hundreds of people. He had conquered death!

And when Jesus died, he took the sin of the world to the place of the dead. Having their sin forgiven and removed, believers can now count on spending eternity in God’s presence. He gave us us assurance of salvation.

Jesus alone holds the keys to overcoming death and hell, and that’s Good News!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

You're Working for the Lord!

For Saturday, October 29, 2022:

Colossians 3:23-24 NLT: “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”

Believers have been “saved,” redeemed as children of God. Therefore let everything you do bring honor to your Father God and his Son Jesus. You are working on earth as a pre-registered citizen of heaven!

The Bible says that those who do not work should not get to eat. But some people such as widows and orphans cannot provide for themselves. Christians always do a little extra, so that we can share with those who need assistance.

Let your work reflect gratitude for the value of the place to which you are going.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Everyone's Included!

For Friday, October 28, 2022:

Ephesians 2:18 NLT: “Now all of us – both Jew and Gentile – can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.”

Christianity got its start with Jews in Jerusalem. But the itinerant evangelist Paul brought Jesus to the Gentiles in Asia Minor. Here, Paul is counseling the Gentile Christians in Ephesus, saying that they should not regard themselves as “second-class citizens” in God’s kingdom in any regard. They are not only full citizens, but also full and equal members of God’s household.

So race doesn’t matter, and your country of origin doesn’t matter either. Even your past doesn’t matter if you have now decided to follow Jesus. We are given a fresh start with a clean slate! Everyone who calls Jesus “Lord” is a “Child of God,” fully accepted as a member of the Holy Family.

Everyone who calls Jesus “Lord” is included in the forever Kingdom!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

New Life!

For Thursday, October 27, 2022:

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT: “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

Jesus has placed a dividing line in our lives. There’s the “before-Jesus” life, and the “after-Jesus” life. The old life is gone, and a new life has begun!

Jesus described it as being “born again.” I look at it as getting a fresh start. Jesus took our former full-of-sin life to the place of the dead, and left believers as cleansed children of God, prepared for the Kingdom. Our lives are not just repaired or mended. Followers of Jesus are made anew by God’s workmanship. As with all of God’s creation, he can look upon it and declare it “very good.”

How blessed are we that God gives us a re-start in the midst of our lives!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Self-Worth!

For Wednesday, October 26, 2022:

Galatians 6:4 NLT: “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.”

Self-esteem seems to be an important topic nowadays. It gets mixed in with encouragement. In the effort to not hurt anyone’s self-esteem, everyone typically gets some kind of reward. Children who lose a tournament still go home with a trophy.

It’s good that we support each other like this, but we shouldn’t count on it. Paul is coaching the Galatians to always do their best work. Then they will have the satisfaction of a job well done. They will know self-worth having done their best. Doing your best is what God asks, and if God’s OK with it, I’m OK with it!

Sometimes we need to trade our self-esteem for self-worth!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Seasons...

October 25, 2022 Monday Message:

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT: “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” (more)

God knows the plans he has for you. You do not know the plans God has for you! (Re-read that!)

God may call you to do one thing for a season, and then that thing ends. Task completed – Good job! I hate to admit it, but at that point I usually feel devastated. The good thing I was doing ended, and God has not yet called me to the next thing. Personally, I don’t like the in-between times.

Of course God’s timing is always perfect, and when everything is right, he will tap you on the shoulder again. We may not recognize the people or the venue, but if it’s God’s call, we need to be prepared to say ‘yes.’

God won’t steer you wrong. He’s watching out for your future. The Lord wants to fill you with hope! Blessings!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Your Purpose!

October 24, 2022 Monday Message:

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT: “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”

I’m reminded of Pastor Rick Warren’s best-selling Christian book, “The Purpose Driven Life.” God had a specific reason for creating you. It’s like the world is a giant jigsaw puzzle, and you’re the missing piece! Are you willing to ‘fit in,’ to fulfill your mission in God’s vast eternal plan?

Of course God gave us ‘free choice,’ so we can either live God’s way or find our own path. Here God is telling us in advance that his plans are good, and that God’s way will give us hope for a bright future.

God’s way is also easier, the path of least resistance. Ignoring God’s calling and choosing your own way leads to an uphill struggle, usually not worth it. The Lord’s way is the best way!

The Good Shepherd only wants the best for the sheep in his flock!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Citizens of Heaven!

For Sunday, October 23, 2022:

Philippians 3:20 NLT: “We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.”

Paul is writing to the believers in Philippi. Paul must have been a charismatic individual. People liked him and wanted to spend time alongside him. Paul would explain that he was starting a church based on Jesus the Messiah, and people would show up without yet being clear on all the theology. Paul would teach and later write letters to clarify details and get the believers back on track. These letters are our Epistles in the Bible.

Those who put their faith, hope and trust in Jesus the Christ become citizens of heaven. We are adopted as “children of God,” with all the rights and privileges of any heir. Jesus said he would return to the Father and prepare a place for us. Jesus only spoke the truth, so we have every reason to believe that this is so!

There’s a room in heaven with your name on the door!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406