God's Son!

For Sunday, April 30, 2023:

Matthew 17:5 NLT, during the Transfiguration: “A bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.’”

The bright cloud is the light of God’s glory, called the shekinah. From the cloud, God clearly identifies Jesus as his Son. What an honor for John, James and Peter to have been present that day and to hear the Lord speak! I’ll bet we all wish we could have been there that day!

Peter, acting impulsively, wanted to build tabernacles, holy shelters, for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. But in a way, God identifying his Son was a rebuke of the plan. The Son of God is far superior to the others and should be set apart in a higher place, both physically and in our thinking. With these words from heaven, God the Father clearly set Jesus above the Law and the Prophets. Jesus is not merely another or even a better lawgiver or prophet. Jesus is God’s only begotten Son, one-third of our triune God!

Spurgeon writes: “God did not make us his children because he needed sons, but because we needed a father.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Righteous vs Devil!

For Saturday, April 29, 2023:

1 John 3:7 NLT: “Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.”

Believers tend to be kind, compassionate and forgiving. They (We) stand ready to be helpful. Our lives tend to reflect the life of Jesus.

The Bible goes on to say that those who go on sinning belong to the devil, who was sinning since before mankind’s creation. Serpent Satan was right there to tempt Eve and then Adam with the false promise that they could be like God.

God allows us to choose our friends, and to choose our forever group. Which group have you chosen? There are only two groups. Jesus said that those who are not with him are against him!

Get ready to do the next right thing!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Lost Sheep = Lost Soul!

For Friday, April 28, 2023:

Luke 15:4 NLT, Jesus speaking: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?”

Using parables or short stories with a lesson is a good way to teach. It can be difficult to grasp a theological concept, but most people can more easily remember a story containing that lesson.

In this case, Jesus wasn’t really talking about sheep. He was referencing souls, God’s created eternal beings. If even one soul gets off track, it’s a huge disappointment in heaven. Our Creator will present the stray with opportunity after opportunity to repent and return to the flock. And there is great rejoicing and celebration when the stray returns and is reintroduced to the flock.

Jesus concluded this parable: “There is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Know Jesus!

For Thursday, April 27, 2023:

1 John 3:5-6 NLT: “You know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in Christ will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.”

Jesus was born into a community with a huge religious awareness. The people believed in God and held the scriptures and prophesies as sacred. The religious leaders known as Pharisees rigidly honored God’s commandments. In fact their mission had become enforcing those rules, catching someone doing something wrong and calling them on their errant behavior, and that was wrong!

Pharisees should have known Leviticus 19:18: “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” The Pharisees were missing love, compassion and forgiveness. They were purporting to know all about God and religion, but had left out a key part of scripture. Their rigid enforcement of God’s commands had become a sin unto itself. It’s obvious the Pharisees didn’t truly know Jesus or understand who he is!

So friends, lighten up, show compassion, love your neighbor and make forgiveness your watch-word. When in doubt, do what Jesus would have done.

Pastor Norton Lawellinh

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Transfigured!

For Wednesday, April 26, 2023:

Matthew 17:2-3 NLT: “As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.”

The brothers John and James along with Peter accompanied Jesus up a high hill to be alone. And when you travel with Jesus, you oftentimes get to witness the unexpected! This time it was the transfiguration, Jesus emitting the light of purity and holiness. His face shone like the sun! They were joined by Elijah and Moses.

Jesus himself was transformed. It was still his face, but it now emitted light so bright that it would have been difficult to look at him. The Greek verb ‘metamorphoo’ implies a transformation, a change in form. We use this word to describe a caterpillar becoming a beautiful butterfly. There’s still only one living thing, but now it’s way different! Transfigured! Some would say, ‘way better!’

Spurgeon writes about this: “Saints long departed still alive; live in their personality; are known by their names; and enjoy near access to Christ.”

Proving once again that a good life-after-this-life awaits us!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

God's Realm!

For Tuesday, April 25, 2023:

1 John 3:2 NLT: “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.”

At the rapture and the second coming of Jesus, everything will change. Believers will then be going to live in God’s realm. The Father is spirit, and we’ll be given new glorified bodies to live alongside our maker. We don’t know exactly how Jesus will look, but we will be like him, made suitable for spending eternity with our Lord.

The best news is that the Father wants to include us. His desire is that none would perish, and that all would repent and return. Our savior, Jesus, has already gone ahead to prepare our place in the hereafter.

Doesn’t it feel great to be included?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Decision?

April 24, 2023 Monday Message:

1 Peter 1:18-19 NLT: “You know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”

Have you ever seen Pawn Stars, the TV show? I don’t intentionally watch it, but have seen a few episodes by accident! On the show, they haggle over the worth of items, keeping an eye out for treasure within the secondhand merchandise. When the owner wants to take their treasure home again, a price must be paid to redeem the item.

Now pretend with me that all of mankind had been left at the Pawn shop. A hefty price would have to be paid to redeem all those made in the image of God. God and his Son had the resources to do it. A pure, perfect spotless lamb would be enough to pay the price to redeem mankind. HIs name is Jesus!

Never forget that God’s desire is for all to repent and return, but he gave mankind the freedom to make that decision, to choose to accept Jesus or not. God’s desire is that none would be lost, but the final decision is ours to make.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life! Today is the best day to make (or reaffirm) your decision to follow Jesus. He will lead believers into the hereafter, eternal life in the presence of God himself! In the Bible, Jesus tells us that no one comes to the Father except through him. No one!

Choose wisely!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

God Listens!

For Sunday, April 23, 2023:

Psalm 116:1-2 NLT: “I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!”

This psalmist, probably David, was amazed at all the blessings shown to him by the Lord. God had heard his prayers, listened and answered. In David’s case, he was protected from an army of bad guys out to get him. Without God’s protection, he wouldn’t have had a chance. But with the Lord, David was spared and lived to lead Israel for many years.

Picture this in your mind’s eye. God doesn’t just hear our prayers. He turns or bends down to better hear our petitions. “God inclined his ear toward me.” When you’re speaking to the Lord, he doesn’t want to miss a thing! Our God is so gracious that I will not to seek any other as long as I live.

Jesus and his disciples sang this psalm on the night he was betrayed. Jesus’ mission in coming to earth was nearly fulfilled, and mankind’s rescue was imminent. God really is good! This is mankind’s triumph song over death!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Christian Club!

 For Saturday, April 22, 2023:

1 John 3:1 NLT: “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.”

Having become Christians, it’s as if we joined a special club: “The Society of Children of God!” It’s not a secret society; it’s open to everyone! We meet every Sunday. (In Minnesota, we also seem to meet on Wednesday nights!) We eagerly welcome and accept new members! In fact, we have to recruit new members, because without the Holy Spirit, people living for the world just don’t ‘get it.’

Some translations say, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us.” In other words, step back and appreciate all that God has done for us, calling us his children. Consider it carefully. Be amazed by it. Be thankful for it, and share that Good News with others!

God could have rescued us without adopting us into his family, but in fact he did! God must really love us!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship