Help When Needed!

For Sunday, July 12, 2026:

Luke 6:10-11 NLT: “Jesus looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, ‘Hold out your hand.’ So the man held out his hand, and it was instantly restored! At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him.”

In this scenario, Jesus is teaching the religious elite a lesson in kindness. According to Jesus, every day – even the Sabbath – is the right day to be nice!

Jesus had the power of healing, and as it turns out, this man needed his hand fixed. It could have been next Tuesday or Thursday, but as it was, this was the Sabbath. Jesus wasn’t concerned with what day it was. The important principle is that this man needed help, and Jesus was available. The hand was restored!

Kindness and helpfulness don’t just happen on specific days. The command to love our neighbors doesn’t have any particular day attached to it. Nor should the day of the week preclude being nice!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Time?

For Thursday, June 18, 2026:

Colossians 1:26 NLT, Paul speaking: “The Good News message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people.”

What time is it? We only think we know! Until our planet started spinning, there was no definition of a day. Until the earth began its orbit around the sun, we had no concept of a year. Jews started counting time from Adam. It’s now year 5786, which ends mid-September.

Christians count time from the birth of Jesus, AD = “In the Year of Our Lord.” Pope Gregory standardized this in 1582, authorizing leap years. You see, a year is actually 365.2422 days, so the system is still not perfect, but close enough for my lifetime.

Therefore, the Good News message of God’s love and forgiveness was hidden for 3760 years until Jesus’ birth. Mankind lived under the Old Covenant with rules and laws. With Jesus came mercy, forgiveness and absolution. Jesus not only forgives our sins, but removes them from our permanent record. It’s as if we had never sinned! That’s the free gift for those who call Jesus Savior and Redeemer! Being perceived as sinless (forgiven), we’re eligible for permanent residence in God’s eternal Kingdom. We have assurance of salvation!

That’s why today is the best day to lock in your commitment to Jesus. There are eternal ramifications from this decision, for both you and your friends. Your coworkers and extended family need to know the Good News too. Pray to become the hands and feet of Jesus, telling everyone the Good News of eternal salvation! Blessings!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church