Let There Be Light!

For Wednesday, August 6, 2025:

John 12:36a NLT, Jesus, warning about the end times: “Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

We don’t know what we don’t know. We don’t know how much time remains in our world, because we don’t know the total amount of time left on God’s countdown clock. Jesus said that only the Father knows! Therefore, we must be perpetually prepared to transition into the next reality.

God created mankind with a brain and the freedom to make our own choices.
The Bible frequently speaks of good as being in the light, whereas evil lives in darkness. Jesus is counseling those assembled to trust in the light. Hang out with the good guys. Stay far away from trouble. John’s Gospel tells us that the one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, came into our world. And to all who believe in him and accept him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Believers get to live in the light with assurance of salvation. Those living in darkness have no idea where they’re headed!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Jubilee!

For Friday, March 21, 2025:

Leviticus 25:39-40 NLT: The Lord said to Moses, “If one of your fellows falls into poverty and is forced to sell himself, he should not be treated as a slave. Treat him instead as a hired worker or as a temporary resident who lives with you, and he will serve you only until the Year of Jubilee.”

I like several songs that carry the message, “Some things never change; that’s just the way it is.” Some things in life are like that! The Serenity Prayer teaches us to accept the things we cannot change. But it also says to change or improve the things we can. Now we just need wisdom to discern the difference!

In Leviticus ch. 25, God offers change and optimism where perhaps at first we didn’t expect it. Back then the economy was agricultural based. People worked hard to plant, grow and harvest crops. God says six years is enough nonstop work. Take the seventh year off. He calls it a Sabbath year.

Seven Sabbath years lead to a Jubilee year. God says, v10 “Set this year apart as holy, a time to proclaim freedom throughout the land for all who live there.” Slaves go free in the Jubilee year, and hired workers are free to go their own way. Those who have wandered can go back to the land of their ancestors. The Jubilee year gives everyone a fresh start, a do-over on life.

If someone sells real estate, they have up to a year to reconsider the sale, to change their mind about selling. Houses and pastures of priests may never be permanently sold.

The promised land and the people who live there all belong to the Lord, so his rules apply. That’s one thing that will never change!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Locusts!

For Thursday, January 30, 2025:

Exodus 10:3-4 NLT: Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to submit to me? Let my people go, so they can worship me. If you refuse, watch out! For tomorrow I will bring a swarm of locusts on your country.’”

There was little left in Egypt, but the locusts would take down anything that remained. Locusts are grasshoppers that arrive in swarms, destroying everything in their path. They would eat any crops the hail hadn’t destroyed. They would eat the leaves off the trees. Locusts would cover the ground, invade homes and crunch underfoot.

Pharaoh’s advisors had had enough. “How long will you let Moses hold us hostage? Let the Hebrews go to worship the Lord their God! Don’t you realize that Egypt lies in ruins?”

Pharaoh put forth another question. “How many of you need to go?”

Moses replied, “We will all go—young and old, our sons and daughters, and our flocks and herds. We must all join together in celebrating a festival to the Lord.”

Pharaoh wasn’t stupid. If he let the Hebrews pack up their wives, babies and livestock, it was obvious they’d be leaving for good. He threw Moses out of the palace.

Pharaoh was quick at promising to change, but also quick on going back on his word, a trap we should all avoid. An oath before God should be a forever promise. Just as God’s word to us is always good, our word before God should also be good. It’s both respect and love. Don’t disappoint your Father!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Let My People Go!

For Saturday, January 18, 2025:

Exodus 5:1 NLT: “After their presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.’”

“Let my people go!” Those immortal words are still sung to this day. There are many things holding God’s people hostage. False religions keep people in bondage, especially females. Corrupt governments limit freedom in many countries. Even in the US, ‘the land of the free,’ laws and traditions limit what a person is allowed to do, and libertarianism starts to look good. And otherwise free people succumb to drugs and alcohol, voluntarily becoming slaves to those evils.

Moses and Aaron were disadvantaged from the start. They could quote God’s words to Pharaoh, but Pharaoh didn’t know God, didn’t believe in God. So God’s commands held no relevance for Pharaoh. In the king of Egypt’s mind, Moses was responsible for the work stoppage. “Look, there are many of your people in the land, and you are stopping them from their tasks. Now get back to work!”

This was the first of many battles between our Creator God and Pharaoh-the-unbeliever. Who would you guess would ultimately win, the king of little ol’ Egypt, or the Creator of the entire Universe? Without question our Creator wins. As Christians, it’s good to know that we’re a part of the winning team. God never loses a battle. In the end, He’s always victorious!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Faith in God!

For Friday, January 17, 2025:

Exodus 4:31 NLT: “The Israelites were convinced that the Lord had sent Moses and Aaron. When they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.”

The Lord had designated Moses as the point person in the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. But the Israelites needed proof. God had given Moses a shepherd’s staff that could turn into a snake, and a skin disease cured by simply putting his hand into his cloak. Seeing is believing, and the people of Israel worshiped God for remembering their plight as they accepted Moses and Aaron to lead the liberation effort.

The Israelites weren’t free yet, but Moses had reassured everyone that God was still on their side. To the best of everyone’s knowledge, freedom was only in the planning stages. But still, they worshiped! They worshiped out of faith in a God they could not see.

Today, our faith in a God we cannot see is still what saves us. God’s desire is that none would be lost, and Jesus has prepared a place for believers in the hereafter.

God always makes good on his promises, and we are the beneficiaries of his mercy. Knowing that, we worship! That’s why we praise himßå!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

All Saints' Day!

For Friday, November 1, 2024:

Revelation 7:10 NLT: “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”

Yesterday was Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve, so today is All Hallows’ Day. In the US, we call it All Saints’ Day. Many churches celebrate this on the following Sunday. Our Mexican neighbors celebrate Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos,) similar to All Saints’ Day.

Christianity was not always a popular and well-established religion. So this feast-day was originally to honor martyrs, those who had given their lives for their faith. Nowadays we honor believers who have returned to the Lord, and that’s a good thing to celebrate!

When our founding fathers came to the US, they were seeking religious freedom, freedom to follow the beliefs of their chosen denomination, which may have been different from their neighbor’s beliefs. Most came from Europe and Great Britain, where governments had mandated a certain religion. Personally, I believe that government and religion should remain separate. We should have the freedom to worship as we choose, or for that matter, the freedom to not worship at all. Now I believe not worshiping is a bad choice, but to be redeemed, one must intentionally choose to follow Jesus. It’s a conscious decision we all need to make.

Note that this day is not about sadness for having lost loved ones. It’s a feast celebrating those who now live in the presence of God Almighty. May we all join them!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Expectations!

October 28, 2024 Monday Message:

John 7:28-29 NLT: “While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.”

What were you expecting? When the prophets said a Messiah was on the way, most people expected a humongous warrior with awesome superpowers, not a baby in a manger. They were hoping to be liberated from the Roman government and the Roman army. After all, God’s chosen people deserve freedom and autonomy.

But Jesus’ mission was far different. He was to inspire people and re-teach God’s commands. Along the way he would heal people of any sickness or disease. But his primary mission was to rid the world of its sin problem. He would take the sins of the world to the place of the dead, and leave believers prepared for eternal life as members of God’s Kingdom. No greater gift could be bestowed on mankind!

God doesn’t always give you what you’re expecting; he gives you what you most need!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Good News!

July 08, 2024 Monday Message:

Luke 4:17a NLT: “The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Jesus.”

As we’d expect, Jesus was in the Synagogue on the Sabbath. It was considered an honor to be asked to read from the ancient scriptures, and Jesus was handed the prophesies documented by Isaiah, whose ministry began about 740BC. In other words, these words were written over 700 years BEFORE the birth of Jesus! Pretty distant prediction, but it all plays out right here!

Jesus read: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

Jesus was claiming that this ancient prediction applied to him! “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” Blasphemy to many, but today we know it to be true! Those words perfectly describe Jesus’ mission in walking alongside mankind. “Gospel” translates as “Good News,” which Jesus brings to the poor who previously had no hope. Remember, the first will be last and the last will be first in this juxtaposition of pecking order. Diseases will be healed; the blind will see; the deaf will hear! Those who were slaves or were jailed unfairly will be set free. As sinners, we were slaves to Satan, but Jesus came to set everyone free by paying the ransom for the sins of the world!

When we enter the next reality, simply explain that Jesus has already prepared a place for you. Jesus is the guy just off to God’s right!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Freedom!

For Saturday, July 06, 2024:

Galatians 5:1 NLT: “Freedom is what we have—Christ has set us free! Stand, then, as free people, and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again.”

Earlier this week in the US, we celebrated Independence Day, when the colonies declared themselves separated from the edicts of King George. Our leaders met and decided that we should no longer be slaves. We deserve “free will,” the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Freedom is worth fighting for, and fight we did, victorious at the conclusion. The Holy Spirit had moved the minds of our founding fathers to endorse a new, unique system of government! Playing games with semantics, you can call us a Republic or a Democracy or a Democratic Republic. But it all boils down to “Freedom!”

250 years ago, most countries had kings, monarchs, or dictators. This new United States was the exception, espousing freedom. People live all over the world, but we are the ones blessed by being set down in a nation of freedom. God chose us to be here. Comparing the US with living in other countries, our freedom is clearly a gift from above. Therefore it is our duty to uphold that freedom and support the living God who so blessed us.

Have you ever asked a first-order question, like, “Why am I here?” We exist to live as God intended, to write God’s principles of freedom into forever-textbooks. After the US was established, many other countries used the United States’ model to author their own constitutions. Freedom is catching on, albeit slowly.

God wants to spread freedom much faster than dictators want to give it up!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Freedom!

For Thursday, July 4, 2024:

Genesis 1:9 NLT: “Then God said, ‘Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.’ And that is what happened.”

God saw that it was good! Depending upon the quantity, we call the dry ground ‘land, continents or countries.’ Upon its creation, the dry land was all thought of as one commodity, created to be the home of mankind, the humans which God would subsequently create. At that time, there were not separate races, separate countries, separate rulers or wars between them. Sinful mankind divided the land through battles, with the victors becoming kings, monarchs or dictators. Regrettably, much of the world is organized that way nowadays.

It seems that each country wants ‘more.’ China wants Taiwan and everything in the South China Sea. Russia wants Ukraine. North Korea wants South Korea. Israel wants all the land occupied by Palestinians, who wish God had never given the promised land to the Jews.

Jealous over our success, many countries resent the United States. Our Declaration of Independence was a new and unique model for a country. If the world was to adopt it, many dictators would be displaced. They perceive the US model as a huge threat. Freedom and equal opportunity are not available in much of the world, but this is the plan GOD gave US! We should guard our system of government and consider its sacred source. We should honor and celebrate God’s gift to us, and today, Independence Day, is a good day to thank our Lord!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Have you seen the light?

For Saturday, April 6, 2024:

Colossians 1:13-14 NLT, to the church in Colosse: “For God has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom with his blood and forgave our sins.”

Have you ever been the recipient of a huge gift, an incredible favor, something you didn’t see coming? Before Jesus, even so-called religious people were actually living in darkness. Most were unaware of their condition. They simply lived day-to-day, unaware of God’s purpose for mankind, and that scenario wasn’t good enough for our Creator!

Therefore God initiated mankind’s rescue by sending Jesus to earth, to pay the penalty for our sins with his blood and give us a fresh start. Believers have joined the Holy Family as children of God! I’ll bet no one saw that coming!

Spurgeon writes, “We still are tempted by Satan, but we are no longer under his power; we have to fight with him, but we are not his slaves. He is not our king; he has no rights over us; we do not obey him; we will not listen to his temptations.”

God has moved us from darkness to a life filled with light! He sent his Son to brighten our days!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth!

For Saturday, December 16, 2023:

John 8:31b-32 NLT, Jesus speaking: “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

In our hearts, we should all desire the truth. Life can be complicated, far too complicated at times. Likewise, churches and denominations have become far too complicated. So let’s listen to Jesus. He simplifies our desire to know God.

As Jesus was delivering these words, earthly citizens could be thought of as two distinct groups: Those who believed in Jesus, and those who didn’t. Simple. A few believed Jesus was heaven-sent, the Messiah, the Son of God. But a great many didn’t have a clue. They were faithful to the Old Testament rules and laws, faithful to the Pharisees, and faithful to the Roman government. Governments and denominations conger up new rules all the time. For them, philosophy and religions are moving targets. But Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

If you want to uncomplicate your life, sign up with Jesus. Do what he said to do and believe what he taught. Every word Jesus spoke is truth, straightforward and right to the point. Believing in Jesus comes with a heavenly reward!

The truth will set you free!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

It's about Jesus!

For Sunday, October 1, 2023:

Luke 4:21 NIV: “Jesus began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’”

Jesus had gone to worship in the local synagogue. He was asked to read scripture from the prophet Isaiah. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus concluded by stating, “Friends – this was written about me. What we just read is standing right in front of you!” Picture yourself there on that day. I’ve been to church thousands of times, but I never heard someone read scripture and then say, “That’s about me!”

There were many doubters in his hometown, but today we can see that Jesus was right. He went on to Capernaum, drove out evil spirits who knew who he was, and than healed many. People had faith that Jesus was who he said he was, and brought many with all manner of illness to Jesus, who healed them all, well into the night.

Do you have anything on your agenda today more important than worshiping the Son of God?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship