Christians First!

For Tuesday, April 30, 2024:

Philippians 3:3 NLV: “The act of becoming a Jew has nothing to do with us becoming Christians. We worship God through His Spirit and are proud of Jesus Christ. We have no faith in what we ourselves can do.”

At the time the resurrected Jesus ascended back to the Father, there was no New Testament. It hadn’t been written yet. Those who ministered with Jesus eventually documented what He said and what we should do. But that comes much later.

At that time, those who ministered with Jesus were all Jews who became followers of Christ, hence “Christians.” When they shared the Good News with their friends, those friends were converted Jews as well. So the mistaken notion developed that one needed to first become a Jew to eventually become a Christian. Not so fast!

It was Jesus himself who personally called Paul to itinerant ministry all over Asia Minor. Paul was put in charge of sharing the Good News with Gentiles, the non-Jews. Paul told everyone he met about Jesus – right away! There was no middle step of becoming a Jew first. After considerable prayer and consulting with the Jerusalem elders, the matter was settled. You did NOT have to first become a Jew in order to become a Christian!

God wants people who worship in truth and in spirit. The truth part is obvious, but our spirit needs to also connect with the Lord’s spirit. Each of us needs to accept the free gift offered by Jesus, eternal salvation in the presence of the Father.

By ourselves, no salvation is accomplished; but with God and his Son, everything is possible!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Jesus Said So!

For Tuesday, January 23, 2024:

Mark 7:28 NLT: “Even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.”

This Gentile Syrian woman was petitioning Jesus to cast out the demon from her daughter. Jesus makes the case: “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”

But her rebuttal is right on the money: “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.”

“Good answer! Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” And it was so.

Another healing, another miracle without ceremony, showmanship or a magic incantation. The daughter was restored just because Jesus said so. Jesus willed it to be that way.

You and I have assurance of salvation just because Jesus said so!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Family of God!

For Thursday, September 28, 2023:

Romans 9:25 NLT: “Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea, ‘Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.’”

Most of us came to Christianity as Gentiles, in other words not from Judaism. But we believers have been adopted into God’s Holy Family, and our Father calls us his children. Gentile believers have all the rights, privileges and benefits given to any other child of God.

And we have responsibilities too. We should lead our Christian communities according to God’s value system, stressing kindness, a helpful nature and loving our neighbors. Outsiders see that behavior, are attracted to it, and the church grows. People want what we have. We’re to share the Good News with all nations, giving as many as possible the opportunity to accept Jesus as their savior.

He is our God, and we are his family!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Teach Yourselves!

For Saturday, July 22, 2023:

Romans 2:21a NLT: “Well then, if you Jews teach others, why don’t you teach yourselves?”

God sent his Law through the Jews. Although they knew the Law, many were not obeying it. Possessing the Law and obeying it are two different things. Paul, somewhat sarcastically, called them on their behavior. Some converted Gentiles had become better at obeying God’s Laws than those who were raised in the tradition.

James later writes that faith without action is dead. The point is that we not only need to know God’s principles, we need to personally practice them as a way of life. Jesus solved our sin-problem if we get something wrong. But the goal isn’t to count up how many Laws we obeyed. Jesus’ goal for us is to be nice, to be helpful, to do the next right thing. Life should be pleasant and full of love. Jesus said to love God and love our neighbors.

If you’re happy and you know it tell your face!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Faith!

For Tuesday, February 21, 2023:

Matthew 8:8 NLT: “But the Roman officer said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.’”

We are saved by grace through faith, and this story is about faith. As Jesus traveled about teaching and healing, word spread quickly. Many people already believed in God, and having seen and heard Jesus, believed he was heaven-sent. The unlikely believer in today’s story was a Roman centurion, an officer working for the bad guys. But through faith, he appeals to Jesus: “Lord, my servant is at home in such terrible pain that he can't even move.” He considers himself unworthy, but is asking Jesus to show compassion.

Jesus did just that: “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” For Jesus, the healing was easy. But a Roman soldier having that kind of faith – that was amazing! That was hard to believe! Jesus later commented that even though the Son of man came to earth through the Jews, he is for ALL people including Gentiles. In the Kingdom of Heaven, there will be many Gentiles, while some Israelites will be condemned to outer darkness. It comes down to who is a believer, who has faith in the Son.

So Jesus’ message is that no matter where you’re from or no matter how you were raised, you can cultivate and grow your faith in Jesus – the more, the better! Let Jesus say about you, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!”

The Kingdom is prepared for all who believe!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

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