Author of Salvation!

For Thursday, July 17, 2025:

Hebrews 5:9 NLT: “God qualified Jesus as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.”

Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life. This fulfilled God’s plan for Jesus to be “the author of our eternal salvation.” He is the source or the cause of our forgiveness and redemption. Jesus holds our reservation for residence in God’s forever kingdom.

Calling Jesus a High Priest is a nod to Jewish teaching and tradition. People would symbolically reconcile with God by having a High Priest take away their sins on the Day of Atonement. Jesus is the ultimate High Priest who came to forgive the sins of the world.

When someone dies and leaves an inheritance, it sometimes never gets to the intended recipient. Jesus died and rose again, so he could keep an eye on believers receiving their portion. We will not be robbed and we will not be short-changed! Jesus, who sits at the right hand of God, is the one distributing our salvation gift!

Claim your inheritance directly from the author of your salvation!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Blessed Assurance!

For Thursday, May 30, 2024:

1 Peter 1:3b-4 NLT: “Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.”

God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – has adopted believers into the Holy Family and prepared a special gift for each of them. You can’t buy this gift or earn it; it’s simply benevolence in motion. We call it grace, undeserved favor. The prize is eternity in the presence of God Almighty!

There are only two destinations for life after this life; paradise or the lake of fire. By our earthly decisions we are allowed to choose! Choose wisely!

Paul calls it our inheritance. I call it Assurance of Salvation. It’s a guarantee, a promise that if we claim Jesus as our Lord and Savior, he will prepare our place in heaven.

That’s why we sing the hymn, “Blessed Assurance!”

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Heaven's Inheritance!

For Sunday, April 28, 2024:

Colossians 3:24 NLT: “Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”

Know that there is a plan and that you have a purpose. God didn’t just make a bunch or humans, scatter them around and hope for the best!

Knowing Jesus and accepting his gift deals with our sin problem. But in the hereafter, each of us will come face to face with our Creator as he asks, “How did you do with the work I assigned to you? You are my hands and feet on earth; I put your name on certain things. How did that go?”

Start by identifying your gifts and talents. The Bible says that God will not send you on a mission without equipping you to handle it, and he has most likely equipped you in advance. Your work for the Lord probably involves something in which you can excel!

Next, look for where God is already working, and jump in there. Be kind; be helpful; be joyful! Figure out the next right thing to do, something that adds value to what God has already started.

We should all want to hear our Creator say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Well Done!

For Friday, April 26, 2024:

Colossians 3:23 NLT: “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”

We all have earthly work to do. Paul is saying that each of us should endeavor to be the best at our tasks.

Some job descriptions are unique. If you’re a dad, be the best father that you can be for your family. No one else fits that job description as father of your family. Same for moms.

If you work for someone else, do your best. Do a good job. Don’t do shoddy work. It matters not if you work in a field or at a bank. The person paying you should get their money’s worth!

Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance a reward for your time on earth, and that the Master you are truly serving is Christ.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Mighty Power!

For Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Ephesians 3:20 TLB: “Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.”

Personally, I had given up on some things in my life that miraculously God brought to fruition. Life seems to go better if I don't try to engineer the results, if I don't worry so much – just accept the fact that life goes better with God, who can accomplish far more than I can imagine!

God is able to do this in our lives now. We don't have to wait for heaven! The good gifts of God are for the children of God, so friends, reach out and claim your rightful inheritance!

Knowing that God can easily accomplish more through us than we could ever do on our own leaves us with a lot of hope!

Blessings and safety and warmth today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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