The Original Rock!

For Thursday, April 13, 2023:

Matthew 16:18 NLT, Jesus speaking to Simon: “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”

Peter is a unique character, insatiably curious and wildly impulsive. Remember the night Jesus was arrested and Peter denied knowing Jesus – three times! He could instantly lie to save his own skin! As Jesus was being taken into custody, Peter cut an ear off one of the soldiers, impulsively defending his mentor. Jesus, on his way to the cross, immediately healed that soldier.

Peter’s character traits caused him to constantly seek knowledge, and his impulsive nature spurred him to rapidly put that knowledge to work. He had the spiritual gift of leadership, and he probably would have risen to lead the twelve even if Jesus hadn’t assigned him that position. His get-it-done attitude was perfect for establishing Jesus’ new churches.

Each of us needs to ask ourselves, what are we called to do for Jesus and his church? What are our spiritual gifts? Have we been given the spiritual gift of leadership?

Jesus was fully man and fully God, and when God opens a new church, the powers of hell cannot prevail against it! Peter was guaranteed success!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

God, Our Rock!

For Friday, May 6, 2022:

Psalm 102:2a NLT: “Lord, don’t turn away from me in my time of distress.”

God is our anchor, our unchanging rock. He made mankind in his image, and declared that his efforts were “very good!” Words aren’t adequate to describe God’s love for us, but the Bible we grew up with calls it “everlasting lovingkindness.”

Think of God as the sun, and mankind as our planet. Every day we say the sun sets, but in fact the sun is right where it’s always been. It’s the planet that moved, rotated away from the sun. And like the sun, God is still right where he’s always been. It’s mankind that has turned away from the Lord, put God on the back burner, so to speak. John the Baptist heralded hope to a damaged world. He taught that the acceptable thing to do is to repent and return to the Lord, for the kingdom is at hand!

The Kingdom may be closer than we think!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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