Re-boot!

For Wednesday, January 7, 2025:

Hebrews 12:26-27 NLT: “When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: ‘Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also. This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.’”

God chose to love mankind, but it hasn’t always been easy. We have repeatedly let Him down. If this relationship continues, God would be forced to work forgiveness into His vocabulary.

Q: Do you ever play a computer game, lose, and a button pops up on the screen: “Try again!” We are engaged in a much more important game of life with God, and when we fail, God graciously puts a button on our home screen: “Try again!” We don’t deserve a second, third, or fourth chance, but God would rather see us succeed!

There will come a time in God’s mind when it’s best to wipe the slate clean and start over. (This will be the end of second chances.) The Bible speaks of a New Heaven and a New Earth, everything put back the way God intended when the universe was created. Born again, but this time better, all cleaned up. Those hell-bent on living their own way, sinning and disobeying God, will get their wish. They’ll get to spend time with Satan. (God doesn’t send people to hell. They themselves choose to not go along with God.) Those who have repented and returned to the Lord will get another chance at the good life, free of sin, free of temptation. Jesus will have prepared a home for the faithful.

The things that cannot be shaken are God’s word and truth, which are pretty much the same thing. God’s truth endures from generation to generation. It’ll be easier to hear God’s word after he clears out all the rubbish competing for our attention!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Love!

For Tuesday, October 24, 2023:

Romans 13:8 NLT: “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.”

After carefully researching scripture, Jews found 613 things that God told them to do. Turns out there’s a lot more than just the 10 Commandments! That was a problem though, because most people can’t keep track of 613 things!

Jesus set us up to succeed by giving us a condensed version that we know as the Summary of the Law. “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second most important commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment more important than these two.”

So love God and love your neighbor. Nothing is more important than this. It was God’s Son who taught us this!

By the way, if you’re leading a group somewhere, including church, set the congregation up for success. If you tell them to sing along, put the words on the screen. Lead the song in a comfortable key, not too high, not too low, so that everyone can participate – so they can succeed. Any task should be a little challenging, but not unachievable.

So be joyful, be helpful and do the next right thing for both God and your fellows. That’s what Jesus said to do!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship