Deserving???

For Thursday, October 8, 2026:

Luke 7:4-5 NLT: So the respected Jewish elders earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.”

The servant of a Roman officer was dying, and he sought Jesus’ intervention in the matter. Rather than approach Jesus directly, he used Jewish elders as “go-betweens.” Later in this Gospel, we find out that the soldier doesn’t feel worthy to be in the Son’s presence, perhaps because he’s serving in Rome’s military.

The Jewish elders got it wrong when they said, “If anyone deserves your help, this man does, for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.” None of us ‘deserves’ God’s favor. God’s mercy isn’t dispensed to repay favors.

We’re all saved by grace, which by definition is undeserved favor. God isn’t keeping score. He doesn’t say, “You did this for me, so I owe you one!” Wrong, bad philosophy!

Jesus operates out of love and kindness. He sees a need, he’s able to help, so he does the next right thing. He wants believers to follow in his footsteps. Love God and love your neighbor. Be kind and helpful, not to repay favors, but because it’s the right thing to do! We’ll look at more tomorrow!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Flip the Script!

August 3, 2026, Monday Message:

Luke 6:21 NLT: “God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied.

God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh.”

In this scripture, Jesus continues teaching the Beatitudes, truth about life after this life. He says that those who are loyal to God’s Son will experience a much better life in the next reality. This always reminds me of Jesus saying the first will be last and the last will be first. So if you are hungry in this life, your plate will be full in the next. If life has you down and depressed, laughter will fill your Kingdom days. As a general rule, bad stuff will be corrected and only goodness will survive in God’s Kingdom.

A reservation in the Kingdom is the result of God’s kindness, undeserved favor from above. This gift of grace is given to those with unflinching allegiance to the Son. We’re saved through our faith.

In the next reality that we call Heaven, God flips the scene. Those who were persecuted on this planet will receive God’s best in his Kingdom. Rescued Christian believers will be free of Satan, his demons and sin’s temptations. The Lord’s Prayer asks him to, “Deliver us from evil.”

In the life after this life, believers will have been delivered!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

God's Gift!

For Wednesday, November 26, 2025:

Romans 5:2 NLT: “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

 "Because of our faith…” This is why Heaven’s gifts keep raining into our lives. I wish we could see God. That way, we could watch him smile as we do things that please him. Surely God smiles when we worship him, and when we honor his Son. God wants to include us in his forever kingdom, where his glory shines!

 In the past, we might not have been worthy to live alongside the Father and his Son. But the Son, Jesus, took away our sinful nature as part of God’s vast eternal plan. So here we are, looking forward to our eternal lives because of what God had his Son put in motion. This is undeserved favor at its max! Mankind is the beneficiary of God’s grace!

 God, Jesus and believers all living in harmony, loving one another, forever! It doesn’t get any better than that!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church