Jesus vs Sin!

For Thursday, August 22, 2024:

1 John 2:6 AMP: “Whoever says he lives in Christ [that is, whoever says he has accepted Him as God and Savior] ought [as a moral obligation] to walk and conduct himself just as He walked and conducted Himself.”

The person who truly knows God will increasingly live a righteous life. None of us is perfect, but sincere believers endeavor to walk the path of Jesus, the one who was without sin. If a person does not do this, if that person is not increasingly dissatisfied with and distressed by sin, that person is not God’s child. While perfection is unattainable, much progress is possible, and those who love the Lord do better with each passing day.

Jesus is without sin while the devil is full of sin, and each of us is allowed to choose one or the other. God gave us free will with the expectation that we would choose wisely. Jesus walking on our planet affords us that prudent choice.

Spurgeon writes, “Sin may enter the heart, and fight for dominion, but it cannot sit upon the throne.” The throne in your heart is reserved for the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

So don’t just avoid sin; detest sin! Hate sin with all your heart. That’s Jesus’ position!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Exalted!

For Thursday, October 21, 2021

Revelation 4:2 NIV: “At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.”

I find it interesting and also a blessing that God describes things in terms that we humans can understand. We all have an image in our mind of a palace containing a throne from which a benevolent leader can shepherd his flock. God uses that metaphor so that we can more easily comprehend the majesty and power of our Creator.

Jesus came to usher our souls, the spirits of believers, into eternity. Jesus gives us hope. I believe that when we enter heaven, everything will look somewhat familiar. We’ll instantly recognize God in the most exalted place in the universe, but that probably won’t be a big chair!

Is Jesus seated at the right hand of God? Being someone’s “right-hand man” is a good analogy to help us understand the in-concert relationship between the Father and the Son.

When you get to heaven, tell them you’re with Jesus – use His name!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Psalms 99 - Lord Over All!

June 26, 2017 Monday Message:

“The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble.” Psalms 99:1a NIV

Remember always that God is still on his throne; God is still in charge of everything.

Psalm 99 is the last of six Royal Psalms, royal meaning that our God is the mightiest of all kings, ruling over the entire universe.

Psalms were written in Hebrew, but about 200 years before Jesus, they were translated into Greek because many Jews living in Egypt spoke Greek. The Hebrew Bible does not say who wrote this psalm, but the Greek Bible credits David.

Jews had been in exile in Babylon, and when they returned to Israel, they discovered that the Temple had been desecrated. Now victorious, they rebuilt the temple, and sang worship songs about God being higher than any earthly king.

“Everything will be all right in the end; if it’s not all right, it’s not the end.” I heard this saying a few years ago, and I believe it summarizes the feelings of the Jews 2,200 years ago. When things end well – even if it takes a while – it proves that God still rules everything. He’s still on the throne, he’s still in charge.

“For the Lord our God is holy.” Ps. 99:9b

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers Sunday, July 2, 2017, at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Pilla brings the message – “I am the vine – you are the branches.”