Pray!

For Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Luke 9:28 NLT: “Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray.”

Praying is important. Jesus prayed all the time, and he often included a few close friends, but just a few. Jesus, being fully God but also fully human, would require a pause, a break in his intense ministry. So he’d go to a quiet place and talk things over with the Father.

As Jesus paid the price for the sins of the world, the curtain separating mankind from God was torn from top to bottom, so it had to be God doing the tearing, wanting to include us. We can now pray directly to God, and that gives us a lot of hope! We no longer need a priest to pray on our behalf. We can pray straight to the Father, in Jesus’ name!

The best reason to pray is because that’s what Jesus did!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

New Covenant!

August 16, 2021 Monday Message:

Mark 7:9 NLT: “Jesus said, ‘You skillfully sidestep God’s law in order to hold on to your own tradition.’”

That day Jesus was addressing what appear to be good people. They’re observant Jews, quite interested in things religious. They tithe, supporting their local synagogue.

Those things are all good, but it turns out that their parents were neglected, and that’s not good. God didn’t give them a pass on that one commandment. God never gives us a pass on any of his commands, but he did set up a system whereby we could repent and return, and he would welcome us back into the Holy Family, and that gives us eternal hope.

Mankind falls into the trap of making excuses for why we should be the exception to God’s rule. We rationalize our way into accepting that which is never OK. Time to get back on track!

In the New Covenant set forth by Jesus, God has “written his laws on our hearts.” We call it a conscience. Deep down, we already know right from wrong. We no longer need a list of God’s rules – I call them ‘Principles for Good Living’ – because we already know. If there are questions, you can always double-check your value system against what the Bible says.

We don’t get to make the rules – God makes the rules!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Respite!

For Sunday, August 15, 2021

Mark 6:32 NLT: “Jesus and his apostles left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.”

Ministry can be all-consuming, 24/7. It can be hard work. Jesus and the apostles needed a little break to recharge their batteries, so-to-speak. They thought leaving on a boat and going to the other side of the lake would give them that respite.

But the people would have none of it. They had heard His teaching. They were eyewitnesses to the miracles, and they wanted more! In those days, boats would sail close enough to visualize the shoreline - in deep-enough water to accommodate the boat, but able to see the shore so nobody got lost! Therefore the throng could easily track Jesus’ progress from the sideline, follow, and be there to meet them on the other side. The crowd weren’t taking “no” for an answer!

And what about us nowadays? Are we so all-consumed with our Savior that we’d drop everything and follow him along the shore; follow him wherever he goes? Do we accept “no” for an answer, or do we want more?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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