Super-Natural!

For Saturday, June 3, 2023:

1 Peter 1:3b-4 NLT: “It is by God’s great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.”

Our God believes in forgiveness and second chances. Jesus took the sin of the world upon himself, and gave mankind a fresh start. By confessing our sins and acknowledging Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have been assured of salvation. We are saved by grace through faith!

God can redeem us out of any worldly situation. Any! God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are supernatural, not constrained by our human limitations. God has the power to derail Satan and his evil plans for us, and he will do just that! Believers are born again as children of the Almighty. So protecting us is family business!

Pray and expect a miracle from a supernatural God!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

He First Loved Us!

For Friday, June 2, 2023:

1 John 4:19 NLT: “We love each other because he loved us first.”

John is hoping to teach others about his Savior, Jesus the Messiah. The prevailing attitude at the time was to look out for #1 – to care only about yourself. Jesus wasn’t like that. He required few material possessions and spent most of his time helping and teaching others.

When newcomers would join “The Way,” the new group of Christian believers, most were Jews. So they understood God and religious practices. It was the unselfishness that took some getting used to!

The best way for us to live is to do what Jesus did!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Correction!

For Thursday, June 1, 2023:

Matthew 18:15 NLT, Jesus speaking: “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.”

The New Living Translation has added titles to various sections of biblical text. While these titles weren’t in the original, I find them helpful. This section is called, “Correcting Another Believer.” Let’s have a look!

Remember that all true believers are adopted into the Holy Family. Believers become “children of God.” Therefore a disagreement with another believer is family business, which Jesus says should best be handled within the family. We’re to quietly point out the error to the offender, and if they amend their behavior the matter is closed.

If that is unsuccessful, make your case to one or two others. Take them with you as witnesses when you seek correction. Finally, (v17) “if the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.”

According to Jesus, a judge shouldn’t be a civic position. According to Jesus, settling disputes should be a function of the church.

Nowadays our churches are so concerned with bringing people in that we sometimes forget to toss the scoundrels!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship