Happy Father's Day!

For Sunday, June 19, 2022:

Luke 2:49 NLT: “But why did you need to search?” Jesus asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

At this point, Jesus – both fully God and fully human – was a precocious youngster! Enamored with the goings-on at the Temple, he failed to join up with his family for their return trek to Nazareth. His parents assumed he was with relatives. But when Jesus couldn’t be located, his father and mother returned immediately, searching everywhere. Jesus was eventually spotted in the Temple, and the family was reunited!

This is Father’s Day in the US. We honor our fathers. Unfortunately nowadays, many people have both a birth father, and then a different father who raised them. Honor both if you can. And don’t forget single moms who are doing double-duty!

We should also honor our Father in heaven. Jesus taught his disciples to pray to, “Our Father in heaven.” We should be involved in our Father’s affairs, both our earthly father and our heavenly Father. When in doubt, do what Jesus did!

But don’t abandon your family! Instead, take them with you! Happy Father’s Day!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Gentiles Included!

For Saturday, June 18, 2022:

Malachi 1:11 TLB: “’My name will be honored by the Gentiles from morning till night. All around the world they will offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name shall be great among the nations,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

If you could graph the Israelite’s relationship with the Lord, it would be up and down, up and down, over and over again. Faced with dire circumstances, they would return to the Lord crying out for help. God, with everlasting loving-kindness, would welcome them back. But when everything was running well, the chosen people would once again drift away from God.

God’s statement here predicts what would also happen with Paul’s ministry. If Israel isn’t ready to hear the Good News message of forgiveness and reconciliation through Jesus the Christ, we’ll share that Good News with Gentiles, and that includes most of us nowadays! We have been given a Redeemer!

Anyone who investigates will already know there is a Creator God. He has written that knowledge on our hearts!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

New Covenant!

For Friday, June 17, 2022:

Hebrews 8:6 TLB: “Christ, as a Minister in heaven, has been rewarded with a far more important work than those who serve under the old laws because the new agreement that he passes on to us from God contains far more wonderful promises.”

The Old Covenant was based on mankind obeying God’s commandments, in effect ‘earning’ their way into everlasting life. It didn’t work out too well. The Bible says that, “All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.”

The New Covenant, brought to us by Jesus, is one of love, forgiveness and reconciliation. Jesus took the sins of the world upon himself. His shed blood pays the price for our redemption. And once our sin-problem is behind us, the path to heaven is opened. We can choose to follow Jesus down that path, or turn the other way – it IS a free choice! Friends, today is the day to get on the right path!

"As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!” (Joshua 24:15b)

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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