God's Plan!

For Tuesday, September 16, 2025:

Mark 14:28 NLT: Jesus told the disciples, “After I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”

At that point, the disciples weren’t convinced that Jesus was going to die. After all, he could heal the sick and cure any disease. He could walk on water and calm a storm. He would cast out demons and declare them to be the root of mankind’s problems. Surely he would save himself!

They hadn’t reckoned with Jesus’ obedience and commitment to God’s plan to redeem mankind. And, being one of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, it’s actually his own plan! As Jesus died on the cross, he took the sins of the world to the place of the dead. Loyal followers of Jesus, the believers, would then appear spotless on the day of judgment. Remember, God’s desire is that none would perish!

Jesus knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he would be raised from the dead. He’s so certain of this that he’s setting appointments. “I’ll catch up with you guys in Galilee!”

Our lesson here is that obedience to is God always best. Even when things look grim, stick with God. Jesus would be beaten and nailed to a cross until he died. He was still doing God’s tasks as he delivered the world’s sins to the place of the dead. God faithfully brought him back to life, and 40 days later Jesus ascended right up into God’s Kingdom, heaven! Most people never saw that coming, but Jesus had been faithful!

If we trust in God, everything works out for the best!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Paid In Full!

September 15, 2025, Monday Message:

Hebrews 10:12 NLT: “Our High Priest (Jesus) offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”

Jesus fully understood his primary mission. He was the final sacrifice atoning for the sins of the world. That includes your sin and my sin, and past, present and future sins. Yes, even future sins not yet committed are covered by Jesus’ sacrifice. If we repent and return to the Lord and acknowledge Jesus as our Savior, He will confirm our heavenly reservation. We will be seated at the wedding banquet in the Kingdom, thereby confirming our relationship with the Son.

Jesus did it right the first time. We don’t need another sacrifice. Nothing could be greater than the offering of God’s Son’s life to atone for the sins of the world. One and done!

By that one offering, Jesus made perfect all those lined up behind him. None of us are perfect. All who walk on the earth have fallen short of God’s glory. And yet when we fall in behind Jesus, he renders us sinless, forgiven and in a way, “perfect,” eligible for residence in the Kingdom!

So my advice is to repent and return, and to then follow Jesus into the hereafter! Eternity can be awesome! Our transition to eternity fulfills God’s vast eternal plan for believers! Believers are “IN!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Love!

For Sunday, September 14, 2025:

John 13:34-35 NLT: “Now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Apparently, the first Believers, Paleo-Christianity, took these words seriously. It was said about them, “Behold, how they love one another."

Jesus was reminding his followers of a Godly command that had been around for quite some time. Jesus wanted these thoughts front-of-mind. When asked the most important commandment, he had answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” [Mark 12:30] The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” [Mark 12:31] “There is no commandment greater than these.”

Jesus didn’t just make up these words. He was quoting Old Testament Scripture. Deuteronomy 6:5: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Leviticus 19:18b “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

To keep things simple (KISS), I usually condense this teaching to “Love the Lord and love your neighbor.” That includes being nice, being helpful and being kind. It might involve solving a problem that wasn’t yours in the first place. Christians do the right things for the right reasons without being asked. We are servants to our sisters and brothers. Onlookers will say, “Look at those Christians! They seem to love everyone!”

Being kind to your neighbor is a good way to live. That’s what Jesus did!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship