Thanks For The Reminder, Pastor John

Although I was serving in the tech area tonight at church, I was struck by tonight's message. I was reminded of the buried treasures that lurk within the scriptures, that these passages and lessons are more valuable than gold! (and often, the Bible is one of the least used applications on my phone, and the King James is sitting in a drawer in the coffee table) How sad that we often forget this simple truth.

I suppose it should come as no surprise when my faith is lacking and things are seemingly falling apart, where there's limited hope and I'm ill-equipped to handle any given situation, the explanation may very well be a lack of spiritual nourishment. I'm just not spending as much time in The Word as I should, and I'm starving.

I listen to the Bible via podcast several times per week. However, on Holidays and weekends this year, this precious time with the Lord is often placed on the back burner. It simply isn't right. How am I supposed to apply The Word to my everyday life, if I'm not taking the time to read (or listen to) it? To put it bluntly, if there's no input (The Bible), there will be no output (Fruit of the spirit). I felt deeply convicted tonight.

Thanks for the gentle, sobering reminder Pastor John.

1. Be honest with yourself.

Proverbs 24:10 (The Message)

If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn't much to you in the first place.

2. Read the Word for nourishment and strength!

Romans 10:17 (New International Version)

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

3. Do what it says!

James 1:22 (New International Version)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

4. Realize that through Christ, you've already won.

Romans 8:31-39 (The Message)

31-39So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Good Night