Sunday, August 10, 2008

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY: Romans 15:1-5

PSALM OF THE WEEK: Psalm 117

HYMN OF THE DAY: CH# 490 “Sister, Let Me be Your Servant” [no link available]

VERSE OF THE DAY: For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” Romans 15:3 NIV

 

One of the main reasons people don’t invite others to church is the fear of rejection.  Nobody likes inviting someone to church only to hear them say, “No!”   Guess what?  They aren’t saying no to you, but to God.  You are not the one being rejected, Christ is.  Anytime anyone insults the church with their words or their actions, it isn’t us that is being insulted, it is the Lord we serve.  One of the small churches in Parkersburg was recently vandalized.  It wasn’t those people the vandals insulted with their actions, it was God.  Whenever we are working for our Lord, anything that is said or done to us, really isn’t about us at all.  When we take these things personally, we are playing God.  When we realize that we are “agents” of the Lord, we just do the best we can, and let God deal with those who would hurt our feelings. This is liberating.  We are free to ask people to church and not worry about their response.  We are free to help people and we don’t have to worry about whether they appreciate it or not.  We are free to worship and not worry about anyone who complains.  We are free to build each other up with encouragement (see verse 2) and to endure whatever the world hurls at us (see verse 5).

 

PRAYER: O Lord who took everything to the Cross; Sustain me through everything I face.  Give me the courage to reach out to others for you and don’t let me worry about how they would feel about me. Amen.

 

See you in Church Sunday,

Pastor Sandy

 

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