November 20, 2022
Greetings and blessings to all of you. Did you know it is risky business to obey Christ? It was risky for Christ. He said in the Garden of Gethsemane “My Father if it be possible let this cup pass from Me nevertheless not as I will but as you will.” That word “nevertheless” in Greek means STOP. Jesus in his humanity did not want to die especially knowing all of the torture and suffering He will endure. But the love of His father constrained Him to see it through. He knew that if He escaped, mankind would be lost. His great love for us (for you and I) would not let Him be disobedient. He obeyed. As Christians we can waste our lives standing on faith’s shoreline, never venturing beyond ankle-deep water. There we have little need for the Lord. After all we are safe on the beach far from danger of high waves and storms. But we must become spiritually mature releasing ourselves into deeper waters of obedience where we desperately need God. The deeper we go ..the more of our life we will surrender. We will not feel the need to determine our own fate in the areas of finances, career choice or how involved in the church life we want to become. God has now become the captain and you are his mate. He (God) gives us orders and we obey not later but right away. Will storms comes on the ship? Yes. Will the Captain make difficult request? Yes. Will you being the subordinate be fearful and angry? Yes. The word surrender means yielding ALL to Christ. Some of us want to cling to a measure of control in case God does not work events to our satisfaction. Too many of us (baby Christians) wants to just obey just a little bit because you may fear life might not turn out according to your plans. Obedience is risky. It was necessary Jesus to die on the cross for us to be saved. He was damned and we were saved. But God raised His Son up from the grave and sat Him and the right side of the Father because His Son obeyed. Excellent out of Bad! Insecure feelings are tied to our circumstances, but our mind and heart can be yoked to the Lord instead. “Abide in me and I in you. …I’m the vine you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him He bears much fruit for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5) Just as the tree needs branches and cannot do anything apart from the branches so today Christ as the very embodiment of the Triune God can need us to carry out His work. So please take the risk. TRUST and OBEY CHRIST.
With the Love of Christ
First Lady Vivian C. Currie
Pastor ALC