November 24, 2024
Greetings and blessings to all of you. This is the week that we focus on how grateful we should be as the Body of Christ. We have so much to be thankful for. Just think ..the Christian church exists for the purpose of making disciples and expanding the kingdom! Hallelujah! And you and I are part of that. We have the opportunity to spread the Gospel… to spread the Truth in a world full of deception. Something is seriously wrong if the church is losing disciples and are not being the hands and legs of Christ to build His kingdom. Jesus told us, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15) So we are just joyful that we are part of God’s army declaring that The Truth is a freeing agent. And as we engage in conversation with the culture that is complete with (atheist, un-believers, immature Christians, intellectuals, the mentally challenged), etc. We are called to be like an Esther “in such a time as this” to share our beliefs while introducing them to Jesus our best friend-our Savior. We get to do that! That alone makes us grateful. The Bible speaks of our sin and sinfulness in many ways….
…we are deceitful (Jer. 17:9) we are dead (Eph. 2:1) we are dirty (Isa 1:18; 64:6) wayward (Isa. 53:6) lawless (I John 3:4) disobedient (I Tim. 1:9) ungodly (Rom.4:5; 5:6). ignorant, hardened and alienated from God’s life. (Eph. 4:17-18) We fall short of God’s glory. (Rom. 3:23) we suppress God’s truth (Rom. 1:18) and we act out in sinful ways (Rom. 1:21-32) Eph. 4:19). We deserve God’s wrath for our sin and disobedience and we were already condemned. (John 3:17-18; Eph. 2:3)
BUT GOD…He is rich in grace, choosing to save some underserving sinners. He united us together with Christ, made us alive with Him, raised us with Him from our dead condition, seated us with Him in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:4-7). He has granted us faith to trust in Jesus. He has declared us righteous- clothing us with Christ and gifted us with the Holy Spirit. He empowers us to live in ways that please Him. We can now say No to our sin and live godly lives because God has shown us GRACE. And this Grace- this undeserved favor- is not just for the beginning of our Christian lives but also for every moment of every day of our discipleship. We are being transformed; no longer are we driven by mere duty but by delight in this Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for you and me and all of us (Gal.2:20) So Be Grateful. BeThankful.
With the Love of Christ
First Lady Vivian C. Currie
Pastor ALC