Pastor’s Corner May 2019
God loves you like crazy! Do you believe that? If you struggle with God’s love or acceptance, it creates a dilemma in your spiritual life. For some who struggle, they work hard to be accepted. Behavior is primary and in many cased this creates a negative view of God. A good Biblical example is the elder brother in the parable of the Prodigal Son. For those in this category, church attendance, tithing and service are duties that must be endured. For those in this category there is little joy in their Christian walk
A second response to a poor understanding of God’s love and acceptance is a quiet refusal to take part in any Christian activity or association with other Christians. This leads to a life of reckless abandon in which anything goes. There is no joy and no peace in a life lived like this either.
In my personal experience, the healthy result of understanding and living in the shadow of grace and love that God pours out exceedingly toward His children is a life of joy lived in obedience to our heavenly Father. In John 10:10, Jesus tells us that He has come that we might have an abundant life. A life lived with a purpose and with joy. A life that the world cannot take from us. You can have that life today by surrendering to the love that the Godhead pours out on you daily. That love was demonstrated in the life and death of Jesus.
When we live in relationship with God, everything changes. Our purpose changes. Our plans change. Our attitude changes. Our devotion and response changes. We now no longer live for self.. “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7for he who has died is freed from sin.” (Romans 6:5-7).
I want to encourage you today to respond to the God who loves you and who died to you. Respond by giving Him your life . . . all of it! Demonstrate your submission by following Him wherever He leads you. Give your marriage to Him, give your children to Him, give your business or job to Him, and give your life to Him. When you do this your joy will be complete. Your life will change and your ability to see things in a new light will change also.
I pray constantly that you might be filled with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I pray that lives would be changed by your personal ministry. I pray that all would become a light to their community and a blessing to the heart of a yearning God who longs for His children to come home!
Remember, God loves you like crazy,
Pastor Kevin