I started working on this sermon series well before I went on holidays last month and I am looking at the world a whole lot differently as of late. This is probably the toughest sermon to write because I had to face the fact that I am guilty of what I am about to write about and, this Sunday, speak about. Let me start this off with a personal illustration. Natalie and I went to the Caribbean last month and I will say this right off the hop, we had an amazing time. Even the one day it rained, we went to the beach and rejoiced because there was next to no one there. There was, however, a hiccup in that our room was not available for us for three days so they were going to put us up in a hotel, a better hotel, close by. Here is the personal confession – I was rather upset because this is not what I paid for and it was the second time our plans were shifted in a month concerning this vacation. Truth be told, I was rather upset that we were not getting the vacation we paid for or deserved. My vacation on my terms or else! I was a total bear until the next morning when I had a fabulous breakfast and then put my toes in the soft, smooth sand on the beach. There were a few times I grumbled again while we were at the “better” hotel but that was all about the condition of the room rather than the circumstances. When we got to the hotel we were supposed to be at, there were a few guests that were livid that they did not get what they paid for, what they deserved, but Natalie and I could not wait to get changed and onto the beach.
There are those in the world that want everything their way and will fight for their right to achieve their desired results and that is alright. We are all entitled to our opinions, and I, for one, will respect another’s opinion but what I will not tolerate is when someone says I have to follow their ways, buy into their preferences or else. I believe in the perfect power of the Lord, the grace of God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternity in Glory for those who embrace the love of Christ and follow Him in faith. What I do not believe in are those who use Jesus as a weapon or a tool. There are some who manipulate the Word for their own preferences, who declare judgement on others because they are not following Him perfectly. I have heard those who claim the love of the Lord and preach that Jesus forgives and in the next breath claim that so-and-so is going to hell because of their wicked ways. Did the cripple man at the Gate called Beautiful rise up and walk through the power of the Holy Spirit? While all who walked through the Gate called Beautiful overlooked him, Peter and John stopped, spoke with him and, in the name of Christ, helped him to stand up. How many priests and temple leaders walked by him without a single message of hope? This is not the Message of the Messiah; this was the preference of mankind.
Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down. A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all. The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn’t been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel. Matt 15:29-31 NLT
So many look for reasons to argue, fight and hold onto ill will but, truth be told, Jesus wants us to become more like Him, not the other way around. Those who were trying their best to help us on our vacation did so with open hearts and cared for us so much that they truly did make this a wonderful vacation. We could all benefit immensely if we took the time to study what Jesus wants for us and shift our thinking to His ways. What would Jesus do?
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. Luke 5:23-24 NLT
This week, Pastor Todd will be continuing the series on Acts 3 and 4. We invite you to join us either in person or online. Our service is at 10:30 AM both online and in person. The service will be broadcast online on our website (https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.
Blessings,
Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”
