We Are Saved By Grace!

Romans 5:8

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

I’m going to start today with the bottom line – we are all sinners saved by grace. You can stop reading now and you have the jest of this blog post. Here are three Scriptures that make today’s point. They are familiar passages and often quoted.

Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:8 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

God’s grace was shown to all of us through Jesus Christ. Every one of us deserves hell – yet God’s free gift of salvation gives those who turn to His saving grace – eternal life.

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thirsting for God

Psalm 42:2

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

Have you ever thirsted for something? I’ve fasted from things during Lent before and for other reasons and other seasons. I have thirsted or hungered for those items as the fast continued. When we go without something for a period of time and we desire that something – we hunger or thirst for it.

Are you ready for the baseball season to start? Spring training is here and the Oriole fans are excited for an ever improving team (the playoffs this year!). We have some really good young players and some veterans too. In a way – those who love baseball – have a thirst for baseball. I know some people who are already counting down the days until College Football or the NFL returns (the draft is coming in the NFL). The Lamar watch is going on for the Ravens. What about thirsting for a Stanley Cup in DC again or an NBA crown again (just funning)?

If married – is there a yearning for your spouse when you are away from each other or a part for some time? I have a hard time being away from my spouse for even a day. Some day – when we both retire (don’t laugh – I know I’m supposed to be retired already and in a way I am) – we might get tired of being around each other so much – but until that time – I will continue to thirst for her company during the day! I text her several times a day to let her know I miss her (I know – a bit much).

Do we hunger and thirst after God? In today’s passage the Psalmist talks about thirsting for God. Here is today’s passage in partial context. Psalm 42:1–4 – ¹ As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. ²My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? ³My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” ⁴ These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.

If We Confess Our Sins

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

God’s grace is amazing. The song Amazing Grace records these words (isn’t that one of your favorite older hymns?). One of the best promises in the Bible – IMHO (in my humble opinion) – is this one about the forgiveness of sins. We are all sinners in need of God’s grace and forgiveness. Today’s passage speaks of God’s desire to forgive. 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Most of us have experienced deals before – like if you do something – I will do something. As a child – I remember getting notes passed in school – that read if you like me – I will like you. As adults – we learned that if we work at a certain job – the boss will pay us a certain wage. I’m sure we can all come up with if you I will life experiences. We have one in today’s passage – when we’re told if we confess our sins – He will forgive our sins.

I’m a third generation pastor – my father and my grandfather were both Methodist pastors. My nephew is a fourth generation Methodist (now United Methodist) pastor. One of my son-in-laws was a pastor as well – Assemblies of God. Our family has long stood on the Word of God – and the Word is filled with a call to confess and repent – while waiting for the promised forgiveness.

I’m a Hunter at Heart

Luke 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

I’m a hunter at heart. I love hunting for things – like lost golf balls. I find them in places other than golf courses (like I have found a few along the side of the road when I am walking recently) – but mainly I find them where others don’t look (either because they don’t care or would rather buy new ones rather than go into the woods or water looking for their bad shots). I haven’t purchased a new golf ball for years now. I either play ones I have found – ones that I win or get at tournaments or ones that are gifted to me.

I’m a hunter at heart – like hunting for hidden items in pictures (I remember as a child looking in the Highlights Magazine) – finding hidden items in the picture was fun – as long as someone hadn’t come along before me and circled the items! I also liked finding what was different between two fairly identical pictures. My mind loves to figure out what doesn’t belong in a picture!

I’m a hunter at heart – like hunting for good deals. I like searching for the lowest gasoline price in our area (I have an app that saves me money each time I purchase gas – ask me about it). I enjoy getting discounts on things – like buy one and get one or two or three free! I usually buy one and get one free with my suits for example.

Happy Day After the 4th of July

1 Timothy 2:1-4

¹ I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Yesterday was not a day to think Republican – Democrat – or Independent. Yesterday was not the day to be the resistance or to be a member of Trump’s troops or to be woke or offended. It was not a day to attack each other – or to attack those whose ideology is different than ours. Yesterday was a day to celebrate our freedom as a nation. It was Independence Day. It was the day our nation declared its independence from the Old Country and decided to begin a new as a new nation.

Too many people – thinking themselves wise and even some thinking themselves prophetic or woke – have attacked our current or past Presidents and our Congress (and other leaders as well). We have the freedom to express ourselves. For one day I pray we put our differences behind us. Yesterday was a day to be united and to thank God for His mercy and grace on our nation. To thank God for America – with all of our warts and scares. We are still the greatest nation in the world IMHO.