Good morning!

As we walk through this time leading up to Easter, I feel urgency to know my Savior more deeply. How about you?
 
We had a sermon a few years ago at Berean that really brought this into focus for me. I want to share a little bit of how it touched me…the sermon focused on these verses but in particular on verse 29.
 
John 1:28-34…
28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
 
Behold, the Lamb of God
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son[a] of God.”
 
Looking at verse 29 here, we see John the Baptist reacting to the presence of Jesus. And what does he declare? I imagine John is not just matter of fact here but almost yelling this out in a loud voice – in typed fashion this would be in capital letters (just saying...) – BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD! What jumps out from this short statement? Several things to note here.

• John calls out Sin as an issue that needs addressing – not just for an individual but for the whole world.
• There is a price for Sin - wages of Sin is death
• Sin should be a concern for each of us – our eternal home is tied to Sin - Heaven and Hell
• There is an answer to Sin
• Sin can be removed.
• There is a person who can remove Sin
• That person is Jesus.
• Jesus is the Lamb of God – those hearing this would understand the reference of Jesus as the Lamb of God to mean Jesus is perfect sacrifice for Sin. They would see the reference and know John is talking about substitutionary atonement, although most would not have understood that Jesus would be the perfect sacrifice for them and for you and I.
• And finally John is asking those present and us today to BEHOLD!!!!! Not just look and see – but meaning “do not miss this”, “this is most important so grasp what you are seeing”, or “pay attention as this is life or death for you to get”

 
All of this is important for us to know – and all of this can lead us to a deeper relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ. But as for me this Lent as I walk towards celebrating Jesus death and resurrection…I am going to focus on the word BEHOLD because I do not want to miss how important this one verse, verse 29 is in knowing Jesus. It reminds me that on the Cross on Good Friday, Jesus Christ declared in fulfillment of this verse, “It is finished!”. So BEHOLD for yourself, know that it is finished if only we accept His perfect gift freely given for each of us.
 
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that we stop and indeed truly BEHOLD You, Our Savior and what you did on the Cross and through the resurrection! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick

Good morning!

Are you a loud voice in the current moment - taking sides, spewing foul language and hatred, lumping all people who disagree with you into people not worth loving - vilifying them, calling them names for having contrary beliefs?

Are you a noisy gong or clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1)? 

Are you slow to listen, quick to speak and quick to anger (James 1:19)?

I shared this just a few months ago, but God has put it on my heart that many Christians need a message like this...and hopefully, I am not a noisy gong in sharing this - read on:

• I am not a voice to be heard…

          Except in service to others (Philippians 2:3-7)

• I am not a voice to be heard…

          Except in proclaiming Jesus Christ (Romans 10:8-10)

• I am not a voice to be heard…

          Except in sharing the Good News (Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28::18-19)

• I am not a voice to be heard…

          Except in submitting my life to King Jesus (Luke 9:23-24, Matthew 16:24-25)

• I am not a voice to be heard…

          Except in asking for forgiveness (1 John 1:9, Matthew 5:23-24)

• I am not a voice to be heard…

          Except in offering forgiveness (John 20:23, Matthew 6:14-15)

• I am not a voice to be heard…

          Except in sharing truth and love with neighbors and enemies alike (Luke 10:26-28, Matthew 5:43-44, Luke 6:27-28)

• I am not a voice to be heard…

          Except in prayer to my God and Savior (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, James 5:16, Luke 18:1)

• I am not a voice to be heard…

          Except in expressing my hearts love for God (Matthew 22:37)

• I am not a voice to be heard…

         Except in praising and glorifying God in worship (Psalm 150:1-3, Romans 15:5-7, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, and many more)
 
Read the referenced scripture or do your own research. The Holy Spirit often convicts me that I can be at times that noisy gong and clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1). As I look into the world these days it seems to me that many have given into the temptation of raising their voices to be heard above all others, even that of God’s voice, His Word. And in the process sow seeds of hate and division. 

Is that you? Or are you really a disciple of Jesus?
 
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that we find ways to be quiet and true to You, our Lord Jesus, in our walk with You, except as You call us otherwise! Give us hearts to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. For You are our king, our Lord! You alone! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick




​

Good morning!

As I gaze across the cultural landscape, just so much seems to be unsettled and the divide between people seems to be growing. 

So as I pondered that fact, God brought these verse to mind when thinking about these things this morning:
 
Salt and Light -

• Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

 
God’s call on our lives, He is sending us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, and that has not changed (see Hebrews 13:8). We are still meant to be as believers salt and light (His salt and light) to the world.
 
As we share Jesus in our words and deeds we are being salt shakers, sharing the salt God gave us with others and as we do this, God renews (is the maker of the salt) our salt so we can share with others. Salt that does not get used hardens, gets clumped and becomes unusable. So we need to use the salt God is pouring into our lives to share that with those who we encounter in our living.
 
A friend reminded me of one of the other characteristics of salt – it makes you thirsty. One of the results of our sharing our salt with others may be their increased desire to drink up more of the Good News – to thirst for the Living Water.
 
In our rebirth in Christ, we also were meant to become light to others. What does that mean? It certainly doesn’t mean throwing gasoline on a fire to create a conflagration. Many are doing this seeking war not peace.

However, in the context of influencing positive and constructive change here are some ideas of what it might mean:

1. Living each day anchored in Christ – sharing His love and truth with others, acting in love in all that we do
2. Being someone who helps a new believer dig into God’s Word – helping that person study and meditate – each of us is valuable (See Matthew 18:12 and Luke 15:7)
3. Finding ways to use our hands and feet to help others - impact one person or a small group matters (See Matthew 18:12 and Luke 15:7)
4. Being humble and loving of people who are different while sharing truth in love (See 1 Peter 5:5)
5. Turning the other cheek – when we are attacked or derided – our response is one of love not escalation, retribution or vengeance (See Luke 6:27-30)

 
People like to point out that Jesus was a revolutionary, a rebel…but not in the way we all define those words. Jesus brought us into the light – through the love and truth of His perfect sacrifice for our salvation in order that we become salt and light to the rest of the world.
 
What is God bringing to mind for you? How is Jesus calling you to live out your faith in this season of your life?
 
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that we can be the salt and light where You Jesus placed us to be in the communities that we have been place by God! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick

Good morning!

​It seems so many today are focused not on Jesus, not on God. Consider this - here is what God put on my heart to share today:
 
That - 

1. God’s desire for us to refresh ourselves in Him and
2. Indeed, God desires that our efforts and work, when not resting in Him, glorifies Him.

 
God calls to us it seems in this verse. Calls us to have peace in our hearts and beings. To be still in His presence, to refresh ourselves.

• “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

 
Also, as we take rest from the work of the Lord, or our volunteering or other activities, over the weekend, on Monday it should be really nice to know that our work, volunteering and living matters. So after refreshing ourselves we are told to give all we have in our work to Him - in everything we do – do it for Him, as He promises us that work done in His Name will never be wasted. Amen.

• “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
• "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" - Colossians 3:23-24

 
Our work, our living, should be an adoration directed to our God, an expression of our love for Him, God, who because He first loved us, gave for our salvation, His Son, Jesus Christ, that we may spend eternity with Him.
 
My prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that we humble ourselves before You, Lord Jesus, find your peace Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit in so much depth, that we are refreshed with His Living Water and that we take the nourishment of The Bread of Life and use that to fuel our work on God’s behalf next week! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick