Autumn blessings to you!
It seems that lately the morning air is crisper and cooler and there are changing colors of the leaves on the trees. It is time again for a new season and the change which comes from it.
Christian discipleship and growth in Christ are similar. As we hear from God through His Word and communicate with Him in prayer, we, by the work of the Holy Spirit of God enter another season of changing more into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The life of the church should be surrounded by ways to hear from God, speak to God, and serve one another with the gifts God has given us. Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:19, “ . . . speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart.” Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:2, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up in your salvation, . . . ”
The Word of God is pure spiritual milk and our speaking to one another in readings and singings should be represented by truths from God’s Word so that we grow in our love for Him and for one another.
As we hear the Word taught and preached on Sunday morning from The First Epistle of Peter, we should be reminded that God directs His people to live holy lives in the world we are in, regardless of how the world lives, and through the struggles and hardships we incur in this temporary dwelling place. We are His people, born of His Spirit, recipients of inheritance from Him, and we are to show forth the praises of Him Who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9-10).
Our Sunday School classes for all ages are for further study of God’s Word, the Bible. We also continue our 6:30 p.m. Monday evening Bible study for the same purpose. I ask our Father in heaven to work in us through our hearing of His Word.
For a reminder in case you cannot attend these or if you miss some, our Sunday morning Worship Services are recorded and placed on the church website, YouTube channel, Facebook, and aired on the radio each week. By request, I plan on making the Monday Bible study available online soon also.
May our Lord bless us all in our spiritual growth for our good and for His glory. The seasons change, and we need to continue to change toward more holiness and greater Christlikeness. What will help us change is the unchanging Word of God. “. . . the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8: 1 Peter 1:24b-25)
As the weather cools and the leaves fall, let us remain warm in our love for the Lord and for one another by abiding, or remaining, in the Vine (John 15), our Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace to you,
Pastor Steve