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Weekly Devotional

March 19, 2012

God’s Peace be with you all

Hebrews 10:32-39  ³² But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,  ³³ sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.  ³⁴ For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting.  ³⁵ Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward.  ³⁶ For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.  ³⁷ For yet "in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay;  ³⁸ but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back."  ³⁹ But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.

            If we are to count yesterday as a special day in the life of our congregation, then we should also count today.  Why?  Because today is the 1^st day of our new year of ministry together.  There is something to be said about persevering, and as I reflect on yesterday, perseverance is what I see.  I also see the Spirit at work.

            The text above, as with many of the other New Testament writings, tell about some of the difficulties that the early church faced.  The early church was filled with Jews and Gentiles that both believed in Jesus, yet really didn’t know what to do with their faith.  If they went to the wrong city or town, they could be persecuted for what they believed.  They had arguments, they had questions, and they had difficulties within their own ranks.  Yet they survived and thrived.  Yesterday was a good reminder of how we too have survived, and thrived. 

            So what is in store for us for this new year together?  I am not really sure, other than to say we will have to wait and see where God leads us!  If we keep having Sundays like yesterday, one thing is for sure:  we will need a bigger parking lot or people will be parking on the grass!  As I said yesterday in my sermon, the relationships we continue to form are a blessing to me, and I know they are a blessing to you all as well.  Like the author of Hebrews says:  “do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours.”  I am confident that there are more good things to come in our future!

In our prayers this week:  Jim A. (Gere’s brother), Ann, Daniel, Barbara M., Scott S., Charles, Wendy S., and Mike C.