Where to Start 7/19/2020
Welcome in the name of Jesus Christ to the Herbst UMC blogpage!
This weekend I find myself looking around at the landscape of our world. Honestly, I do not know where to begin. There is a never ending list of things that demand, require, want and in some cases waste our time. Moreover, how can anyone ignore the turmoil, stress, anger and stupidity that is confronting us at this very moment in time. Some of these things are ultimately harmless, some might be fun, but many are dangerous. You may be asking yourself, what does God want me to do about these issues? What am I to say? How am I to respond?
The good news is you are not alone. Every person at some moment in time is faced with an overwhelming burden of decisions and action to choose from. Determining what is important and how to respond accordingly to each situation can be scary and confusing. You can feel exhausted from sensory overload, but you are not alone. Having Christ-centered family and friends can be a great comfort and resource in moving forward. However...
JESUS IS THE PLACE TO START!
In the face of adversity, going to Jesus is the way to find clarity, direction and courage. In the face of difficult situations, Jesus reminds us that the first thing to check on is the state of our hearts. The love we have for Jesus should be the starting point of every thought, word and action. It is this love that helps us to see the situation from God's perspective, rather than our own. The love of Jesus brings guidance and purpose to our words and deeds.
Some of the choices we make will cost us in this world. In Matthew 16:26, Jesus asks a question. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Many of the things we are dealing with individually, and as a country, will make us choose between following Jesus or conforming to the world. Are you judging the potential outcomes by the world's standards, or God's? We are not promised an easy life when we say yes to Jesus. In fact, we might experience suffering, lose, ridicule or pain in remaining obedient to Jesus. The apostle Paul says it best in Romans 5: 3-5
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Remembering that we are not alone in life is a great comfort, but knowing that we are with Jesus bring confidence and joy. Regardless of appearances, God is in control of all things. Being in relationship with Jesus means that we have a rock to cling to during life's adversities and brings assurance of salvation from our sin, and this world. START WITH JESUS!
Blessings in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ,
Pastor Jeremy
This weekend I find myself looking around at the landscape of our world. Honestly, I do not know where to begin. There is a never ending list of things that demand, require, want and in some cases waste our time. Moreover, how can anyone ignore the turmoil, stress, anger and stupidity that is confronting us at this very moment in time. Some of these things are ultimately harmless, some might be fun, but many are dangerous. You may be asking yourself, what does God want me to do about these issues? What am I to say? How am I to respond?
The good news is you are not alone. Every person at some moment in time is faced with an overwhelming burden of decisions and action to choose from. Determining what is important and how to respond accordingly to each situation can be scary and confusing. You can feel exhausted from sensory overload, but you are not alone. Having Christ-centered family and friends can be a great comfort and resource in moving forward. However...
JESUS IS THE PLACE TO START!
In the face of adversity, going to Jesus is the way to find clarity, direction and courage. In the face of difficult situations, Jesus reminds us that the first thing to check on is the state of our hearts. The love we have for Jesus should be the starting point of every thought, word and action. It is this love that helps us to see the situation from God's perspective, rather than our own. The love of Jesus brings guidance and purpose to our words and deeds.
Some of the choices we make will cost us in this world. In Matthew 16:26, Jesus asks a question. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Many of the things we are dealing with individually, and as a country, will make us choose between following Jesus or conforming to the world. Are you judging the potential outcomes by the world's standards, or God's? We are not promised an easy life when we say yes to Jesus. In fact, we might experience suffering, lose, ridicule or pain in remaining obedient to Jesus. The apostle Paul says it best in Romans 5: 3-5
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Remembering that we are not alone in life is a great comfort, but knowing that we are with Jesus bring confidence and joy. Regardless of appearances, God is in control of all things. Being in relationship with Jesus means that we have a rock to cling to during life's adversities and brings assurance of salvation from our sin, and this world. START WITH JESUS!
Blessings in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ,
Pastor Jeremy
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