Weekly Encouragement
Good Wednesday Everyone,
Weekly blessings to all. Prayers are many for each of you and your family. This Sunday we had Bethel’s children return from camp at Shocco Springs. Everyone had a wonderful time and we welcomed them home. Next year we want to send more. So, children – Invite your friends as we get closer and closer to school starting to Bethel Baptist and they can join us next summer. And to all – Make plans to join us this Friday at 6:00PM. Friday will be our second “Movie Night Fellowship”. This Friday, we will show “I Can Only Imagine”: The true story of how the Christian contemporary music group “Mercy Me” was formed, and their journey to becoming one of the most accomplished music groups of our generation. This movie is a reminder of the goodness people want in their lives, and the only the way to truly receive goodness is from God, through Jesus Christ, and by the filling of His Holy Spirit.
Sadly, but thankfully we must never forget the events of Saturday, July 13, 2024. We will forever have in our nation’s history the shooting and assassination attempt of President Trump. We have had several days to self-absorb and be self-aware of what happened. The day’s faults and failures have been dissected and will continue to be in the future. But as Christians, who love our God and love our country, we must honestly tell others why this happened. The emotions and the motivations are certainly because of the undeniable divisiveness and the visceral sides people have chosen in America. We are unable to see beyond what we think is right for America. This leads us to why former President Trump was shot – The choice was made by someone not to love. A choice to not love God and not love their neighbor.
Remember when Jesus was asked the question by a lawyer who sought the path to eternal life (Luke 10:25). Jesus responded with the two greatest commandments provided by God, as received by Moses, and given to us in the Old Testament. Jesus did not cleverly make up the two “greatest commands”. Rather the greatest two commands were Jesus’ application to ALL of God’s Law. Love God completely and love your neighbor as yourself. But the lawyer doubled down, and asked, “And who is my neighbor?” Do you think the lawyer knew who God is? There is such a thing as a “stupid question,” and this is one. Your neighbor is the person with whom you share the planet. Your neighbor is your best friend and your worst enemy. Your neighbor lives across the world and across the street. Your neighbor lives in your home and lives in obscurity to you. If we cannot decipher God’s word to the point we cannot, or maybe more accurately we will not determine who our neighbors are, then we are in deep trouble. Is America in this much trouble? The answer to this question is seen daily in our choice to love.
In the coming weeks and months approaching our presidential election there will be much talk and debate about who loves America more. This is an important election, make no mistake. We have the right to vote, and our vote will determine for us, as best it can, “our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.” The ballot box will put a person in the White House, but your vote will never put joy in your heart. We can love God and love people only when we choose joy. Today, we are mistakenly settling for a life of happiness over a life of joy. Happiness is a fluid emotion. Joy is a permanent condition. The only way you can receive and live under joy is by electing Jesus Christ to be the Lord of your life.
See, the greatest president we could ever elect, the one who could provide the greatest prosperity possible, provide full employment, house the homeless, and secure every boarder, can never give you joy. Happiness yes, but not joy. It’s not our politicians’ job to give you joy – That’s God’s job. Only God is the greatest. Only God is perfect. And because God is so great and perfect, He fills those who repent of their sins, and believe in Him freely with joy. Your earthly reward for righteousness and faithfulness in Jesus Christ is joy.
As we near the close of our sermon series in Matthew, the remaining sermon titles will contain an element to the “greatness” of Jesus. The greatness of God. People really want the greatest for their family, their county, and themselves, “They just don’t have it yet.” Christians do. Christians have what everyone wants. Christians have true and enteral joy because we know Jesus Christ. Pray about opportunities this week to invite someone, somehow, to church with you this Sunday to Bethel Baptist, where joy is freely given by our Lord and Saviour.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Michael
