Hello from the one and only Morrilton, Arkansas at the foot of Petit Jean Mountain. God is so good to us all. The world we live in is beautiful and good. Just this past week I heard the whippoorwill sing, heard the cries of our community red fox, watched deer enjoy the new spring leaves behind my house, watched the honeybees snack on the sweetness of spring flowers, and enjoyed the hummingbirds drink from my feeders. Most of the residents of the world are peaceful, loving, and helpful. Of course, there are some who are the very opposite. On Sunday’s I’ve been preaching about the storms of life we all live with: the culture we live in, the crises we live through, and the changes we live with and the temptations that we often have to face. We all make choices; choices that bring peace and happiness or choices that bring calamity and misery. Just think about the kind of world we would have if we all followed Jesus’ word and His example in life. This has been our focus on Sunday evenings, Following the Footsteps of Jesus. Just what did He say and do (Acts 1:1)? Love God first. Love one another. Forgive one another. Honor your parents. Do what is right. Obey the governing authorities. Tell the truth. Help one another. Work. Give. Pray. Care. Respect. Don’t quit. Trust and be trustworthy. Be good. Can you see how living the Christian life is the only way to live? I hope so. Live today, even in the storms of life, following the footsteps of Jesus. Put these simple things into practice and see for yourself what a positive difference you can make in the world, your world, God’s world.
Yesterday was Easter Sunday and my, my did we have a wonderful crowd to hear the word preached. I hope you were able to spend some time with your family. We continued in our series “Challenges We Must Face – Building Against the Storms” with a lesson on the temptation: the Pride of Life. In Genesis 3 Eve saw the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was “desirable to make one wise.” In Matthew 4 the devil tried to trick Jesus into thinking that having “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” could somehow make Him better than He already was. Eve did not dress for success. Jesus was wearing the armor of God. What about you and me? Are we suited up for battle?
On the evening we focused on following the footsteps of Jesus and looked at how Jesus made such good use of His time. He only had 33 years on earth to do what needed to be done. We know He grew, learned, and matured. He served His purpose. He made the world a better place. He prepared the Way for us to follow. He made it back to His place in heaven. If we follow His steps, we will also be where He is. There is no time to waste. Let’s get to it.
What would it take for you to believe and obey Jesus Christ? Thomas wanted to see. Nicodemus wanted to know. There was a man in Mark 9 who wanted a miracle. Are you waiting on a miracle to believe and obey Jesus Christ? Sometimes we pray and God says, “Yes” to our request. Sometimes we pray and God says, “No” to our request. Sometimes we pray and God says, “Not yet” to our request. Which is it with you? If we wait for anything to believe and obey Jesus Christ, it might be too late.
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