Sunday May 1, 2022

Sunday – May 1st – Hebrews 12:28-29     -----      
 
12:28) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
29) For our God is a consuming fire.

The Daily Walk Bible inspirational thought for today:
     LITTLE MINDS ARE HAPPY TO STAY STUCK IN LITTLE RUTS, SMUGLY RESISTING CHANGE.*
 
    Good and blessed Sunday to you!  Today is worship day – well at least a gathered worship day in the tradition of the church to come together on the first day of the week for singing, study, and socializing. What are your plans for worship today?  Our inspirational thought for today accompanies the opening chapters of the book of Ezra in the Old Testament. Ezra is a priest residing in Babylon as a result of the Jewish exile from their land. The Israelites have been seventy years “away from home” and have grown too comfortable in their “new” surroundings. By now a second and third generation have no memory of Jerusalem or have ever seen the great temple built by Solomon - which currently laid in ruin. Ezra is preparing to lead 50,000 Israelites back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the nation. Resistance to change and/or leaving the familiar was the first obstacle major Ezra encountered in his ministry. Just like their ancient ancestors who turned a famine stay in Egypt into a 200+ year abandonment of the holy land, Ezra needed to rally the people around the importance of going to where God was already waiting instead stay in the comfortable and familiar away from God. Where might God be calling you into a new adventure outside of your comfort zone?
 
    Our pick verses today conclude the twelfth chapter of the book of Hebrews and the author’s five-verse instructions on how we are to obey the voice of God. The promise of a relationship with God includes residency in a kingdom that cannot be shaken. What a tremendous promise considering that every earthly kingdom throughout history has a shelf life of only a season or two. As a believer in Jesus, we receive the Kingdom of Heaven through the grace provided by and through Him. By that grace, as we wait for eternity, we are able to serve God now with the devotion and faithfulness which He requires of all believers. Jesus’ work both on the cross and out of the grave has completely atoned for our sins, and yet our God is still a consuming fire toward all sin, and the judge of all sinners. Thanks be to God we can make the decision to be a follower of Jesus and stand under God’s amazing grace and unconditional love.

Blessings
   Pastor Jim
Monday – May 2nd – Hebrews 13:1-2

*Tyndale. The Daily Walk Bible NLT (Daily Walk: Full Size) (Kindle Locations 24070-24071). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
 

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