Scripture
– NIV
Psalm
23 –
The
Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he
leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the
right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort
me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my
head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Galatians
2:1-20 –
Then
after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I
took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and, meeting
privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I
preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not
been running my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was
compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose
because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we
have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a
moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.
As
for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference
to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. On the contrary,
they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel
to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. For God, who
was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me
as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as
pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized
the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they
to the circumcised. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the
poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
When
Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But
when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles
because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The
other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even
Barnabas was led astray.
When
I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to
Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and
not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish
customs?
“We
who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not
justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too,
have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ
and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be
justified.
“But
if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the
sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I
rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.
“For
through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been
crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I
now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
himself for me.
John
1:16 –
Out
of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
2
Corinthians 13:14 –
May
the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of
the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Bob’s
thoughts:
Today
marks 12 years since my younger son was killed. He was on his way home from
North Carolina when he was killed on the highway. Mourning my son and Marine
brother, I thought it would be reassuring to be amongst brothers in worship.
This church had a Marine pastor plus a few Marines in the congregation. We were
surprised to learn the pastor had taken a job in Nashville and I was no longer
sure which members were brothers. We were welcomed by a number of people and
some who remembered us from previous visits.
Part
of the children’s message wove around a lost earring which brought back
memories of a lost tiny necklace and God’s divine orchestration to have the
right people to find the right parts.
The
pastor talked of things that we consider amazing and a couple recent ones came
to mind. I have some mocking birds this year, and to hear so many different
bird songs from the same bird. And there have been a number of videos lately of
people seeing color for the first time or a baby hearing mom’s voice for the first
time. We miss so many of God’s blessings because we just don’t take notice.
In
closing he mentioned being referred to as a Holy Roller. My claim to fame was
being called a “Jesus Jerk” and later in life leading them both to Christ.
Jan’s
thoughts:
It’s
been a challenging week leading up to today, the 12th anniversary of
the death of our son, so we wanted to go where we knew there would be members
of our Marine family. The pastor who had been serving this church was also a
Marine, but we discovered he has moved on since our last visit. We were happy
to see our other friends, of course, Marine or not.
The
church building is just as I recall and the people just as caring toward each
other before, during, and after worship. Many greeted us warmly.
The
basis of the message, “Amazing Grace,” was that Jesus paid the price for all
sins, we are all justified by faith alone, that salvation cannot be earned, and
we need to trust God and be patient. All spot-on.
Our
prayer for this church:
Father,
we pray for Your Presence with Your church as they move into the future with
You. Amen.
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