28 Jan February at FBC

“In one sense, the road back to God is a road of moral effort, of trying harder and harder. But in another sense it is not trying that is ever going to bring us home. All this trying leads up to the vital moment at which you turn to God and say, “You must do this. I can’t.”

I came across this quote from C. S. Lewis in my sermon preparation a few weeks ago. It brought me back to a familiar passage by the Apostle Paul in which he referenced our salvation as a means of God’s grace in our lives (Ephesians 2.8-9). It is not based on works.

However, there a natural progression from our salvation experience to our serving the Lord. The Apostle Paul adds (verse 10): “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

I appreciate the faithfulness of so many of you in your participation in the life of our church. Your attendance, prayers, giving of your time and financial resources to the ministry of this church is a great encouragement. Keep in mind that your involvement is not only about yourself but also a means of encouragement to the people around you.

February is a month in which many of us think about our loved ones. Let’s spend time giving thanks for those in our families who pour love and support into our lives. These persons model for us the simple admonition to live out our faith one day at a time. That is a cliché, living “one day at a time” but that is all our Lord has asked us to do.

Let’s also think about our church and those whom you’ve met and love as part of your extended family. There are those who have loved and supported you through particularly dark and difficult times, as well as during times of celebration and gladness. Life in the fellowship of the church is too precious to discard and take for granted. Let’s lean into and learn from these moments of worship, fellowship, and time together.

There are some things only God can do. But, there are also some things that we can do. May God help us understand the difference. During this month in particular, let’s realize these words of our Lord Jesus: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13.35)–DC