| Good Morning Everyone, Our theme for this month: “Think for yourself” Our Bible verse for today: “May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me; I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.” John 17:21; 23 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Come out of the world for a while.” John chapter seventeen has been called “The great priestly prayer of Jesus”. The entire chapter records a lengthy prayer spoken by Jesus to the Father. In it He prays for Himself, and for those who were His disciples in that day, and for all those who would ever be His followers. That’s the section in which John 17:21; 23 appears – it’s part of Jesus’ prayer for all future believers. Jesus was praying there that His followers would enjoy a sense of unity and peace among themselves that would be similar to the relationship enjoyed by the three persons of the Trinity. That then, would be a great testimony to the world and it would bring glory to God. This is an important understanding for us as we prepare to gather with our church families this Sunday. As a Pastor I spend a lot of time with people behind the scenes of their personal lives, helping them to sort through all sorts of difficult and painful life situations. Doing so helps me to appreciate the truth that everybody has stuff going on in their lives that they wish wasn’t there. Everybody. Including you and including me. We’re all dealing with stuff. That’s just life. And that means that life is challenging and stressful for all of us, even during the best of times. But then, if you add on top of the normal stuff all of the craziness that’s part of our world these days, including the COVID 19 pandemic and all of its associated side issues; along with the racial tensions and the protests and riots; along with the angry and divisive political situation we have right now in this country; and all of it together will absolutely wear a good person out! The constant stress and strain of all of it combined leaves everyone a bit edgy and jaded. And that of course, can result in unpleasant and unhelpful additional tensions and problems. Back to John 17:21;23: Jesus’ prayer is that His people will come together in unity and enjoy the sweet, sweet fellowship that He enjoys with the Father and the Holy Spirit within the structure of the Trinity. That’s an image of what our times together as a church family should look like. Sabbath is a day for worship, fellowship, rest, and renewal. It’s a time intended by God for His people to be rejuvenated in body and soul. It’s a time to take a break from all the thinking that the rest of life requires from us the other six days of the week. I encourage you to come out of the world for a while and enter into the sweet fellowship of the Body of Christ as your church family comes together. It’s what Jesus prayed for. I hope to see you on Sunday. God Bless, Pastor Jim |
| Copyright © 2020 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. |
-
Follow
Following
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Oak Hill Baptist Church 