election

Eternal Election

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

In case anyone has missed it there will be among other things an election tomorrow determining who controls two of the three branches of our government. So I thought that today we need a reminder of who is in charge of the three branches of government in Heaven.

First we have seated as the Supreme Court Justice of the universe a judge whose appointment is for eternity. He never grows old or retires from office.

Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. James 5:9

Secondly, unlike our representative who runs every two years we have a legislator who term of office began before the begining of time and whose decrees remain in effect for eternity.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8

Last of all but certainly not least we have a king, a CEO and supreme ruler whose term of office never expires and who is not running for reelection! Jesus Christ our Sovereign King of Kings and He shall reign forever and ever!

Choosing God – Part 1

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter    Hebrews 11:24

In the midst of all the talk about predestination and sovereignty it is sometimes overlooked that not only does God choose us, but we must choose God.  As an example why not take a look at the life of Moses? Moses had at his fingertips access to nearly unlimited money, power and prestige. He could have gone anywhere and done anything he wished. But in Moses’ heart a battle was being waged and he was being tested as to whom he wanted to belong.

egypt tutankhamun death mask pharaonic

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Consider how at his birth Moses had been ordered abandoned to die by decree of Pharaoh. But God stepped in and chose Moses for a key role in God’s plans to deliver his people. It was through his family’s courage and faith that he was hidden and in the end, God’s plans, not  Pharaoh’s won the day!

Yet as an adult Moses came to a crossroads. The path he had followed as a child, in the luxury of the palace came face to face with the hardships and slavery of his own people. Moses knew that he was no Egyptian. Though God had chosen him, Moses also had to choose God, a choose the rejection that came with being known as one of God’s people.

Living faith is found at the intersection of God’s choice our ours. Who will you choose today?

 

Jesus loved…

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

As we drove down a side road in Amish country we stopped at a small farm stand. There a sweet red haired girl of about 6 was watching her mother’s shoo-fly pie, fresh baked cookies, and chow-chow. She told us her name was Martha. “Well I’ve got some good news for you Martha.” I said. “The Bible says that Jesus loved Martha!” I told her and we both laughed.

I picked out some cookies and paid for them and she put them into a bag then waved and smiled as we drove off. Remembering that moment today I wondered how many kinds of people that Jesus loved. There is an election just one week away and our debate has become heated and angry. We hear it on television, see it in our neighborhoods, and sadly even in our churches. Below is a list of people Jesus loves. It makes me wonder if we can make a list of people we are ready to love for Him.

He loved Mary Marta and Lazarus

He loved His disciples to the end

He loved the rich young ruler

He loved his sheep and died for them

He loved tax collectors and sinners

He loved a woman caught in adultery

He loved His enemies and forgave

He loves all of us and our neighbors

Who will we tell that Jesus still loves today?