love

Looking in Our Window

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. Mark 6:5-6 ESV

When Jesus traveled about Galilee He made an impression on people because He was willing to touch anyone, even lepers and heal them. Because of this He was continually surrounded by all kinds of interesting people. Mary wanted to sit at His feet, while Zaccheus hoped to just see Him from a distance. The crowd around Jesus often looked a bit like a hospital emergency room, with folks lined up waiting to be seen, while others brought their loved ones and family. But back in Nazareth the scene was quite different. Since they couldn’t believe that Jesus was anything special the Bible tells us He couldn’t do many miracles there. Instead of healing teaching and spreading the good news, Jesus found himself unwelcome and even though there were just as many in need of His healing power, almost no one was able to receive it.

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So why not ask ourselves if the picture in our local church functions more like Nazareth or Galilee? Do sick people show up regularly but find that there is only a small staff on hand to help? Do we operate like a hospital with nurses out on strike and whose doctors are too busy meeting to review their retirement program to see new patients? When folks listen in by our doorway, might they hear a discussion of how to reduce the number of sick people allowed in or the excitement of finding a cure for Covid-19? So let’s ask ourselves the question today; “Are we in the business of shutting people out or providing a place to heal? God still forgives and restores lives. Crowds are standing just outside our windows looking in. What will they see today?

Has He Washed Your Feet?

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” John 13:8 ESV

Peter was shocked that Jesus would kneel and wash his dirty feet. This was unheard of. How could Jesus their master and teacher be willing to wash their feet? But Jesus made it very clear that unless Peter allowed Him to wash his feet; he would not belong to him. The hardest part for some of us is that, like Peter, we don’t mind serving, but if we want to serve in the kingdom of God then He demands that we first humble ourselves and allow Him to wash our feet.

Some years ago I felt led to teach on this passage in a very practical way. Only my wife knew what was planned. So after I closed had finished the message that morning, II stepped out the side door and picked up the wash basins, warm water and towels which we had secretly hidden. “Now we have a chance to do this” I said as our small congregation sat in stunned silence. First I washed my wife’s feet, then she mine and then we split the church in two. The women went to her side and the men to mine. Nancy began washing the first woman’s feet, and then handed a towel to her and then the roles reversed. Now that woman washed the next in line. On the men’s side we did the same. One pair of feet at a time we discovered that doing the washing was pretty easy but allowing someone else to wash our feet was tough and humbling. Many tears flowed at our church that day. Relationships were deepened and in some cases restored. Jesus has promised us a blessing when we wash each other’s feet. But to be a foot washer we must admit that we first need Him to wash our feet. Has Jesus washed your feet? He is waiting with the basin and towel for your response today.

Meditations on Psalm 25 Part 2

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Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.  Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord! Psalm 25:6-7 ESV

Does it strike you strange that David asks God to remember mercy as if he were shaking God by the shoulder to wake Him, and remind Him of His love? But as if that wasn’t odd enough, consider David’s next request. “And by the way God while you are remembering mercy just please be sure to NOT remember my sins!” But before dismissing David’s seemingly impertinent request, remember that the Holy Spirit inspired his prayer. Here He is showing us the mystery of balancing God’s capacity to remember even the most intimate details about us with His choosing to forget our sin. Right now He is inviting you to ask Him both to remember and forget. What once was a mystery is now called the gospel of His steadfast love and mercy which He offers through the cross of Jesus to all who will dare to believe!