⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. Romans 12:9 & 17

It is an easy trap to fall into; it is an easy way to live.  If someone hurts you, you hurt them back.  If someone causes you pain, you cause them pain.  To do anything less shows you are weak.  Or at least that is the perception.

But this is not God’s way.  Paul tells us to hate evil and cling to the good, and to not repay evil for evil.  This is difficult yet think about it.

How many acts of violence happen as “reciprocal”?  When you get into the cycle, year after year, nobody truly knows when the first incursion happened.  Look at world history and how certain ethnic groups continue to battle each other, look at family fights and again, does anyone truly know the beginning of the feud?

If we were to cling to what is good, if we were to do right we can change the world – and it starts with each of us, seeking the good.

As we journey through this week, let us do this very thing, seek the good, be sincere, and live God’s word.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5

As I reflect on this short piece of scripture, it struck me that this would be an excellent prayer to begin each week, or even each day.  These two verses remind us who God is, what God does, and where our hope lies.  To begin each day asking God to show us His ways, to lead us along His path, to teach us is an act of humble submission to the One we serve and adore.

As you journey through this new week, pray this prayer.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

At some points of our lives, we all walk through those valleys.  It might be a bad job situation, or a relationship gone sour, or just a time of difficulties.  The good news is that God is always with us.  We need not fear anything, especially evil, for God is present.  David, a shepherd, knows the importance of the rod and staff.  The rod fended off attackers while the staff (a typical shepherd’s crook), was used to guide and even pull back sheep if needed.  God is always defending us and guiding us.

As you journey through this week, keep this in mind.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3

We are in the middle of August, as the summer winds down and schools are about to open.  Hopefully many of you have had some kind of summer break, some restoration. 

This is important, we need to find those times beside the still waters, those times when our bodies, minds and souls are restored.

The good part of this is that God wants us to find restoration.  At the heart of this Psalm is God’s promise of peace and rest.

As we approach the end of the summer and the beginning of a busy season, let us all remember to find rest in God.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they eat a meal.”
He summoned the crowd and said to them, “Hear and understand. It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles the man; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.” Matthew 15:1-2, 10-11

The Pharisees were (again) criticizing Jesus – this time because He and the disciples did not do the ritualistic washing of hands before a meal.  Jesus takes this time to teach a lesson, saying how what we say can sometimes be more damaging than what we do.  In another view, this is Jesus saying how our traditions, while honorable and good, can sometimes get in the way of true righteousness.  The Pharisees would go through all the motions, the ritualistic washing of hands, following the letter, if not intent of the law, and consider themselves more godly.  Jesus, on the other hand, recognizes that traditions are good and useful, but a heart aligned with God is far more important.

James states that with the tongue we can both bless and curse someone (James 3:9-10).  Both James and Jesus remind us that our thoughts, actions and words are all important and must be centered upon love.

As you journey through this week, use your tongue to bless others, speak truth in love and consider your words carefully.

Peace,

Pastor Bill