Be strong and courageous, only be strong and very courageous, be strong and be courageous, do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1: 6a, 7a, 9b)
The Lord be with You!
As we admit our Council and Parish Wardens this morning, let us heed the call to be courageous for God. God is calling us to lead His people forward into the promised land – the Kingdom of God the place where His glory is revealed in the sight of all the peoples through His chosen ones. Let us remember that we are chosen to “Show forth the glory of God in the world.”
I pray that your faith will continue to grow and that the love that you have received from God will overflow into every area of your life and reveal the goodness of God to others.
As we move from the Season of the Resurrection appearances of Jesus, to the Season of Pentecost, my prayer for you is that your understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit in your life will increase, and that you will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to give yourself fully to the work of God in your life. I have been repeatedly reminded this week of the importance of us seeing that we do not live for ourselves and that we are a community of believers and that we are here for each other and that our life of common prayer holds us together.
Romans 14: 23b says that ” whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” this means that every action of ours must be built on and have its purpose in strengthening our faith and the faith of others. As disciples of Jesus our decision-making matrix must be built on asking the question – what does this action of mine say about my faith, how does this statement of mine reveal what I believe about God about myself and about others. If everything that we do is an act of faith, we will be pleasing to God and beneficial to each other. How is your faith living out in your life? When people interact with you – can they see what you believe? {I encourage you to read Ephesians 4:17-32 daily this week}
My prayer for you as witnesses to the greatness and the glory of God is that you will reveal to the world the reality of forgiveness, that leads to reconciliation that leads to joy. If you believe that Jesus died for your sins, then you must die to them too. If you believe that Jesus rose from the dead, then you too must rise above the temptations of this world. If you believe that Jesus ascended, then you to must ascend and keep your eyes on things above (Col 3:1-3). If you believe that the Holy Spirit has come and is the power of God at work in you, then give yourself to the work of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. Be imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1,2).
The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. (Phil4:23)
Rector.
