First Steps – July 29, 2019
Each day, you probably do something that is a reminder of what growing in God’s grace is like: Changing Clothes. In Colossians, the Apostle Paul used this analogy to help Christians understand faith maturation.
Colossians 3:10 says, “…Since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of the creator.”
Notice, “taken off” and “put on.” The image is that of changing clothes. Word pictures can aid us in understanding the complexities of how grace works helping us become like Christ. Often at the beginning of each day, as I prepare for the day and get dressed, I think about “putting on Christ.” How about you?
During this week, every time you change clothes, imagine putting on Christ and trust in the Holy Spirit’s work of transformation.
This week’s reading:
- Monday – Luke 6
- Tuesday – Luke 7
- Wednesday – Luke 8
- Thursday – Luke 9
- Friday – Luke 10
Please Pray for:
- The St. Paul Church family.
- Those who are unwillingly absent.
- Those who are grieving and depressed.
- Ongoing Building Renovations, Modifications.
- The United Methodist Church.
- Our nation and our leaders.
Socks and More…Yesterday’s Children’s Sermon
First Steps – July 22, 2019
Luke 14:15 says, “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready’.”
A person lost to history once wrote this in reflection to the above passage:
“A King puts a poor man in charge of his treasury. The individual who receives this responsibility does not think that the wealth belongs to him. It remains the king’s. Because he needs the job, he is careful to protect the royal treasury. He wastes nothing. He oversees it carefully.
“Anyone who has been given God’s grace is in a similar situation. With humility we can admit our poverty. We can understand that our king has given us the responsibility for something valuable. If we begin to think of it as our own and become arrogant and proud…We will remain spiritually poor.
“Remember, then what God is doing for you. Let’s continue to think through our illustration. What if the king finds a very sick poor person by the roadside? He would be glad to treat his injuries with the best royal medicines available. He might bring the person to his castle, dress him in royal clothing, and feed him at his own table. This is exactly the way Christ came to us, found us sick, and healed us. He invites us to be companions at his table. He does not twist our arms in order to force this upon us. He invites us with great dignity and appeal.”
There is much to remember from this reflection:
1. God has given us more than we can imagine.
2. Our response is one of gratitude.
3. Gratitude is a constant state of being.
As you begin this week, remember what you have been given by God and be grateful.
A person lost to history once wrote this in reflection to the above passage:
“A King puts a poor man in charge of his treasury. The individual who receives this responsibility does not think that the wealth belongs to him. It remains the king’s. Because he needs the job, he is careful to protect the royal treasury. He wastes nothing. He oversees it carefully.
“Anyone who has been given God’s grace is in a similar situation. With humility we can admit our poverty. We can understand that our king has given us the responsibility for something valuable. If we begin to think of it as our own and become arrogant and proud…We will remain spiritually poor.
“Remember, then what God is doing for you. Let’s continue to think through our illustration. What if the king finds a very sick poor person by the roadside? He would be glad to treat his injuries with the best royal medicines available. He might bring the person to his castle, dress him in royal clothing, and feed him at his own table. This is exactly the way Christ came to us, found us sick, and healed us. He invites us to be companions at his table. He does not twist our arms in order to force this upon us. He invites us with great dignity and appeal.”
There is much to remember from this reflection:
1. God has given us more than we can imagine.
2. Our response is one of gratitude.
3. Gratitude is a constant state of being.
As you begin this week, remember what you have been given by God and be grateful.
This week’s reading:
- Monday – Luke 1
- Tuesday – Luke 2
- Wednesday – Luke 3
- Thursday – Luke 4
- Friday – Luke 5
- The St. Paul Church family.
- Those who are unwillingly absent.
- Those who are grieving and depressed.
- Ongoing Building Renovations, Modifications.
- The United Methodist Church.
- Our nation and our leaders.
Yesterday’s Children’s Sermon … Enjoy!
First Steps – July 15, 2019
During these Dog Days of summer as the sun beats down on us all, the words of François de Fénelon come to mind:
“There is a spiritual sun that illumines the soul with an even greater intensity than the physical sun illumines a body on earth. This spiritual sun casts no shadows and never leaves half of the earth in darkness. It is as bright at night as it is in the day. It exists within us. No one can block any of its light. There is no place we can go to escape it. It never sets. The only clouds that can obscure it are our emotions. It is a glorious day. It shines on a primitive person in a dark cave. Even a blind person can walk its light.”
This summer, when the heat from the sun becomes too much, think of the light from the Son. Bask in His light.
This week’s reading:
- Monday – Rev. 1, Rev. 2, Rev. 3, Rev. 4
- Tuesday – Rev. 5, Rev. 6, Rev. 7, Rev. 8, Rev. 9
- Wednesday – Rev. 10, Rev. 11, Rev. 12, Rev. 13, Rev. 14
- Thursday – Rev. 15, Rev. 16, Rev. 17, Rev. 18
- Friday – Rev. 19, Rev. 20, Rev. 21, Rev. 22
Please Pray for:
- The St. Paul Church family.
- Those who are unwillingly absent.
- Those who are grieving and depressed.
- Ongoing Building Renovations, Modifications.
- The United Methodist Church.
- Our nation and our leaders.