Tag: So God

A very Good People

Re: Verse reading– Acts 4:32-37; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Galatians 6:9-10; Hebrews 10:24-25 (day six)

I was reminded last night of the many blessings in belonging to the FBC family. There is a sweet goodness among us, an eagerness to learn of our great inheritance in Christ. That was very evident last night as over 170 leaders from FBCSA gathered for equipping and training at our first annual Main Event. Jonathan, a dear friend leading one of the many breakout sessions, kept saying to me following the event, “These are good people; I can sense a readiness to join God in what He is doing.” And he is right!

This doesn’t magically happen of course. Our re:verse texts remind us that God is the grand architect of the church-His people. He is fitting us together, all the various parts, that we might encourage one another to “love and good deeds.” That is why we must not neglect gathering together, whether that be in worship, Bible study, or on mission. We are God’s children after all, to neglect those activities, is to deny the very core of our identity in Christ-who we are. So God’s design for us, is that the more we build community (worship, Bible study, and mission) with one another, the more we realize and live out our truest identity in God.

A church like that does not go unnoticed. No, in fact our “light on a hill” becomes brighter and brighter. Let’s shine on!

Create

Re: Verse reading–Genesis 1:26-31; Romans 5:1-11 (day two)

So God created…one of the fundamental characteristics of God is that of creator. The first chapters of the Bible are filled with the infinite creativity of our maker. Every shade of green, every variation of plant or animal. The minute differences that separate similar looking things, and the vast canvas of mountains and deserts. Our God is an artist. And we are in his image. Therefore, one of the distinguishing traits that God gave us and no other creature is the ability to create. Although we do not share God’s ability to create ex nihilo (out of nothing), each time we paint, write, sing, construct, or engineer we reflect part of his amazing nature. It was this scripture, and this reason that we have named our Arts Academy Imago (Image).  We are helping foster this love of creativity with our church and the community, and to help them see that all these gifts are given by God, and they all reflect part of him. It is a joy to see these gifts develop.

Jehovah Rapha

Re: Verse reading–Exodus 15:22-27; 16:1-18 (day one) 

“If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I the Lord am your healer.”–15:26.

Jehovah Rapha.  “Lord, healer.”  I am not sure that the waters of Marah would have made them sick.  I am certain that they feared that drinking brackish, bitter water would do so.  Years of free, unlimited, clean water in Egypt (from the Nile) had made them tender and timid soldiers.  So God toughened and taught His people to trust Him for their health and welfare.  So long as we are in the center of God’s will, walking with Him in cooperative, surrendered life; so long as He orders more days for our story, we are invincible.  He is our healer!