Dear Fellow Children of God,
The cold blooded killings in Paris shocked the world
again this week. Unfortunately, such savagery is becoming only too common. In our own capital, even before the new
session of congress has begun, a veto is threatened and battle lines are being
drawn, seemingly spelling the end of any cooperation. On a state level the low price for oil has
Alaskans worried. Personally, each of us
face challenges for which we often do not have answers. As children of God how can we live faithfully,
and how can we make a difference for good in such a troubled life?
There is an answer to those questions in the Gospel
lesson that will be read at St. John this Sunday, and read in many other
congregations around the world. We will
hear about the ministry of John and the baptism of Jesus. If you have been baptized you have the gifts
and tools to live faithfully in this troubled world.
Two short sections from Mark 1 sum up what we need to
hear. In Mark 1:4 we are told, “And
so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Listen also to verses 7 and 8.
“And this was his message: ‘After me
will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy
to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit.’”
The
most important gift to which these verses point is that Jesus was coming into
John’s world and He has come into our lives.
Life may be troubling, confusing, combative, deadly even. There are times that we don’t seem to have
answers to bring the outcomes that seem right.
But, Jesus has come. He came that
first Christmas. He came as Messiah and
Savior into the world in which John lived. And Jesus is with us today. God does not leave us alone.
One
of the real gifts or tools we need to face the trials of life is found in verse
4 . . . forgiveness. The trials of life are not always our fault, but we cannot escape
responsibility. Our own selfishness and greed,
our own failures to love God and others, contribute to the mess in our lives
and the world around us. We are each
part of the problem. But, John preached
forgiveness from God. Jesus, the Son of
God, lived and died to win forgiveness for a sinful world When we are baptized and when we believe God’s
love in Jesus, the Lord forgives us. The
world may be troubled, but we do not have to live in our sin and failure. In our troubled and confusing lives we can
live and act in love and peace, because God forgives us.
There
is more help from God. We may feel
powerless and hopeless as we look at trials seemingly beyond our control. But we see in verse 8 that God has given His
Holy Spirit to His people. In the midst
of our weakness and failure, God Himself guides us and strengthens us so that
we can live as His children and show the love He has given us in Jesus. God gives hope through His Spirit.
We
may be overwhelmed at times by life and its trials. But, God has come to forgive and save us in
Jesus. God lives in us today by His
Spirit. The world may be troubling and
deadly, but we don’t have to wallow in life’s mess. We can live in forgiveness and in hope. We can make a difference for good as children
of God.
This coming
week we will have 3 baptisms at St. John.
Baptism may seem like a simple ceremony.
But, God works through this gift of grace to equip us for a life of
faith in an overwhelming world. I pray
that you may face your life this week with Jesus by your side, living in
forgiveness and in hope that come from God.
A
Child of God, Facing Life’s Challenges with the God’s gifts from my baptism,
Pastor
Jonathan
P.S. Thanks
to Scott and Sean Brewer who pulled the sled and started the ice auger so we
could go fishing last Saturday. https://plus.google.com/photos/114993745799525883148/albums/6101152085590746417?banner=pwa
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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’
- I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St.
John members and friends whose e-mails I have. (I am always adding new
names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for
the first time.) However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail,
please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this
message. . .
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