Sisters and brothers,
Happy Monday to all! We sang yesterday about Jesus being the Rock that we build our lives upon, that Jesus truly is our Rock and our Redeemer. Then we considered from Matthew 24 how we are to live in the light of waiting for the sure coming of Jesus. We learned from Matthew 24 some specific things we are to do and not do. We are not to panic because we live in difficult times for the world and for God’s people. We are to not to confuse catastrophic happenings in our nation or in the world for the end of the world. We are to know that Christ will return as the gospel is being preached to all the peoples in the whole world. We are to always be on mission with Jesus in talking His gospel to the whole world until He comes. We are to know when Jesus comes again, no one will misunderstand what is happening. Revelation 1:7 teaches us that: “He (Jesus) is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.” We wait in hope for the One who purchased us with His blood! We are to live every day for the glory of God, every day as if it is our last day on earth, every day considering the sure coming of Christ. Believers in every age seek to be faithful to Jesus every day as if He could return for us on any day.
Today we remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King continually fought for justice and helped us to see that we should all fight for justice. We might not have the platform Dr. King had or the severe hatred and opposition that he endured that ultimately took his life in the battle for justice. But we can all strive for justice in our areas of influence even when we are opposed. Jim Dennison wrote, “Dr. King was brilliant in his diagnosis of the problem facing our nation.” Then he quoted Dr. King when he said: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
Reminder, church council members, that we will meet tomorrow night, January 21, at 6:30 PM.
Remember to keep praying continually for each other.
Love being your pastor!
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church