Sisters and brothers,
Happy Monday to all! We had a wonderful day of worship yesterday. From Mark 12 and John 13, we saw that Christianity in its bottom line can be boiled down to one word: relationships. Being a Christian is not about keeping a list of rules and regulations. Christianity is about God initiating a relationship with us by reconciling the world to Himself through Jesus. Being a believer is coming to know Jesus as Savior and Lord and spending the rest of eternity knowing Him better and bringing glory to His name. Then because we have been made right with God through faith in Jesus, it is having a loving relationship with others who have trusted Jesus and are part of His family. Finally, because we have an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ and with His children by loving them, we want others outside of Jesus to be saved so they could know Him and become part of His wonderful family. No one can make us, command us, or cajole us into loving God, His children, and the world. But if we realize we are falling short, we ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with Himself and His love and enable us to love as we should. We closed our worship with the song “Holy Spirit” by Keith and Kristyn Getty that reminded us of our need for God’s Holy Spirit to breathe new life into our willing souls.
Holy Spirit, living Breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
To renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see;
Give me passion for Your purity.
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.
Here is a link to a beautiful rendition of that song: https://youtu.be/kDYjn-YdnD4.
Emmanuel Church and East Madison will host a joint Vacation Bible School with Emmanual church this week, June 24-28, from 5:30 PM-7:30 PM nightly. A team from Missouri will be here to help us conduct this Vacation Bible School. Invite children and families you know to come.
Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.
Love being your pastor!
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church