Brothers and sisters,
Happy Monday to all! Yesterday, we remembered the price eternal God paid for us to be saved. We took the bread to remember that Jesus, the Son of God, willingly became a human being. The Son of God became the Son of Man so that He could be nailed to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and so our sins could justly be forgiven. We took the cup to remember that Jesus shed His perfect blood to pay the ransom that would deliver us so we could have eternal life. Then in 1 Corinthians 10, we thought about how to resist temptations. We saw some principles we need to remember as we live in a world full of temptations. Remember that spiritual experiences do not guarantee spiritual victories. You can see God move mightily but still not embrace and trust Jesus with your life. Remember that the past failures of others provide examples for us not to follow. Remember that God is faithful and know He will always provide the way of resisting any temptation. How close to the edge to you get from the temptations that plague you? Do you walk right up the side and think you will not fall? Or do you stay as far away from those temptations that plague you as you can get? Do not think you are strong when all of us are weak. Do not be like Abel Mejia who got too close to the edge and fell four hundred feet over the side of the Grand Canyon to his destruction. Stay away from the edge. Wise believers provide appropriate boundaries to stay far away from every temptation to be unfaithful to Jesus.
Next Sunday, August 18, 2024, Mitch Freeman will be teaching our adult and youth Bible study classes at 9:30 AM and then preaching during our morning worship at 10:45 AM. Mitch will be teaching and preaching on a Biblical view of mental health. Mitch is the former pastor of East Madison and a great friend to me personally and to this body of believers. Mitch has also made an eternal impact on many of our lives. I am so excited to have him teaching and preaching on this very neglected and important subject.
We will have a potluck luncheon after our morning worship next Sunday, August 18, 2024. Bring enough for your family and a little extra for any guest we might have.
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