Sisters and brothers,
Happy Monday to all! Yesterday we worshipped our great King and God and considered how God the Holy Spirit continues to call us to receive forgiveness and life in Christ Jesus. From Romans 10 we learned that salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ Jesus alone. Salvation is not far away. It is not something you have to search for or make some religious pilgrimage to find. Salvation is a near as the heart and the mouth. Scripture declares, “If you confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” We learned that God’s children keep proclaiming the good news that Jesus saves to those around them so that those who hear can believe in Jesus and be saved. We observed it is not enough to hear about Jesus, but we must act upon what we hear by believing in Jesus, embracing Him as the risen Lord of our lives and Lord of all. As we believe in Jesus, we call on Him and confess Him as Lord. And “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
We will have a short training on October 9 after morning worship for the “Trunk or Treat” event on October 29. We need lots of candy and plenty of help to reach out to our community on that day. We will be overseeing bounce houses and other fun activities and publicizing “Trunk or Treat” on Facebook and throughout our neighborhood. “Trunk or Treat” will be an “all hands-on-deck event.” Pray for God’s blessing on this outreach and for your specific part in helping.
Please continue to keep Connie Boss’ sister-in-law Alice in your prayers as she is in hospice. Also, pray for Connie and the family in this situation.
Remember to keep praying continually for each other.
Love being your pastor,
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church