Monday, June 5, 2017
Genesis 1:1: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Honestly, I can't see how it couldn't be any clearer. God did it. God created all that we need and see. God created the light, the sun, the moon, the stars, the earth, the water, the plants, the trees, the fish, the birds, the animals, and then mankind. God did it. Why do people have a problem with this? Is it because we don't understand the miraculous? Of course we can't. The miraculous is beyond us. We can't make heads or tails about the miraculous. That is why we try to rationalize it away. At the same time, we have a bigger problem than that. We have a problem understanding and believing in God, who does the miraculous. More and more we are trying to take God out of the creation equation along with the miraculous equation. Why? Because humans can't get God. Then how do we understand God? Again, it's simple. It's the miracle of faith. Faith in God, given to us by the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, believes, trusts, accepts the truth of what God did and is doing today. Faith goes beyond all human reason, logic, rhetoric, and senses, and trusts God and accepts the truth of God and and believes God. Faith in God rests in God over the "wisdom" of man. Pure and simple. Said in another way, "God did it. I believe it. End of story." Holy Spirit, open our lives more fully to You.
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Thursday, June 1, 2017
John 7:37-38: On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” There are a lot of sources of water out there. There is the water that comes through the city or county, or special utility district. There is water in lakes and rivers and streams. There is bottled water from all different companies and many and various places. The water from these sources will "quench your thirst." Water will keep you healthy and hydrated. At the same time, natural water won't do what "living water" does. "Living water" will quench the thirst of the soul. "Living water" will bring life to a parched soul that is dying without Jesus' salvation and life. "Living water," that is the grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love that is God through Jesus restores the soul. That is why Jesus is proclaiming, "Come to me." Only Jesus has this water for us. And through faith in Jesus, we pour out the "living water" to those around us who are struggling with life, those who think that they're in good shape with God because they're "good people," and those whose lives around devoid of living because they're trapped in their possessions. We pour out through faith, through lives that are hydrated on the grace, mercy, life, and forgiveness of God, the "living water" that will hydrate souls struggling with pain, that will water lives to trust in the works of God and not their own, and that will fill them with life based upon the riches of Jesus and not their own. Dear God, lead us to come to Jesus by Your Holy Spirit. And all God's children say... |
AuthorPastor Robert Hemsath joined Faith Lutheran Church and School as the Senior Pastor in January 2017. Pastor Hemsath comes to FLC from Christ the King Lutheran Church in Waxahachie, TX. He has also served congregations in Aberdeen, ID and Pocatello, ID. He has been a Lutheran pastor for the past 20 years. Archives
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