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Pastoral Perspective — On New Beginnings: a Fresh Start, a Filling Passion

As I have been meditating and reflecting upon the lectionary passages for this sermon series toward the end of these summer months (2007), I have also at the same time been enjoying my own renewed personal daily devotions.  This has been particularly so for me while becoming reacquainted with the classic devotional work of Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest.  During one of my morning readings, a startling question resonated anew with my current experience:  Are you fresh for everything?  Oswald Chambers continues “Do we feel fresh this very moment or are we stale…?  Freshness is not the result of [our] obedience; it comes from the Holy Spirit.” 

Among the attributes of God for which I have recent renewed appreciation is the Lord’s steadfast, ever enduring, never failing loving-kindness.  The Hebrew word, HESED encompasses a larger sense of meaning regarding this quality which God alone has toward God’s people.  Through thick and thin, come what may, no matter what situations we may encounter, regardless of whatever circumstances we might find ourselves in, as the Word of God tells us, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  He will never leave us nor forsake us.  That is One Truth that would indeed continually set us forever free.  In the final analysis, as children of the Lord we can stand firm and rest assured of God’s faithfulness to us in the sure promise and hope that does not disappoint—that Emmanuel, the Spirit of Christ Jesus our Lord God is ever with us.  And not only is God with us, but God is for us.  We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love God, who have been called according to God’s purpose.  And if God is for us, the apostle Paul wrote, who can be against us? 

In and through our journey of life, we will have trials and difficulties for sure.  But we are empowered by the very Holy Spirit of God to forge ahead over any obstacles, press on forward in faith through trying times and rise above anything that would seek to hinder us in our prayers.  No weapon formed against us shall prosper.  Nothing will thwart or deter God’s higher purpose(s) for us as God’s own people in this world. 

As Jesus said, in this world we will have trouble.  But take heart, our Lord says to us, for He has overcome the world.  He Who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble.  In time of need, we can come boldly before the throne of grace, knowing God hears and answers our prayers.  With the compassion of the Christ on the cross, the Lord is gracious to give us renewed opportunities to begin again.  His mercies are new every morning, providing us with another chance for a fresh start, and imparting unto us a filling passion for Him and His powerful presence in our lives.  He wants over and over again for us to fix our eyes on Him, the author and completer of our faith.  As Moses told the people of
Israel to gaze upon the serpent on the pole, we will find healing and salvation in looking to Jesus alone.  Peter could only keep above the water, walking toward the Lord, when he kept his eyes on Him. 

 Again, Oswald Chambers writes: “Being born again from above is an enduring, perpetual, and eternal beginning.  It provides a freshness all the time in thinking, talking, and living— a continual surprise of the life of God.  …Being born of the Spirit means much more than we usually think.  It gives us new vision and keeps us absolutely fresh for everything through the never-ending supply of the life of God.”   

Are you drawing your life from any source other than God Himself?  If you are depending on something else as your source of freshness and strength, you will not realize when His power is gone.[1]   

Words from a song of praise based on Asaph’s Psalm, comes to mind…  Whom have I in heaven, but You, O Lord?  There is nothing on earth I desire besides You.  My heart and my flesh, many times they fail.  But there is One Truth that always will prevail.  God is the strength of my heart.  God is the strength of my heart.  God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever and ever.[2]    May this be so for each and every one of us in the Lord God Who is ever with us and for us.   In the Spirit of Christ, Pastor Rex

[1] http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php?day=20&month=01

[2] Words and Music by Eugene Greco © 1989 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 at 3:57 pm and is filed under Spiritual disciplines, Worship, perspectives. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.