Pastor's Corner Oct 2017

Pastor’s Corner

               Do you have a subscription to something to read?  Do you get a weekly newsletter, a monthly magazine, or a quarterly novel?  If so, you probably paid the first year’s subscription fee and the company set it up on automatic renewal with the expense being charged to your account.  If it is not on auto-renew, you get an invoice and must remember to pay it.  If you keep it paid, you continue to receive the subscription.

               How does this compare to God’s amazing grace - the forgiveness of all our sins and joyful life in Him?  To us, our salvation is entirely free and permanently renewed.  We do not have to concern ourselves with covering some subscription fee, annually or ever.  We do not have to pay!  In fact, there is no way that we could pay the monstrous debt of our sins.  But just because it is a marvelous gift to us, does not mean that it didn’t cost anything.  Jesus suffered greatly the pain and shame, the abuse and the weight of all the sins of all the world for all time.  It cost Him grievously.  All to purchase the gift of salvation for you and for me, one time for all time.  “But He (Christ) having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God.  For by one offering, He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10: 12, 14 NAS)

               Now this subscription that you receive, do you read and enjoy it every day?  Or, do you lay it on the shelf on magazine rack to check out later?  Do you get back to it before the next issue arrives?  Do you end up just skimming it and discarding it before taking the time to study the benefits it contains?

               The subscription of salvation that Jesus paid so costly and painful a price for us to receive, do you daily explore the promises and wisdom recorded in God’s Holy Word?  Do you discover the treasures of His love and provision by spending time with God?  Or do you just flip through the pages and set it aside?  “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8a NAS)

Blessings,

Martin