Walking the Walk - Living by FaitH “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17 Live by faith. It sounds so easy. At least it’s easy to say. But what does it really look like to truly live by faith?
Does it mean not doing anything and let God take care of everything? How else can we show we trust God? If we try to do things on our own doesn’t it mean, we are not trusting God? St. Paul was not a believer in Jesus at first. In fact, he was a devout Jewish man who was determined to single-handedly put a stop to “those people called Christians”. He believed that they were actually hurting Israel. This is who he was until God met him along the road and Paul was transformed. To read this story, check out Acts 9:1-19. From that day on he was a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. He spent the rest of his life sharing and living out his faith. He wrote approximately 2/3 of the New Testament and led several missionary journeys establishing churches all over Asia and into Europe. In the first chapter of his letter to the Romans, Paul shares his qualifications as a teacher of faith. In the verses above he teaches us that in the Gospel we are saved and live by faith. We are transformed by the Gospel to share it with others. Paul lived by faith all the remainder of his life. He did not sit back. He went out in humility to share why he loves Jesus to all he met. He models for us how to live by faith. He trusted God in all circumstances. His life was not exactly easy. He was imprisoned several times, shipwrecked, ridiculed, arrested. Yet, through it all he knew God was in control and trusted Him. In our lives we do not always know what is right around the corner. But we do know that God is with us as He was always with Paul. We need not sit in fear and not act. Nor do we ignore things and act as if everything is completely normal. We are to take life day by day for what it is. We are to sit in God’s Hands assured that He is in control. We are to act in faith, trusting and listening to the Holy Spirit. We are to continue to pursue humility as we seek to do God’s Will. We are to lay aside our personal agendas to be obedient to God alone. So do not fear if you are not sure you have this “live by faith” thing all down perfectly. Be assured that Jesus is right beside you teaching you each day to trust Him. With humility learn from Him each day how to live by faith. For those times you need encouragement, read some of Paul’s writings in the Bible and see how he kept trusting God in all circumstances. Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel. He lived it out in his life. He was so in love with God that he could not help but share his story with others. Follow his example, share why you love Jesus with someone. Before you know it, you will see how you are walking the walk and living by faith. `~Pastor Vicki Epper
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Have you ever walked away from someone in the midst of an argument? Walking away often feels right. Emotions are high. It just seems easier. You don’t have to talk through difficult topics of conversations, instead you can walk away, avoid the issue and pretend everything will work itself out. In our final week examining together the 7 places Jesus bled for us while on the cross, we are exploring how the wounds in His feet cleanse us from the times we walk away from God. We can try to go far away, but we can never be too far away from Him. Let’s learn from Jacob in the book of Genesis how we can return home after walking away. Jacob, one could say, was a swindler. He had developed a lifelong reputation of conning people if it meant he could get ahead. When he was young, he swindled his brother out of his part of the inheritance for a bowl of food. A little bit later, with the help of his mother, he convinced his old and blind father to give him the blessing of the eldest child even though he was the second born child. You could say he needed to run far away to protect himself from those he conned. Many years passed and Jacob heard from God that it was time to return to his homeland. Despite his fears he obeyed and packed up his belongings and moved his family to his homeland. As he journeyed, he worried how his older brother Esau would receive him. To read the full story, read Genesis 32-33. Jacob’s unease was deserved, but he hoped for peace with Esau. He returned home prepared to protect himself, ready for a fight, but was surprised when Esau welcomed him home warmly. There was much rejoicing between the reunited brothers. We learn from Jacob that despite hurting others and walking away, we can be reconciled to Jesus and to one another. Fears will arise at the unknown reception, but we can rest assured that God welcomes us back warmly. It is because of the wounds in Jesus’ feet that we are healed. Despite how far or how long you think your feet have taken you away from Jesus you are welcomed back warmly as soon as you turn back. God forgives you. God celebrates your return on a grander scale then Jacob and Esau. As you look upon the Cross this Holy Week, see the 7 places Jesus bled for you. See the wounds He bore for you. See the wounds that bring healing to your life. Find healing in His wounds. Be comforted knowing He did it all for you. He hung on that cross to bring you back to God alone. May you walk step in step with Jesus now in a renewed relationship with Him. Go where He leads and learn as He teaches you. Remain assured of His unconditional love for you as you see His wounds on the Cross. ~Pastor Vicki Epper We have been meditating on the wounds of Christ from which His redeeming blood flowed freely for us. This week's thoughts focus on the Gospel of John 19:34 where, “One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear and at once there came out blood and water.” THE FIFTH OF THE SEVEN WOUNDS OF CHRIST: The wound in His side. The heart may have been the vital organ pierced by the soldier. The Bible often speaks of the heart, not as that muscle in your chest that pumps blood through our bodies, but as the seat of our emotions, will, morals, faith, and character, indeed of our very self. The heart is that crucial link between our soul and our spirit. It was for the healing and renewal of our inner self, our memories and emotions that Jesus shed his precious blood. The ‘heart’ speaks to us of Jesus’ love for us and God’s desire to restore us to be “the best version of ourselves”. The best version of you and me looks like Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul in Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Paul is explaining the mystery of Christ dwelling by faith in the life of every believer. When Jesus died on the cross, pouring out his life, not only did he obtain salvation but He became the source of a New Being for everyone. Jesus Himself is the New Being, He is the Self with a capital ‘S’. Jesus is working in you from the inside out. The Apostle says, I live in this fleshly body but a New Being is at work in me. I am a work in progress and it won’t be completed soon. It’s not just Jesus’ in me, I myself have a role to play. Jesus cleansed the earthly temple in Jerusalem, but now we are His temple and there may be some junk in us that needs to be cleaned out. Colossians 3:1-13 explains this even more. In vs. 1-3 Paul says that we have died and our lives are hidden with Christ in God. Since we were all in Adam when he sinned in the garden, God put us all into Christ when he died on the cross. For this reason, we are all to “Put to death what is earthly” in us. He means that we must consider ourselves dead toward the patterns of life that characterized our past life, our “BC” (Before Christ) life. He lists a rogues’ gallery of sins: sexual sins, covetousness (idolatry), anger, wrath, malice, slander and obscene talk. (He has a similar list in Galatians 5:19-21). Paul says, “Put them away”, “Put off the old self with its practices”. The Jesus in you does not act like that, the mind of Christ in you does not think like that. Consider yourself dead toward all that would draw you back or draw you down. This is straight talk from a spiritual father to his spiritual children. You can’t just be impulsive and imitate the behavior and values of the world around you. It will ‘dumb your down’ and you’ll lose what you gained in Christ. Rather the apostle counsels, “Put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” In Romans 13:14 the Apostle says, “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ”. The Lord is saying, act like your true self, your real self in Christ. You have a will, and a gift from God called your conscience. You have the Ten Commandments. You have God’s will revealed in Holy Scripture. You have God revealed in the flesh in the Holy Gospel, Jesus Christ. By faith He lives in you, talk to Him, listen to Him. We have a place to go with our sins, the Cross. The places where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. It’s still abounding for each one of us. God is determined that we be the best version of ourselves, a redeemed and radiant self in Jesus Christ. When we goof, we have a place to go. Like the add, for the Mayo Clinic, “When you need help, you have a place to go”. The best version of ourselves is not given out at the Mayo Clinic, it’s in Jesus Christ. THERE IS A FOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD DRAWN FROM EMMANUEL'S VEINS AND SINNERS PLUNGED BENEATH THAT BLOOD LOSE ALL THEIR GUILTY STAINS ~Pastor Richard G. Erickson
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