Pastor's Meditations

Grace in Disgrace (Genesis 6)

                “And the Lord was sorry…”

                The wickedness of mankind during Noah’s time was so great that God “repented” or changed his mind about having created the human race. This race that was made in God’s image was now totally depraved and evil.

                If God would take (and He does) a deep, probing look inside our hearts, would he be ashamed by what he sees? As Christians, we were created twice by God, therefore greater is our responsibility and accountability.

                “But Noah found favor…”

                The times in which we live today are remarkably similar to the times of Noah. In fact, the Bible predicts that the return of the Lord will be in a future time “just as in the days of Noah…” (Matt. 24:37). This time may be closer than we imagine if we judge by the moral decay and ever-growing wickedness of our present society.

                Nevertheless, our God will visit his people and impart abundant, overflowing grace, even amid calamity and disgrace. Just as Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord, we can receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16).

                Are you going through a tough time? Do not despair. I have been there, and I know firsthand how sweet and timely God’s grace is. Better yet is the fact that Jesus knows exactly how you feel because, “he is a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity” (Isa. 53:3).

                We can live in grace because in Jesus we are more than conquerors.

                A. G.

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Happy Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving

It’s my favorite festive day

Every day your blessings we are receiving

Every day your Name we must praise

I love Thanksgiving

I wish it was Thanksgiving every day

To get together with my family

And together we would pray

I love Thanksgiving

The weather, the meal and the break

It is the time for joy and for singing

For the wonders of your grace

I love Thanksgiving

My heart is filled with a happy song

For you rescued me from the storm

And you forgave all my past

Today I give you my thanks

And forever I will give you my heart

A. G.

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God the Poet

                                      Genesis 5

                 “Lived…became the father…and he died.”

                This Bible chapter contains one of the saddest “poems” ever written. It tells us in a rather repetitive fashion that every man and woman is Adam’s lineage did three main things. They lived, had sons and daughters and they died.

                Is this a portrait of your life? Perhaps not, but maybe you know someone who right now is leading a lifeless existence. His or her life is void of hope and filled with as much excitement as watching the “motion” of a turtle.

                “Walked…was no more…God took him.”

                Here we have another poem, a more cheerful and hopeful composition. The title could be “Enoch, the first astronaut.” Enoch’s life was never boring, hopeless, or even ordinary. He “walked” with God; that is, he enjoyed a daily and intimate communion with our Lord.

                Do you walk with Jesus?

                If you do, if your life is filled with God, you are in grave danger of extinction.

                First, your old works and sins of the flesh will disappear, and then you, or at least the “old you”, will cease to exist. Christ will live in you and through you (Galatians 2:20).

                God took Enoch to heaven while he was alive. Something striking similar could happen to us soon. The Bible promises that Jesus is coming again for His Church. In a twinkling of an eye, we will be transformed and transported to heaven, but in the meanwhile God is working to make our lives as beautiful as a poem.

                A. G.

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OFFERING AND BLOOD (Genesis 4)

           “Abel…brought…fat portions.”

            Abel brought his best offering to God. This biblical example of love and devotion is recorded in the pages of the Bible for us to follow. Have you experienced the joy of giving your absolute best to the Lord?

                Our God is good, and when God blesses us (which happens every day), He does it “according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). In the same manner, God expects the best from us…and nothing less.

                What do you have? Do you have money? Give it to God and he will multiply it and bless you. Do you have time? Give it to the Lord. The week has seven days and one hundred and sixty-eight hours. A mere 10 percent of your time is seventeen hours that you can devote to God’s service. Are you willing to give more time to God? And what about giving your love to God? If we do not love God every second of our lives, we are not giving our best; we are sinning.

                “And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering…”

                How precious it is to know that the Creator of the Universe is pleased with my life. There is nothing better for us to do than to please our heavenly Father with our words and deeds.

                Beautiful are the words: “this is my son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” This is the purpose of the Christian life, to worship God with nothing but our best and to always please Him. Is God pleased with your life today; right now?

                What have you done for the Lord lately?

                A. G.

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