NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2012
Sunday is the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany. The assigned gospel text from Matthew 5 also comes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It’s speaking to the actions, motivations, and choices we should make when choosing the options of living in fellowship with Christ.
The idea of an all knowing, all powerful, and all present God has distorted the truth of how God interacts with humanity. It’s true that God is all 3 and also true that God desires to have a relationship based on fellowship with us. Now, while God invites us into this relationship based on fellowship and promises us wonderful benefits resulting from this kind with God, God gives each of us the choice as to whether we individually will choose to have a relationship with God based on fellowship.
Having created us freewill, God will NOT violate our freewill. It is totally up to us whether we choose to be in a relationship based on fellowship with God. To have a relationship based on fellowship, it cannot be coerced, it must be a freewill choice of both parties. And often God has decreed such as God did through Jesus saying, “I’m always standing at the door knocking. Anyone who opens the door, I’ll come in and have fellowship with them.” (Rev. 3:20, paraphrased)
The assigned Hebrew text used this Sunday is one in which God is inviting God’s people into a relationship based on fellowship with God. Through Moses, God tells the people of Israel, “I have placed 2 options before you: life and death, blessings and curses. Hint! Hint! CHOOSE LIFE, so that you may live! It’s Your Best Option.” (Duet. 30:19, Paraphrased)
Join us for worship this Sunday in person, by Zoom or Facebook Livestream. I’ll speak more about these two choices before us in my sermon “CHOOSE LIFE – IT’S YOUR BEST OPETION” based on “Deuteronomy 30:15-20.”
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