On this Sunday when we celebrate the Confirmation of seven of our students, we can't help but think about the assignment that was given to all of us as Christians. The assignement to "Go and Baptize all Nations."
We face the Giant of rejection in a number of ways, including when we reject others based on worldly measurements. King David, was rejected by his brothers, even his father as a worthy candidate for King. But God looks at the heart when choosing people to carry out his important work of building His kingdom. This message looks at what having a God-Seeking Heart is all about.
As we focus on Mother's Day and the love that a mother has for her child, we can't help but look at the love that God the Father has for us. That love for us is modeled for us in HIs Son's death and resurrection from the grave.
Jesus gives a great analogy of staying connected to him and what benefits come from that relationship. When we as the branches stay connected to the the True Vine, we can do anything.
We all have giants in our lives that cause us to focus on the negative. Young shepherd boy David chose instead to look at God's power and promise when facing Goliath. When we focus on the power of the Gospel, we realize that God is much bigger than any of the giants in our lives.
As Community Lutheran Church celebrates its 23rd Birthday, we can remember how God has blessed and directed us everyday. The message that Community preaches has been the same for those 23 years and will continue to for the next 223 years. We preach Christ crucified. We preach about the Grace that God shows us everyday of our earthly lives and how he will take us to heaven when our lives end.
God had Joshua build a monument of stones from the bottom of the Jordan River to remind the Israelites of how he delivered them into the promised land. Our lives as living stones serve as reminders to us and to the world of what God has done and is doing in our lives.
Jesus appeared to his disciples in a closed and locked room for fear of the Jews. Jesus revealed to those disciples again God's plan of Salavation. That plan involved you and me and is the reason Jesus went to the cross in the first place.
We are living stones being built into the temple of God. His presence is where we, his church, are! He has chosen us to be a special people, a royal priesthood to declare His praises. He has called us out of darkness into his wonderful light!
It might be hard to believe in the risen Christ and like Thomas, we might wish to touch the hands of Christ and see the nail marks. But because of Thomas, who did get to see the risen Jesus, we can believe. We can trust the words from Scripture that tell us that Jesus is alive!
