Friday, April 18, 2024

 

 

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”  (Mark 2:17)

 

 

Fourth, the mission station of my college professor’s youth included a clinic.

 

Those who are sick go to a clinic in the hope of receiving what they need to become well.

 

Clinics include all kinds of personnel: clerks, pharmacists, technicians, and nurses.  Still, it's the physician who truly brings about the healing.

 

Those of us who "staff the clinic,” so to speak, have the responsibility of ushering people into the presence of the Great Physician.

 

We need to avoid two errors: (1) to believe we ourselves can provide the healing, and (2) to believe we have no role to play in the clinic.

 

Church, school, barn, and clinic.

 

These are good images to keep in mind as we strive to faithfully follow Christ.

 

Blessings,

Pastor Karl

Thursday, April 17, 2024

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He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.  (Ephesians 4:28)

 

 

Third, the mission station of my college professor’s youth included a barn.

 

This barn was the center of the missionaries efforts to grow crops and raise cattle.  Though these efforts the missionaries provided for themselves, as well as for the native population.

 

I did not choose the verse above because I believe I need to address theft.

 

Rather, I chose the verse above because of the reason the Apostle Paul gives for working and doing something useful with our hands.

“…so that (we) may have something to share with those in need."

 

A barn can be a symbol of status, announcing our wealth.

 

Or, a barn can be a symbol of generosity, reflecting our willingness to give to those in need our of our own abundance.

 

There is little doubt as to which of these two attitudes our “barns" should reflect.

Blessings,

Pastor Karl

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

 

You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.  (Titus 2:1)

 

 

Second, the mission station of my college professor’s youth included a school.

 

The school was a place for education.

 

The school provided an opportunity for both children and adults to become literate.  Education was provided to help students learn to read the Scriptures for themselves.

 

While the primary subject matter was the Bible, many types of classes were offered in order to help people develop so as to live fruitful and productive lives.  Students were educated so they would be able to earn a living.

 

As we follow Jesus, we are to teach others about Scripture, “sound doctrine,” and Christian virtue.

 

We are also to teach people how to think, and how to provide for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Blessings, 

Pastor Karl

Tuesday, April 15, 2024

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For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body…  (1 Corinthians 12:13)

 

 

One of my college professors spoke of his experiences growing up on a foreign mission field.

 

He used the several different buildings at the mission station to illustrate what mission in the name of Jesus involves.

 

First, the mission station had a church.

 

The church was a place of worship.

 

It was in the church that the Triune God was worshipped, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ was preached.

 

The most important aspect our mission endeavor is to worship God, and tell others of the grace, forgiveness, and love of Jesus that leads to salvation and new life.

 

This is the very center of all of our efforts.

 

It is symbolized by the Church building, even as the true Church is the body into which we have all been baptized by “the one Spirit."

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Blessings,

 

Pastor Karl

Monday, April 14, 2024

 

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  (James 2:17)

 

 

James was adamant that faith, in order to be genuine, must be accompanied by deeds.

 

The “dead faith” of which James spoke is, “mere belief."

 

James went on to say: You believe there is one God.  Good!  Even the demons believe that—and shudder.  (James 2:19)

Belief is accepting something as true.  (The demons knew God existed.)

 

Faith is consenting to God.  (The demons would not consent to God.)

 

 

Belief is a relation to an idea.

 

Faith is a relationship with God.

 

 

Belief is a private, internal act.

 

Faith is a public response.

 

 

James urged Christians to move beyond mere belief in the existence of God (dead faith) to a living relationship with the Living God that includes faithful response.

 

We are called, not merely to believe in God, but to respond to His invitation and call.

 

James might have called this, “Living Faith."

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Blessings,

 

Pastor Karl