Back to Basics

While it is still early in the new year, we have to say we are living in very interesting times. My son’s father-in-law is a Lutheran minister, 100 miles north of New York City. He once told me about the surge in church attendance following September 11, 2001. Even two hours north of the tragedy, in a classic New England village, in Rhinebeck, NY; there was an increase in church attendance.

Isn’t that how most of us react to challenges and stress? Our human predicaments easily remind us to go back to the basics, to the ABC’s of our lives: God, family, friends, church, community. It’s a natural human instinct. In Romans 2:14,15, Paul reminds us that each of us (not just believers) have a God-given conscience built into our hearts. 

We often hear that “someone found God” or “they are searching for God.” The Scriptural and more accurate picture would be that God has never been lost, it is we who have gotten lost. And, it is in trials, heartache, and sorrow, that God’s built-in GPS, in the human heart, always points to home. To a place of rest, security, and safety. 

We are all in different places in our Christian experiences and in our shared walk through life, but we all equally share in life’s many and varied challenges. Scripture tells us this is the human dilemma.  Today’s trials are a reminder that now is the opportunity to draw closer to the author of our faith, to place our trust in Him, to live our daily lives in the A, B, C’s of our faith. 

As Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” I want to emphasize two words: “cast” and “cares.” In Greek, the word used for “cast” describes a physical action, as in throwing or ejecting: the purposeful action of placing all of our anxieties on God. It is something we must do ourselves, which requires that we admit, “humbling” ourselves, that we can’t do it by ourselves. We need to just step out of the way and let God.

The other word in 1 Peter 5:7 is “cares.” This is another word in Greek for “anxiety.” Peter is telling us that God cares for us. Peter is telling us to let God worry about us. Stop worrying about yourself and let God do the worrying. Once we realize the utter futility of our abilities, it is so much easier to turn things over to God. In God, we are promised rest; even in the middle of the storm, we are promised peace. 

Jesus said to each of us, " _______ (insert your name) I’ll be with you … day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 (MSG)

—Dr. Bill Pritchard

All Things Work Together

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”—Roman 8:28 NKJV

This oft-quoted verse testifies of the sovereignty of God, not to the beneficent outworking of circumstances. It does not say that God “wills” everything to happen, but that God takes everything that happens to us and makes it come together for good. In the words of Joseph, “you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good” (Genesis 50:20 MSG).

When we read the entirety of Romans 8 we see that Paul’s confidence that God will bring good out of evil comes from the grace God has already given. Mainly, the grace of adoption by which we are called His children and given the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14-17, 23). As His children, the Spirit helps us in our weakness and perfects our prayers to be in tune with the will of God (Romans 8:26-28).

With such grace, how can things not turn out for good? As God’s adopted children He cares for us as a parent does her/his child. (Matthew 7:11). And what are God’s plans for His children? 1. To be conformed to the image of the Son 2. To justify 3. To glorify (Romans 8:29-30). Despite the difficulties of life, our failures, and imperfections, God makes all things come together that all His Children may reflect the character of Jesus, be set free of sin, and be brought into communion with Him.

Trust that God is taking all the pieces of your life to bring good. For it is written: "where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Romans 5:20 NKJV).

—Pastor Alex Portillo

Understanding the Loaves

This past Sabbath we explored Mark 6:45-52. I pointed out that Mark finishes the story by adding a detail that neither Matthew nor John include, “And they were afraid, for they did not understand the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.” What loaves is Mark talking about? He is referring to the loaves that fed the 5,000 earlier that day (see Mark 6:30-44).

What was there to understand in the loaves? Simply, the miracle resembled the feeding of the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16). Had they understood the loaves they would have seen that the same God who provided in the desert was now providing before their eyes. The power of the story is that it reveals the divine nature of Jesus.

And according to Mark, had the disciples understood this they would have been able to see that it was Jesus walking on the waves. As I have wrestled with this reality I have come to see that many times in my life when I have been afraid and unable to see Jesus in the world it is because I have forgotten the divine nature of Jesus. For in His divine nature lies the assurance of my salvation and a revelation of the character of God.

In Scripture, understanding is not simply an intellectual exercise but a spiritual one (consider Luke 24:15). But “understanding” and “grasping” are different. We may not grasp the divine nature of the Son, but we can understand it. We may not be able to comprehend how God become human or how mortal flesh contained divine glory, but we can understand that it happened.

And according to Mark, understanding the divine nature of the Son is necessary in order to see Jesus walking on the waves. What does it mean for us though? It means that it is necessary in order to see Jesus everywhere we go and in everything we do.

All glory and praise be to the Living Word, our Savior, and King, Jesus Christ. 

—Pastor Alex Portillo

Christian Unity

It seems to me that we are living in especially chaotic times. The news of natural disasters, weather events or human tragedies often are reported in the superlative, “the worst…, the biggest…, the coldest…, the most….” A recent example of this is a CNN headline from two days ago. “Tonga eruption was ‘hundreds of times’ more powerful than Hiroshima atomic bomb.”

How do we remain tethered to our faith when so many around us are polarized and angry? Our enemy has been successful, even in the church, of turning brothers and sisters against each other. Recent political strife has drawn many of us into taking sides and vocalizing our conservative or progressive opinions on-line. Government and employment mandates regarding taking the COVID-19 vaccine or wearing masks have at times triggered feelings of resentment that often get played out within the fellowship of the church family.

When was the last time you prayerfully asked God what His will is for you regarding these things? Have you earnestly asked the Lord to purge your thoughts of selfishness and criticism?

Jesus, praying to the Father, says, “…That they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” John 17:22-23 ESV

Unity within the church is not something we can achieve by trying to get along. Christian unity is a gift the Holy Spirit brings when we are together surrendered to God. And unity, when everyone else in the world is quarreling, is a powerful testimony of the power of God’s love.

—Jim McMurry

The Presents of His Presence

If you are like me, you like to have your devotional time in the morning. It’s quiet, you are alone, and you can just be in scripture and in prayer with God. Eventually, that time comes to an end and you hit the ground running. You have checklists to complete, emails to send, meetings to be at, grandkids to pick up at school, dentist appointments, grocery shopping, etc. The list goes on and on. For many of us, while we mindfully practice being in the presence of Jesus during the beginning of our days, we usually forget about God as the day goes on. While we begin our days with Jesus, the rest of the day is completely dependent upon us.

           Psalm 127:1 says this, “Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” In other words, if God is not a part of the work, then the work was done in vain. Friends, I do not want my days to be in vain. Let us all practice being in the presence of Jesus not only in the morning but also in the afternoon and in the evening. As we go about our daily tasks, may we invite Jesus to be a part of our days so that as we look back at our lives, we can say that we lived a life in the presence of Jesus.

Here are three ideas you can put into practice.

-      Pause, and invite Jesus to be a part of your day. Ask Him to help you with whatever you are doing at the moment.

-      Go for a ten-minute walk. While walking, spend time in prayer.

-      If you are stressed, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

—Pastor Evan Davies

A Desirable Sacrifice

When Nathan told David of an injustice that had happened in his kingdom, he became enraged! David analyzed the situation correctly and passed a righteous judgment. But in doing so he condemned himself. And God said to him: “You did it in secret, but I will [hurt you] in broad daylight before all Israel’” (2 Sam 2:22). And so we see something clearly about David that stands as a lesson for us today: He was just enough to judge others justly, but not just enough to judge himself justly. If he would not judge himself correctly, God would.

Why is it so easy to judge everyone around us but so difficult to judge ourselves? And when I say ‘judge’ I do not mean it in the meaningless way that is often used in the church to escape accountability. When I say ‘judge’ I mean it in the biblical sense of justice. Why are we able to judge the injustice in the world so easily but we cannot judge the injustice of our own actions? The reason is that it is hard to be objective about ourselves. It’s easy to admit what someone else’s actions reveal about them. But it is hard to accept what our own actions reveal about us. But if we are not honest with ourselves, God will force us to be honest with ourselves.

Holiness is not a perfect sinless life, but an honest life of repentance. Saints are not perfect people, but people who war against the worst part of themselves. Repentance cannot happen without honesty, and coming to terms with who we really are can be a humbling experience. One that shatters us completely. This is why years later reflecting on this incident, David would write in Psalm 51:17 - “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”

What does God want from you? He wants you to be honest with yourself and repent. There is no need to worry about God’s response to your brokenness. For he has already promised not to reject you and revealed that your broken spirit is exactly what he wants.

—Pastor Alex Portillo

This last Sabbath, Pastor Jim challenged us to deeply consider how we will live in the new year, 2022.  

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I was hangry and tired. I was out all day and I didn’t stop to eat until late. So when I finally found food, I was completely frustrated when I was unable to sit anywhere comfortably in the cafe and eat my dinner. I know…first world problems.

 As I walked back to my lodging, food getting cold, kicking the sidewalk and grumbling along the way...I just thought, "What in the heck is wrong with this world?!"

 Walking through the streets I was becoming more and more frustrated. It was crowded and loud. I was hungry. My dinner was getting cold. But I knew that my attitude was the problem.

I paused. I took a breath. And I said a quick prayer…

I spied a spot to eat my meal. As I sat and turned to admire the spectacular view, I saw an older man next to me. Pulling out my food, I commented about the beauty in front of us. That man and I had a wonderful conversation. I learned so much about his life. The scruff and the deep lines on his face confirmed the struggles he shared with me. He didn't have a car, only the old bike by his side. He didn't have a family. And at his age, retirement wasn't on his radar; he still had to work just to get by.

 But his attitude was on point. "Ric, this is my favorite spot. I ride my bike here a few times a week just to enjoy it."

 After an hour of conversation he left. 

I got my phone out and started taking some pictures. The sunset made the spectacular view even more stunning. I know how fortunate I am. I know how blessed I am. And I know that without Jesus' teachings in my life, without that moment of prayer and

connection with Him that stopped my slide into a negative attitude, my evening could've been much different. God soothed my soul.

Again, I think about the verse… And it means the world to me––a world that Jesus has overcome.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John‬ ‭16:33‬

Each year I choose one word that will define the year to come. This year I chose a word that I want to live my life by. MORE. More faith, more service, more Spirit, more growth, more positivity, more people at Jesus' feet, more church vision, more joy, more family, more development, more Mission, more of Jesus. 

—Ric Peinado