Good morning -
We have every reason to be eternal optimists. The ultimate outcome of our lives gives realistic basis for confidence and hope, but present resources available to us also inspire optimism:
"Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me. " (Micah 7:8)
No believer is immune to missteps in their lives. We each are capable of unwise decisions and disobedient actions. Our daily existence consists of a mixture of God-honoring choices and actions as well as sinful ones. Regardless of choices we make that cause us to fall in our faith, however, we ultimately will rise through the strength of Him who is at work within us (Philippians 2:13).
Beyond our present "falling and rising" is an even greater hope: though we ultimately fall in death we will most certainly rise in resurrection. Death will never be our final reality. We are destined to be optimistic overcomers of the greatest darkness.
We presently live in an age of darkness but "the LORD is a light for me". As we are surrounded by the pessimism of economic uncertainty, global warming, increasing crime and moral decay, we live optimistically as those with the light of the Lord within illuminating our path toward the Kingdom of God. The light of that optimism shines out brightly against the darkness of this age as we "appear as lights in the world, holding fast (forth) the word of life" (Philippians 2:15-16).
The challenge and privilege of this day is to nourish and fuel the light of the Lord within so that we shine brightly as a beacon of hope to those lost in the world's darkness. Kingdom citizens are points of light in the darkness so long the Lord shines brightly from within. That light shines, not so much through our DOING but through our YIELDING. As we yield the Lord of light produces the fruit of good deeds through us that accomplishes far more than we ever could in our own strength and resolve.
As a popular song goes, "carry your candle; go light your world". Through cultivating the light of the Lord within by nourishing that vital relationship, may we each shine brightly and hopefully in a dark world today.
Pastor Steve
We have every reason to be eternal optimists. The ultimate outcome of our lives gives realistic basis for confidence and hope, but present resources available to us also inspire optimism:
"Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me. " (Micah 7:8)
No believer is immune to missteps in their lives. We each are capable of unwise decisions and disobedient actions. Our daily existence consists of a mixture of God-honoring choices and actions as well as sinful ones. Regardless of choices we make that cause us to fall in our faith, however, we ultimately will rise through the strength of Him who is at work within us (Philippians 2:13).
Beyond our present "falling and rising" is an even greater hope: though we ultimately fall in death we will most certainly rise in resurrection. Death will never be our final reality. We are destined to be optimistic overcomers of the greatest darkness.
We presently live in an age of darkness but "the LORD is a light for me". As we are surrounded by the pessimism of economic uncertainty, global warming, increasing crime and moral decay, we live optimistically as those with the light of the Lord within illuminating our path toward the Kingdom of God. The light of that optimism shines out brightly against the darkness of this age as we "appear as lights in the world, holding fast (forth) the word of life" (Philippians 2:15-16).
The challenge and privilege of this day is to nourish and fuel the light of the Lord within so that we shine brightly as a beacon of hope to those lost in the world's darkness. Kingdom citizens are points of light in the darkness so long the Lord shines brightly from within. That light shines, not so much through our DOING but through our YIELDING. As we yield the Lord of light produces the fruit of good deeds through us that accomplishes far more than we ever could in our own strength and resolve.
As a popular song goes, "carry your candle; go light your world". Through cultivating the light of the Lord within by nourishing that vital relationship, may we each shine brightly and hopefully in a dark world today.
Pastor Steve
posted by steve @ 11:12 AM
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