DAILY DEVOTION, March 24, 2021, sins of omission

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17).

James reminds us that sin is not only what we do but what we fail to do. When we face an opportunity to do good, and we have the capability to act, but we fail to act, sin has been committed. When we realize how much good we leave undone, we learn how far we are from God’s standards. It’s easy to be overcome with guilt. But the grace of God can reassure those who are in Christ that there is no condemnation (Ro 8:1). We fall short, but we fall into the safety net of God’s grace.

True, but this does not mean that God excuses our neglect. Sin always brings divine discipline. When we are in a position to do a good deed, the best course is to act. When we fail to act, we may not lose our salvation, but we open ourselves up to divine discipline, and we deprive ourselves of rewards reserved for the faithful. We don’t want to allow this verse to overwhelm us with guilt. We can always do better. I think James is referring to a clear opportunity before us to act faithfully to God, but we refuse. An example would be when God commands us to forgive those why have hurt us, and we refuse. We expose ourselves to divine discipline. The better course is when we understand what God wants us to do, we act accordingly.

Dearest Father, help me see what You are calling me to do, and please help me act and not refuse. I know Your will is the path of blessing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Covid Update: Our church board has reviewed the covid situation. For the present, no changes will be made in our protocol. We will continue to take temperatures. We will continue to spray disinfectant in the sanctuary and fellowship hall prior to services. The AV lights will continue to be used. Communion is set up wearing plastic gloves. Masks are still recommended. Social distancing is still to be practiced. We are committed to doing all we can to keep everyone safe.

The good news is that all but four members in attendance Sunday have been vaccinated. If you have not been vaccinated social distancing is very important. The other good news is that no one has gotten covid from attending church. While covid is still with us and precautions are necessary the situation is improving. I know we are all looking forward to a return to normalcy.

Bible study will continue on Wednesday at 3:30. Our focus this week is on the trial and death of Jesus. This week we will have choir rehearsal following Bible study (around 4:30). The choir plans to sing on Easter.

On Sunday I will be preaching on the Palm Sunday theme. We will explore the proper way to welcome Jesus.

On Maundy-Thursday, April 1, we will observe a candlelight communion service.

On Good Friday we will observe our annual 24-hour prayer vigil. There are still slots open if you haven’t signed up yet.

On Easter Sunday I will be preaching a sermon I wasn’t able to preach last Easter because of covid cancelation. The theme will be the resurrection of Jesus, reflecting on Paul’s text in 1 Corinthians 15, “What if it Never Happened?”

From March last year to March this year has been difficult. I think I can see light at the end of the tunnel! Thank you all for your cooperation and support during what has been a very difficult year.
Blessings on all!

Pastor Bowman

DAILY DEVOTION, Marcy 22, 21,  Certainty

For we brought nothing into this world, ^]and it is certain we can carry nothing out (1 Tim. 6:7).

We have a saying that nothing is certain but death and taxes. Like all aphorisms, it is not 100% true. Paul describes two certainties in our text. What did you bring with you when you were born? Nothing. You arrived empty-handed. And what will you take with you when you leave this world? Exactly nothing. All our money and things will be left behind.

There are other positive certainties available to us. We can be confident we are among the redeemed when we have met the condition of trusting in Jesus. We can be certain that the promises of God are forever true. For example,  God promises us that He will never leave us or forsake us. That gives us reliable comfort we can count on daily. We can be confident that God is in control and that He is always working for our good (Romans 8:28).

We can be certain that Christ will return (John 14:23, and many others). We can rejoice in the truth that God finally triumphs. Sometimes it seems like evil has run amuck, that God has lost control of His world. Do not be deceived. God is still in control, and He will make all things right when Jesus returns. Every day we can rejoice in the certainty that nothing can ever separate us from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35-39). God’s Word is full of certainties that bring us comfort. Yes, death and taxes are inevitable but more important, is the certainty of God’s promises. Cling to them tightly, and you have a grasp on certainty.

Dear Father, I must confess that too much uncertainty makes me nervous! Thank You for filling my mind with Your promises which are forever true. Please help me to turn to those promises when confusion and uncertainty invade my life. In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen

Daily Devotion, 3/20/21, Lay aside

… let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Heb. 12:1).

The author is comparing the Christian life to an athletic contest. To “lay aside” is one Greek word meaning to lay something down and push it out of reach. Athletes involved in track and field do not want any excess weight that might slow them down. They lay aside anything that might hinder their speed. Christians are also involved in running a race. We are seeking to make our lives count for Jesus. Some things can slow us down and make us ineffective. Our text is referring to sin. If we do not deal appropriately with the sins in our lives through the use of confession, repentance, prayer, and the Lord’s Supper, our witness is rendered useless. Sins are like excess weight, which slow down and even cancel out our effectiveness.  If we ignore them and allow them to remain, they grow in weight. If you don’t remove them, they will eventually weigh you down and knock you out of the race of faith.

Gracious God, our Father, I pray I will not allow disobedience to You to gain a firm hold on my life. Please help me recognize when sin has crept in and then quickly confess and repent, asking You to help me lay it aside. I want to be a useful servant of Jesus, my Lord, and Savior. In His holy name, I pray. Amen. 

DAILY DEVOTION, 3/19/21, Submit to leaders

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. (Heb. 13:17).

This is an interesting verse for pastors. One way to describe my task is to say I am watching out for the souls of the members. I have to make sure I am feeding you with the truth of God’s word. I will have to give God an account concerning how well I have carried out my leadership role. This is why I make every effort to preach Christ according to the Scriptures. I cannot do your soul any good if I depart from this foundation. The command here is not “Obey your pastor regardless of what he preaches.” The command is to obey and submit to the pastor as he preaches the truth.

The laity are also commanded to work to make sure the pastor is able to carry out his task with joy, not grief. In other words, don’t go out of your way to give the pastor a hard time! I know of several churches that have a reputation for being hard on the pastor. Their pastors only last for a short time, and then along comes another one, and then another, and another . . . As I thought of this passage, I also thought, “Thank you, Warsaw Christian Church, for making my experience here a pleasant one.” I can’t think of any serious grief this church has given me over my 18 or so years serving as your pastor.  As an octogenarian pastor, I am not sure concerning how long I can go on. I can assure you of this. As long as you put up with me, I promise to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified to the best of my ability.

Father in heaven, I do thank You for allowing me to serve in this church. Help me to preach Christ with grace and power so that the church will be drawn closer to Him.  Help us all to be submissive to Jesus, seeking to serve Him as faithful disciples. In His name, Amen.