DEVOTION, January 18, 2021

The Bible speaks of union with Christ. Union with Christ is no peripheral matter.  It separates true Christians from pseudo-Christians.  It separates the wheat of true faith from the weeds of hypocrisy.  Yes, within the church of Jesus Christ you find weeds; persons who claim to be Christians but whose daily lives reveal something different.  When Paul wanted the Corinthians to examine themselves to see if they were true Christians, what did he tell them to do?  He did not ask them to recite the basic doctrines of the faith, or ask if they were properly baptized.  Both of these matters are important to our Christian faith, but Paul considered something else more fundamental.  He said to the Corinthians, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.  Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test” (2 Cor. 13:5).

Paul invites us to take a look within our own hearts.  When you are alone, when you are quiet, and you look within, what do you find?  Do you realize that Jesus is there with you?  Paul suggests that when we take this inward look we will know if Jesus is present.  His presence is such an overwhelming reality, He cannot abide within our hearts and we remain unaware of His presence.  Paul does not explain the nature of this indwelling.  It is a great mystery, but those in whom Jesus dwells are not ignorant of His presence. It is one mark of true faith. When you examine yourself do you pass this test, or fail?

Father, Your Word gives us a simple test to determine if our faith is real. I pray that our church family will all pass the test, knowing the presence of Jesus within their souls. In His blessed name, I pray, Amen.

On Tuesday, 1/19, there will be a graveside service for Mary Jane Cox in Overland Park, KS. There will be a memorial service for Mary Jane at the church on Wednesday at 11:00 AM followed by a time to visit in the Fellowship Hall after the service. Coffee and cookies will be served.

Wednesday Bible study will be at 3:30. Masks required, please.

Sunday’s sermon will continue in Genesis with a look at Satan. If God made everything good, where did Satan come from?

Please continue to pray for our country. The present division and unrest is very concerning. Thanks to everyone for your continued support of our church through your attendance, prayers, and offerings. Continue to pray that God will be merciful and eliminate this covid crisis.

Pastor Bowman

Devotion, 1/16/21

Ephesians, 1:1-3.

 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ”

Paul greets the Ephesian congregation, referring to them as “saints,” and then explains that a saint is a person who lives faithfully in Christ Jesus.  Note this carefully. A mature Christian is not one who merely professes faith in Jesus.  He is one who strives to live faithfully.  Note also this common Pauline phrase, “in Christ.”  Faithful living takes place only when we are “in Christ.”  Through faith a marvelous thing has happened.   Christ dwells in us, and we live in Christ.  It is only when our souls are united with the Spirit of Jesus that we are able to live faithfully.

If Christ is seen by us as one who is external to us, we shall fail miserably in the Christian life. We are in the “immature” category. Immature believers are redeemed, but not of much use in the Kingdom of God on earth.  Christ is present in an immature believer, but largely ignored.  In order to serve God faithfully, Christ must be in us and we must be in Christ, and we must faithfully follow Him.  It is His presence within the human soul which provides the motivation and the power for us to live faithfully.  A Christian is a person who is in union with Jesus. A mature Christian in one who lives in the light of that truth.  An immature Christian ignores His presence. Which one are you?

Thank You Jesus for coming to dwell with us. Help me to realize daily Your presence and to live under Your direction. I want to be a mature Christian, of use in the Kingdom of God. May Jesus Christ be honored by my daily choices, Amen.

DEVOTION, January 15, 2021

Paul had encountered Christ on the Damascus Road. After three days of blindness, Paul was healed through the intervention of a follower of Jesus named Ananias. At that moment, Paul’s previous goals for his life began to look like garbage. That’s how he describes his previous life goals. “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage . . .” Later, in this same passage, he declares, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”

Still later he sums up his new goal: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”   Now Paul had only one goal—to serve Jesus Christ.  Wouldn’t it be great to have only one primary goal in life? One goal that you knew in your heart was the purpose God made you for? This is it. You were made to serve Jesus Christ. You were made to live out Jesus’ values and priorities. You were made to do good works that express your love for Jesus.  And if God made you for that purpose, then it is only in serving Jesus Christ that you will find your identity and peace and fulfillment. No other goal will satisfy you.   

Father. I thank You for drawing me to Jesus, my Savior. While I have many goals in life, help me to see that my one primary goal is to serve Him. May my thoughts, words, and deeds bring honor to His holy name. Amen.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL, Jan. 13, 2021

Jesus is the answer to humanity’s suffering and sin. He has come to us, but so many have yet to receive him. What He offers us is Himself. We want hope. He is hope. We want peace. He is peace. We want love. He is love. The problem is many want hope, but do not want Him. Many want peace, but do not want Him. Many want love, but do not want Him. People long to see a world without suffering or sin, a world of peace and harmony, but do not want to open their lives to Him so that he might begin his healing and reconciling work. There is no other way. Jesus alone is the way, the truth, and the life.

It is strange to think of the links to which God has gone to bring us the things for which we long. His Son left the glory of heaven to identify with us, taking on our humanity. He took the judgment we deserve when He went to the cross. He promises us the forgiveness of sins and eternal life if we will just trust Him. Love, hope, peace, wisdom, etc….all these things are ours if we will trust Him. Jesus has done all the work. Will we trust Him and receive His blessings?

Holy Father, I often wonder why so many pay scant attention to Your Son. He has provided for us all the blessings of God for which we long, yet many resist Him. Open my eyes that I may see more clearly what Christ has done for me. In Huis blessed name I pray, Amen.