MIDWEEK MESSAGE #43
Hello and welcome to Midweek Message (MM) #43. Sure has been a bit dreary the past couple of days but I do hope you have been able to find a bright side to your day. I will often repeat to myself the Scripture which says, “This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Ps.118:24) May I suggest that to you as a good start to your day?
Owen County has hit Orange when it comes to the number of Covid cases. That spells good news for our county. But in the long run, it will not mean much of a change to what OVCF does. We will continue with the seating and suggested social distancing when we meet, but we will also continue offering the live stream as an option. I really appreciate those of you who do watch the live stream. Even though it is not seeing you in person, I still feel I can at least connect with you in some small way.
I don’t have much to say this week because I wanted to include an article I read. It is by Karl Vaters who has written a lot about small town churches and has a heart for small town pastors (of which I am, obviously, one. I’d also add very gladly and proud to be one). It is written primarily to pastors but I believe you will see the application to us all.
The Most Important Principle For Your Church To Get Right This (And Every) Year
By Karl Vaters / January 21, 2021
Live for Jesus.
That’s it, pastors and church leaders.
That’s the principle.
Live for Jesus.
Everything else flows from that.
Put Jesus first.
Seek Him and His glory, not your own platform.
Follow Him and His teaching, not your own ideas.
Lead the congregation according to Christ-like principles, not the latest business model.
Resist The Pull To Compromise
There are so many other things that want to compete for our time and attention.
From the current political battle, to the latest trend, to the relentless tug of extra-biblical tradition.
There’s always something trying to tell us we can do both. That we can have our preferences alongside Jesus.
That’s the compromise which must be resisted.
Nothing stands alongside Jesus without eventually replacing him in our hearts, actions and motivations.
There’s Never Too Much Jesus
It’s too easy to think “Yeah, I know. I’ve got this,” and move along to something else.
But there is nothing else to move along to.
You’ll never get enough of Jesus, you’ll never be able to teach too much about Jesus, and none of us will ever live enough like Jesus that we can say “Yeah, I know. I’ve got this.”
The closer I get to Jesus, the more I want nothing but him. And the more determined I am to resist anything that would replace, reduce, overshadow or compete with seeing Jesus shine through me.
So, this year and every year, let’s renew our commitment to the one principle that we must always get right. No matter what else may change, this must not.
Live for Jesus.
Get that right and you get everything right.
I thought the whole article was good but those last two lines struck gold with me. As a church body we could be firing on all cylinders but if we aren’t living for Jesus then we are missing the boat. So let’s accept the challenge. Have a great rest of the week. I love you all.
Pastor Bill
