Pastor Quinn • October 31, 2021
Cling to the Only Word that Saves
For many problems there are multiple solutions. If your car is breaking down you can repair it or get a new one. If you have high-blood pressure, it might be treated with medication or with diet or a combination of the two. But when it comes to the "problem" that our life on earth will end, either at death or on Judgement Day, there is only one solution. Only the Word of God can connect you to Christ and make you ready for the next phase of the God-lived life. That is why since the beginning of time, Christians have been willing to take brave stands for the sake of God's Word. May we do that same today. A God-lived life is a life that clings to God's Word and boldly proclaims it as the only hope of salvation.
What do you consider your life’s top priorities? Many people start with family and friends. Financial security and health follow closely. Reputation and recreation make the cut. How about faith? Is it the top priority? What if other priorities must be sacrificed to keep faith the top priority? The Bible helps Christians keep worldly wealth in perspective. It can buy the things of this world, things that rust and decay, but there is something more valuable. True wealth is spiritual wealth. It can be found only in God and his eternal blessings for us in Christ.
This weekend is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of the Independence of the United States of America. American citizens from many backgrounds are celebrating in many ways. What makes Christian citizens different? Christian citizenship is not connected to a particular political party. Christian citizenship is not connected to particular civic activities. Christians understand that they live in two kingdoms. God does not need our good works, but our neighbors do. God’s Word informs our choice of political activities as we seek to be faithful to our calling as Christian citizens.
Not all love is good. It is self-destructive to love bad things. It is just as harmful to love good things in a bad order. For example, it would seem to be a good thing for a man to love his dog. But if he loves his dog more than he loves his wife, his “love” for both is disordered. For love to be healthy, it needs to be properly ordered. Christians love the people whom God has placed into their lives. But when those people desire something that God does not desire, Christians love and serve God above all. Properly ordered love leads us to be faithful to God and his Word. We love God above all because he first loved us.
