Reflecting on the Year Past

Another year is drawing to a close and 2009 is quickly approaching. As we have our last Christmas celebrations, we begin to settle back into our normal routines. Yet, at this time of the year, many take a few moments to reflect on the past year and anticipate the year ahead.

Some consider what they have accomplished, or failed to get done. Others may reflect on the trials of the past year and consider a few victories. As you begin to consider both the year that is drawing to a close and the year ahead, I encourage you to do some reflection from a different “angle.” Consider how God has provided and carried you through 2008. What has God enabled you to accomplish? Have you given Him the glory for it? What trials has he carried you through, proving Himself faithful once again? What things have happened that have caused you to stop what you are doing and worship? I hope and pray that you can think of some.

Though we face challenging times, God knows what we are facing and He is faithful! Paul’s exhortation to the Church of Thessalonica seems especially fitting:

2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. (ESV)

That last part is my prayer for all of you today: “May the Lord
direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.” Amen and Amen!

In His grip,

Pastor Decker

What Ice And Sin Have In Common

The weather this past week sure has produced some slippery back roads. What once was snow melted to become a layer of ice. Now, they are once again covered with snow. That made driving the vans on Wednesday night a challenging task. What looked like a reasonable place to stop often proved to be a very slippery surface. It’s a sad state of affairs when you think you might get stuck in the middle of the road. But then, that comes part and parcel with Michigan winters.

No one likes driving on ice. We all know that it is dangerous. In just a moment, we can go from relative safety to potential or actual injury. If we are smart, we take ice seriously.

However, there is something more slippery and dangerous than ice. Unfortunately, it is something that people often take less seriously than icy roads and surfaces. That something is sin. So often, it lies just under the surface—covered up by a nice front so that people don’t see it. Yet, it is there, and it corrupts everything. Sin never only effects the one committing the sin. It gets in the way of our relationship with God and with others. It keeps us from living to our full, God-intended potential.

...And sin is slippery. A path that seemed relatively safe quickly leads to more dangerous territory. Pretty soon, we are sliding out of control—to a place we didn’t intend to go. Sin traps people. Yet, we often fail to take it seriously. God takes it seriously, and warned us of the danger:

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15)

Praise God, He offered us hope in Jesus Christ:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

What a gift!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

Simplicity and Depth of God's Story

Today, we have our annual Christmas brunch and program. I hope and pray that today is a time of joy and celebration. I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to listening to the kids and teens as they present their Christmas programs.

As I reflect upon this very thing, once again, I am struck by both the simplicity and depth of God’s Grand Story as revealed in the Bible.

On the one hand, God’s Story is simple enough for a child to understand. In fact, this morning, children will be telling part of God’s Story—the story of Christmas—to us. They will tell us of a day that changed everything. The eternal Son of God took on flesh, becoming a man, so that God could redeem sinful men … and that is the reason we celebrate Christmas.

On the other hand, we can study God’s Word for all of our lives and still not plumb the depths of His revelation to us. That’s even true of the story of Christmas. The concept of the eternal Son of God becoming a man is mind-blowing if we try to understand its full significance and implications. Yet, that is what happened at Christmas. The little baby that was born in Bethlehem was the one and only God-Man, Jesus Christ, who would live a perfect sinless life, die to pay the penalty for our sins, and rise from the dead that we may have hope of eternal life. What an amazing and mind-blowing thing.

It is simple enough for a child to understand and even teach, yet it is so deep a lifetime of study cannot exhaust the depths of wisdom to be found in God’s True Story as revealed in the Bible.
Simply amazing! What a great God!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

Light of the World

“After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” -Matthew 2:9-10

Have you ever paused to consider how God used the star to lead the wise men to Christ? It almost seems ironic that God would use a luminary that He created to lead the wise men to the eternal light of the world. Speaking about Himself, Jesus said, “… the light has come into the world (John 3:19).” This wasn’t the only statement like this by Jesus. “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) Christ also described Himself this way in John 9:5. God used a light in the night sky to lead people to the light of the world! For whatever reason, that really struck me this morning.

The phrase, “light of the world” only appears three times in the Bible. Each time it is used, it is spoken by Jesus. He uses it twice (John 8:12 and 9:5) in reference to Himself. The other time (Matthew 5:14), Jesus uses this phrase to refer to His followers:

Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

The light of the world, Jesus, declared that we are also the light of the world. Just as God used the star to lead the wise men to Christ in Bethlehem, He uses us to light the way for others to come to Christ! So, next time you see the star of Bethlehem depicted, whether on a card or decoration, remember, we are also to light the way to Christ. Then, consider how you can put this truth into practice.

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

Take a Breath!

Take a deep breath. Feel the air fill your lungs. Now exhale slowly. Feels good, doesn’t it? First, there’s the refreshment from a fresh supply of oxygen that our bodies need. Then, as we release the air and we expel the carbon-dioxide that our body does not need, we feel a bit more relaxed. In this busy season, simply taking a breath like that can make all the difference.

Most of you probably spent time with family for Thanksgiving. While these are usually good times, they can also be stressful and tiring, as our schedules fill up and we spend more time on the road than usual. In the midst of it all, take a deep breath. Have a moment of refreshment. Just breathe.

This morning, as we gather together for worship, take a deep breath. Chances are, the events of the past week and the business of the season have built up, and you will feel immediate relief. You will feel a bit more at ease.

Now, take a different type of breath … a spiritual breath. Like a physical breath fills our lungs with oxygen, which in turn, refreshes our blood, a spiritual breath can refresh our relationship with God. Soak in the fact that we are united by the shed blood of Christ. In the middle of a song, pause and listen to the rest of the congregation sing praises to God. Let the worship of God almighty refresh your heart and mind. Then, as we study God’s word, soak that in as well.

Finally exhale. As a physical breath frees us of toxins, like carbon-dioxide, a spiritual breath can free us of the clutter in our lives that distracts us from God. Refreshing, isn’t it? Relish the refreshment of God’s presence. Remember, “The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (Job 33:4). Now, refreshed, carry out Psalm 150:6, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!”

In His grip,
Pastor Decker