The Christian Life
High Hopes?

High hopes for 2021! Is this an appealing tune to your ears? No doubt, 2020 has been a peculiar time, and we might well understand those who say, “Surely this new year can’t be as bad as last year.” Perhaps. 

Do you recall what the Lord revealed of Himself as recorded in Isaiah, chapter 55?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (verses 8-9)
How do you receive this truth?

For example, did Satan ever think the execution and death of Jesus (whom even the unclean spirits confessed as holy: “I know who you are—the Holy One of God” [Mark 1:24]) would turn out to be pivotal for the gospel of salvation? Also, did anyone involved in the account of the death of Lazarus (whom Jesus loved [John 11:3]) think his illness and demise might turn out to where God is glorified and many of the observers would turn away from skepticism and believe the Christ (John 11:4, 42, 45)?

COVID-19 is no different. Just as God Almighty superintended the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and absolutely oversaw the details of what happened to Lazarus, the same God Almighty (who does not change; Hebrews 13:8) is using the worldwide virus as an instrument to bring forth what is pleasing in His sight. COVID-19 is God’s virus and servant.
That’s repulsive and I entirely disagree! I admit this is a possible response at this point. But let’s not stop here; there is more to consider.

A prophet of old, Habakkuk, was greatly repulsed and entirely flabbergasted with the happenings of his own day (not virus-related but something worse). The Lord then taught the distressed prophet…

Look among the nations, and see;
wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
that you would not believe if told. (Habakkuk 1:5) 

It was the Lord Himself governing His flawless plan unfolding before Habakkuk’s very eyes. That man of God then came back to his senses and declared God’s ways were the everlasting ways (Habakkuk 3:6).

I have no idea what may unfold in 2021, but I unashamedly pronounce that whatever comes to pass will be in accordance with the everlasting ways of God.

I humbly pray that 2021 be a season of awakening and conversion of many, as well as a year of song unto the Lord by all His people in the manner of Habakkuk’s eventual tune before and unto God…

Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

Indeed, there are high hopes for 2021, dear reader.

Paul Moon – member
Evangelchurchpca.org 
425 Thompson Rd Alabaster
Worship live or online Sundays 10:30 am

Please join us on Wednesday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the gym as we celebrate our Class of 2021 graduates.

We will have a catered box dinners available by reservation-please email receptionist@evangelchurchpca.org by Sunday, April 18, with your reservation name and number of dinners needed. Please also email if you have a 2021 graduate in your family. We give thanks to God for this milestone in the lives of our students! 

The Christian Life
You Fool ?
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 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:21)

In Matthew 5 -7, called the sermon on the mount, Jesus teaches how his followers are to live. He starts by describing the effects of spiritual rebirth and then goes on to describe what that new life should look like.

Jesus opens this verse referring to what they had heard concerning the Old Testament moral law. Some teach Old Testament moral laws no longer apply yet in reality Jesus amplifies and builds on them. Here he is referring to the accepted understanding of the verse by saying “what you have heard". His statement “but I tell you" indicates the teachings were incomplete. They addressed only the external nature of the command which was not to commit murder and gave no thought to the source of the problem. Here Jesus is telling us that just because we don’t commit murder doesn’t mean we’re not guilty. God knows the truth in our hearts. When pride leads to anger that seeks to tear down, and the tongue is used as a weapon to destroy, it reveals a murderous heart. Often we use anger and words of criticism deceitfully, to appear more righteous than others. If you are a true follower of Christ, then he has placed his Spirit in you and called you away from such evil to do good.

Jesus is not talking about counseling or confronting sinful behavior with the intent of teaching and protecting from evil. He is certainly not condemning corrective discipline to help lead someone away from sin. This is an act of love. But to make sport of tearing someone apart or to lash out in a temper tantrum with no good intentions is evil and brings judgment on ourselves.

We may think little of a few careless words or what’s behind our anger but Jesus warns that these things reveal the heart. The things we say and do should reveal a heart for Christ and others. An evil tongue brings the danger of judgment and Hell. Jesus is teaching us to consider carefully our motivations concerning what we think, say and do. The Bible teaches that the tongue must be controlled and the great need to understand the scriptures in order to guard our heart from all evil. “15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,” (Ephesians 5:15).  As Christians we must ask, are we reflecting Christ? Are our words evil or good?
 
This is part of the ongoing theme of dying to self. Where we leave our old lives behind and imitate Christ. Where we relate compassionately to others to do good and share the gospel, God’s offer of eternal life. “For we are God’s handiwork, created( in Christ Jesus to do good works,” (Ephesians 2:10) Come!

Colby Reeves - member
Evangel Church PCA – All are welcome
423 Thompson Rd., Alabaster
evangelchurchpca.org - worship live or online – see website