Good morning:
It was in the middle of our last building expansion effort here at church, and we were stuck. We were faced with a building code rule that didn’t make sense for the size and layout of the church building. The inspector, however, didn’t have the authority to change the law and so we were stuck. That is, until we contacted our state representative in Madison. Within a few days he was able to get us the necessary clearance to continue the project. It helps to have friends in high places.
In our lives as Christians we face all kinds of obstacles. We live in hostile territory. Satan, the world, and our own sinful nature conspire in their efforts to undermine Jesus’ kingdom rule in hearts and to discourage us from following the path the Lord maps out for us. Do you ever feel “stuck” and so beaten down that it’s impossible to move forward? The psalmist Asaph envied the unbelievers because their lives seemed so easy and carefree compared to his. “They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong” (Ps. 73:4).
But what we do have and the unbelieving world does not is a Friend in the highest place. Last Thursday we celebrated Jesus’ ascension to the Father’s right hand. It signaled the end of the Lord’s earthly mission to reconcile sinners to God and the beginning of His triumphant rule over all things. When we find ourselves stuck, we have a Friend to turn to. When sin overwhelms you with the realization of your enormous guilt and the eternal damnation we all deserve, turn to the Friend who is there to step in and help. “We have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:1-2). When one problem piles on top of another, from daycare scheduling and car repairs to sickness and family needs or conflicts, remember, you have a Friend in the highest place who wants you to cast all your anxieties, large and small, on Him. “The very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matt. 10:30). That Friend will be there today to protect, provide, and bless you.
Yours in His name,
Pastor
In-person services begin tomorrow with two services (8:00 and 9:30 a.m.). The 8:00 a.m. service will also be livestreamed on YouTube and archived for later viewing. If you are planning to attend tomorrow, please pre-register at:
