Hello everyone:
I once drove a carload of students from Cheyenne to Eau Claire for the spring visitors’ day at Immanuel. What I remember most about the hours on the road was how somewhere in Iowa one of my passengers gazed out the window in wonder and said, “Wow! It’s so GREEN!”
Up that point I hadn’t even noticed. I had seen lush spring grass in the Midwest many times before. But this young man had never known anything but the sparse, brown, high plains of southeastern Wyoming. To him it was all brand new. He appreciated far more than I did the beauty and growing life all around us.
When was the last time you read a portion of Scripture and said, “Wow! That is incredible!”? On the drive home from church last Sunday did you reflect in wonder at the Lord’s message? Maybe not. We’ve seen and heard it all before. Sadly, at times we don’t even notice the incredible spiritual blessings waiting for us on every page of God’s Word.
So tomorrow when you sit down with the Word for your devotion time, take a fresh look, as though you were reading the message for the first time. Sunday when you settle into the pew, imagine what it would be like to experience the service as a new visitor. Read, listen, and think about what God is telling you, and then be amazed.
He doesn’t give us mere opinions and theories about who we are. He doesn’t tell us what we want to hear. He tells us the truth, that we are sinners with a sentence of eternal death hanging over our heads. And then from that lifeless, dry “desert,” He leads us to the green pastures of His gospel good news. Faith can’t help but be in awe at the wonder of God’s own Son becoming man in order to give us His righteousness and take upon Himself our sin. Everywhere you turn in the Word you’ll find more blessings waiting for you. To the troubled, the Lord says, “Call upon Me. I’ll deliver you.” He calms the stressed: “Do not worry…But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:25, 33).
In tomorrow’s sermon text (Lk. 17:11-19) the Lord leads us to see His mercy again for the first time through the eyes of a Samaritan leper. May we share his wonder and join in his grateful praise! “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things…” (Ps. 119:18).
Work day tomorrow: Remember our fall work day begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Sat.). There are several outdoor projects, including painting and cleaning gutters and also interior work, such as some deep down cleaning and changing light bulbs in the classrooms. The Bd. of Property will be on hand to match people to tasks.
Sunday Bible class: Our parenting series will continue with this week’s focus on the discipline of children.
The public school confirmation class will meet at 12:15 p.m.
In Christ,
Pastor
