We are destined to be followers of Jesus!
Jesus said to his disciples in John 6:40, For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
Jesus prayed to the Father concerning his disciples in John 14:17-19, I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
Jesus said to Pilate John 18:37b, You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason, I was born, and for this reason, I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead changed the world forever. Jesus’ word changed everything. And it will change everything again as Christian Nationalism is straying from the truth of the gospel.
Jesus’ resurrection overturned the synagogue, as institution; the empty tomb reinstated the missional priority of the people of God. There is one mission; loving God, loving others, being a disciple, and inviting others to be disciples. A disciple is changed by Jesus’ words. The truth sets one free to be a disciple. The disciple loves God, loves others, and takes the gospel to the streets. You and I have the privilege of encountering the streets in Wichita, Kansas, the other forty-nine states, and to the ends of the earth. That’s not my definition of a disciple. It’s Jesus’.
In Genesis 12:1-3, God called a people to live the story of being a blessing and inviting others to be a part of the blessing. God called Abraham and his people to be missional. Our purpose as people of the resurrection is to love God, love others, and be a blessing to others. That is being missional.
Let’s recognize that God’s arms are tightly wrapped around his children and move out of that identity as blessed people in order to be a blessing. Love won and continues to win.
On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,
Steve
The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh
Interim Pastor
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