Grace Presbyterian Church aspires to make fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ who are remembering, telling, and living the way of Jesus. Truly, each one of us belongs to God.
Succeeding and resting in the truth that you belong to God and know who you are in Christ matters most.
In this regard, Bobby Schuller in Change Your Thoughts Change Your World writes, “Bonding is my greatest need. There are people in my life who love me and want to know me better.” [1] The readings from Job and Mark remind us that participating in God’s mission through service and building personal and intimate relationships with God and others, is how we grow as followers of Jesus.
Job 38:1-7 demonstrates that we have no understanding of God knowing each one of us from the laying of the foundation of the world. Job has characterized God’s creative purpose as a design of darkness. Job lacks understanding. But he truly wants to know why the persecution is happening to him. Job feels that he doesn’t belong to God due to the circumstances he was facing and experiencing.
Mark 10:35-45 exhorts the community of faith to be selfless and grasp the meaning of the prediction of Jesus’ death. Jesus knows what’s ahead for his ministry and life. He doesn’t fully understand but knows the outcome. Jesus extends an invitation to enter the known and unknown of the path of Jesus.
My friends, dependency on God combines God’s action and human action into experiencing the kingdom of God. Depend on God as you ponder your 2025 Pledge of Time and Treasure and a gift above your pledge to the operating budget. God will lead you to obedient and sacrificial behavior in the volunteering and financial aspects of your Christian discipleship.
Grace Presbyterian Church exists to demonstrate and offer others a better way to live. Jesus says, “…whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave to all.” Leverage your giving by spending your intellectual, emotional, spiritual, financial, physical, and time capital, sacrificially.
One final note, thank you for your prayers over the past two months. On Tuesday, I underwent a heart procedure that was successful. Dr. Farhat placed a stent in two of the left side arteries. Each was 90% blocked. The main left side artery was only 60% blocked. Stents go in when the blockage is 70% or more. There is no need for bypass surgery at this time.
On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,
The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh, Interim Pastor
[1]Bobby Schuller, Change Your Thoughts Change Your World (Nashville, Tennessee: Nelson Books, 2019), 191.
ShareOCT