“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13-14
It’s time for us to look to the future. No more looking back over this past year and wondering what might have been. God has given us opportunities today and called us to take hold of them. It’s no use wondering what life might have been like if we lived in a different culture. God has placed us in this culture and called us to serve Him faithfully here. So let’s determine to make that our goal. We are called to be His people in this time and place. So let’s work together to encourage each other and live for His glory here and now.
So what will that mean as we move through the halfway point of 2021. To begin with, I think it means we need to have a renewed commitment to the basics of faithful Christian living. What are those things God calls us to keep at the center of our life together in Christ? First, of course, he calls us to meet together for worship (Heb 10:25) and to encourage one another regularly. He calls to be a people of His word (2 Tim 3:16-17, 4:2, etc) and prayer (1 Thess 5:17) who genuinely care for one another (1 John 3:11) and are active in proclaiming Christ to our community and world (Mat 28:19-20). Above all we are commanded to love God, first and foremost (Mat 22:37), and to love and serve our neighbors as ourselves (Mt 22:39). As to what that looks like in the practical, day to day matters of life, that’s the question we need to work together to answer. And that’s what I want to invite you to join me in doing. Rockport, let’s think hard about what it means for us to live together as God’s people here and now. Let’s look for ways to serve Him faithfully in this present age, as we seek to live together as His church by His grace and for His glory!
Knowing and serving Him is Life’s greatest adventure!
Pastor Scott