March 2022

I wonder how many of you, like me, when we were kids would play with matchbox cars… or even today when we are playing with little children… we make that familiar sound… ZOOM-ZOOM!

Well, as most of you know ZOOM has a whole new meaning in today’s world. It is one of many cloud-based video conferencing tool that can bring people together as you virtually meet online. This can be used to have virtual meetings with a team of co-workers (like we do as a Royal Redeemer staff) or for friends and family. This can be very comforting to those families who are isolated from each other due to the coronavirus.

So, you have your family on the screen, what do you talk about? First of all, I would suggest you do not bring up politics! You cannot talk sports because there aren’t any to talk about. I might suggest that you have each person give a word (or small phrase) for the day. A word that describes how they are feeling. My family had words like grateful, anxious, long, hungry, and tired. You may hear words like:

Lonely, Lost, Afraid, Joyful, Peaceful, Rested, Bored, Hopeful

These group conversations can be a great way to share, interact, and respond to one another, and to be part of a bigger group. Ever wonder what it would be like if God were part of your Zoom chat group…how He would respond to your word for the day? The Bible has many verses from God to you…for whatever your word for the day is. Perhaps He would say things like:

• Lonely…(Deuteronomy 31:6) Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
• Lost…(Luke 19:10) For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.
• Afraid…(Deuteronomy 31:8) “He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
• Joyful…(Psalm 94:19) When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.
• Peaceful…(John 14:27) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
• Rested…(Hebrews 4:9-10) There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.
• Bored…(Colossians 3:23) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
• Hopeful…(Jeremiah 29:11) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

So…continue to stay connected with family and friends any way you can…find peace in God’s word.

I would suggest that you “ZOOM” with God everyday…throughout the day. You will find that it’s easier than zooming with friends online (and no time limit!) …. and requires less equipment than the family / work Zoom. All you need to do is to find a quiet spot (may be hard if you are in a home with 5-6 people) and talk to God through prayer…and then listen to His whispers in your ears. You can also find His Love, Peace, Joy, direction and strength in His words to you in the Bible. Tell Him your word for the day and then know that His Word will address all of your feelings. If your word for the day is positive then thank Him for the many blessings, He has showered upon you…If you word for the day is a downer then look to Him for strength, direction, and hope.

This coronavirus world that we live in can make you feel lonely, isolated, fearful. Talk to God about those feelings. Seek His will, ask Him to guide you to take action when you can control situations and make a difference… and to be patience in situations out of your control…and wisdom to know the difference.

Trust in the Lord for HE is good!

Pastor Dave

My next devotion will be Monday. The goal is for you to worship online at royred.org over the weekend. Why not participate in both contemporary and traditional (maybe one Saturday night and one Sunday)?

Royred.org has many other links to devotions, bible study, children’s ministry, giving options, Pastor John’s message, and much more! You will also find any of my devotions that you may have missed.

We all have our own spiritual journey and they involve other people. Maybe a mom or grandma that first took you to church, introduced you to Jesus, modeled Christian living for you. Maybe it was a friend that invited you to a life group or bible study where you really studied God’s Word. Maybe it was a pastor who you connected with. People that have been instrumental in your spiritual journey. Our journeys all look different, and hopefully draw you closer to the Lord with each new day. Take some time today to thank those who have been instrumental in your spiritual journey. I pray that your journey leads you to know the Lord a little better and love Him a little more each and every day! One of the people that God has put in my life has enhanced my knowledge of God’s Word and my desire to serve God each day… is Ken Braun. He is one of my mentors as well as a great friend. We were communicating this week and he had an idea for a devotion…so I asked him to write it… here it is!

THANKS FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS

At this point in the pandemic, we are so thankful for the first responders, the people on the front lines who are giving us hope and security. Thanks to the doctors and nurses, the grocery store workers, the food industry laborers, the police and fire personnel.  We owe them a great debt.

But there is another First Responder Who we thank and praise and turn to during this scary time: Jesus, our great Rescuer. He came into our world that was suffering under the pandemic of sin, showing itself day by day with sickness of soul, egotism, heartache and death.

Paul put it this way: “When the time had come, God sent His Son, made of a woman, born under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”  Galatians 4:4

God sent Jesus, not to provide an inoculation so we wouldn’t catch the sin-disease.  It was too late for that. We all had it! Jesus came to provide a cure for it. On earth, He showed people how it looked to be free of the disease.  He came not to be served but to serve. Matthew 20:28 Healing, dealing compassionately with all, thinking of others before self.

On the cross he took every virus of sin on the earth, every possible occurrence of it from day one of the world until the last day of it into His body. He became sin-sick and died to wipe out the disease.  He is the cure.  Those who see that, live new lives, lives that aren’t overcome by the disease, and lives that know where to go for  the only cure when the disease attacks and tries to infest.  They turn to Christ for another dose of forgiveness.

As those of us who are Christ-followers are called Christians, or little Christs, so we are also little first responders.  We are those who are freed from sin to look to bring life to others.  Be a little first responder.  Look around for where you can bring some life in the middle of: home confinement, job loss,  sickness and sometimes death.  Make the phone call, send the card, say “thank you” to those who are front line workers, pray for those God brings across your path.  As He did not come to be served but to serve, you can reach out to bring the sure medicine of the love and forgiveness of Christ to others.

Thanks Ken for a great devotion!

If you need to talk to someone give me (Pastor Dave) a call at 440-237-7958 ext.118

Many of you have come to my office and seen a picture that means a lot to me.

Study this picture, what does this picture say to you? It reminds me that God hears my prayers and always answers them. He always knows what is best for me and has a better plan than I could even begin to imagine.

Have you been like that little girl, cherishing something, thinking you need it…can’t live without it….and all the while God has a better plan?

Ephesians 3:16-21 comes to mind… it says “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

The verse starts out with us “being rooted” in God’s Love! Do you believe that God Loves you unconditionally? Do you believe that He hears and that He answers your prayers? Now, He is not a genie in a bottle, that you can rub and get 3 wishes. He is a loving Father that looks at all of life from a 30,00 foot view. He has been with you from conception thru your last breath. He sees where every piece of your life’s puzzle fits….and some don’t fit!

Imagine a 14 year old gets invited to a party up the street…everyone will be there! He asks mom. Mom knows that the parents are out of town and there are older kids living there with a tainted reputation. Mom answers the request with a “no, sorry you can’t go”. The kid is obviously disappointed and thinks he got ripped off by a mom who just doesn’t love him! And yet mom answered the request in a loving, caring, and wise way.

God does the same! Sometimes we don’t understand or see the bigger picture. That’s when trust comes in!

There is a song by Laura Story called “Blessings” that I think fits well in this topic. I suggest you listen to it…but here are the words, focus on the refrain:

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
As long as we have faith to believe

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not our home

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Are you in a season of rain, tears, and sleepless nights? Do you have the faith to see and trust that God is working through your tough situation. Do you trust His promise that He will bring good out of it? Romans 8:28…And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.…..the (MSG) translation says…That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

Do you believe that? Do you trust that the Lord loves you?

So how about the coronavirus? Did God cause it? NO! Does God promise to bring good out of it? YES! How can that be?

Well…We will have to wait and see, but we have a new respect for teachers, doctors, nurses, clerks, delivery people, police, fire. We have slowed down and spent time with family. We have found many ways to be generous and to care for others. We can hardly wait to go to church…to be the church. We have looked beyond ourselves by making thousands of masks for people to wear. We have learned the value and find joy in dinner as a family. And we faithfully pray for God to draw us close to Him.

If I were to ask you to answer the question “If you died today would you go to heaven, and why?”… what would you say?

• Yes…I have never killed anybody or robbed a bank.
• No…there is no afterlife…this is all we get.
• I hope so, but I’m not sure.
• Yes… I tithe my income.
• Have to see if I can do enough to earn my way in.

So, let me help you figure out what the Bible has to say about this question.
Ephesians 2:8-9…For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

For it is by grace…a free gift, unmerited favor, forgiving love. Mercy is when you don’t receive what you deserve (eternity in hell)…Grace is when you receive what you don’t deserve. (eternity with the Lord)

You have been saved…Saved from yourself and your sinful nature. Saved from the eternal consequences of sin…the wages of sin. We are saved thru faith in Jesus; we get Salvation from God’s wrath that our sins deserve.

Through faith…Faith that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, who lived and died in your place, who rose so you can have eternal life.

And this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…No human effort can accomplish even part of it…you can’t do anything to earn your way into heaven…it’s a free gift.

Not by works…Nothing you can do. You cannot earn or buy forgiveness….the good news is that you don’t have to…Jesus did it all for you on the cross.

So that no one can boast…No one can take credit for salvation. You are saved in spite of who you are, what you do, think and say.

What does this all mean?… thru faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior…you are saved! You have eternal life! You will spend eternity in heaven. It’s God’s promise… he paid the price!

So, let me ask you again…“if you died today would you go to heaven, and why?”

Hopefully…you answer that with an emphatic… Joy filled… absolute… YES!

So, you are saved…..now what? Well the next verse answers that question. Ephesians 2:10…For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We do not do good works to try and save ourselves… but because we are saved, God has plans for us!

For we are God’s handiwork…You are a masterpiece, handmade by God, a work of art! I imagine He has your picture on His refrigerator.

Created in Christ Jesus to do good works…To do acts of kindness to God’s Glory. How has God “wired” you…what are your passions, gifts, abilities…and how can you use them to glorify others and accomplish God’s plan. Remember that, you may be the answer to someone else’s prayers.

Which God prepared in advance for us to do. God has plans for you to accomplish. Plans that are unique to you. Plans that He has equipped you to accomplish. Not because you have to do them to be saved…but plans for you to do in response to being saved.

Jeremiah 29:11… For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I suggest that you have quiet time with the Lord. Thank Him for loving you, forgiving you, promising you a place in His heavenly kingdom. Then, ask Him to show you the plans He has for you. Who has He created you to be? What plans does He have for your life, your relationships, your finances, your career, your recreation and relaxation.

After you have a handle on that…what plans does He have for you in regard to the coronavirus situation? How can you stay safe and healthy? Who can you help? Who needs a prayer, a phone call, some cookies dropped off to, a bill paid, an invite to a Skype or Zoom type visit, info on church resources, what personal changes should you learn and make in your life?

Have you heard or said things like…”I am afraid that I will get the coronavirus”, I am afraid that my job will not be there”, I am afraid I will not be able to pay my electric bill” “I am afraid my loved one in a nursing home is not safe”, and the all too common “I an afraid I will run out of toilet paper”?

Can you tell me what these words have in common? Geniophobia Consecotaleophobia, Microphobia, Megalophobia, Peladophobia, Pogonophobia, Chaetophobia, Panophobia?

They are all phobias…FEARS! They are the fear of chins, chopsticks, small things, large things, bald people, beards, hair, everything. (with barbers closed, we may all have the one about a fear of hair!)

Now, maybe we laugh at these funny names, but there are 15 pages of phobias….things we FEAR…About 750 named phobias from A to Z.

The most common ones:

• Fear of spiders – (50% of all women fall into this category)
• Fear of flying
• Fear of confined spaces
• Fear of death
• Fear of heights

I have a fear of heights! Funny story, many years ago Sue and I got free tickets to go to a Sandi Patty concert. Sue was pregnant and the seats were in the very top row. The show was over and I told her to let me go first to help her down the steps….I stood up, looked down, and fear overcame me…my pregnant wife had to lead this scared guy down the steps!!!!

The fear of heights can protect me from walking too close to a dangerous cliff…but it can also prevent me from a beautiful view of God’s creation below.

Now, I want you to take a minute and think of 2 fears you have. One that you have had for a long time…and one that is new, this pandemic has you now fearing.

FEAR is defined as… an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

So…about now, you are thinking what all of this have to do with being a Christian!!!

Well here are 2 verses to get us thinking:

• Deut. 10:20… Fear the Lord your God and serve him.
• Joshua 1:9 – “Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

One verse says to fear but the other says do not fear? The first verse says FEAR THE LORD…. That’s what it says!….and yet the fear of God sounds strange doesn’t it?

So in one passage speaking of the things of this earth it means to fear or to not fear earthly things based on what they are ….. but in another passage as it refers to God, fear here means to hold in awe. Same word two meanings depending on who the object of the fear is.

Martin Luther says “we should fear and love God” so that we… Don’t curse, swear, lie deceive or don’t kill or don’t commit adultery.  Well, that “fear and love God” isn’t about being afraid of some meanie, it’s about a total awe of God’s power and a fear of disappointing God. When I was young my parents never hit me to punish me…but my dad had “the look” of disappointment. I would almost wish he would have given me a good spanking, because I did not want to disappoint or let this loving man down. Likewise, we should be in awe and never want to disappoint our God who Loves us unconditionally…and verses like Joshua 1:9 remind us that He is with you wherever you go.

But what about our earthly fears?   I put those fears in 3 categories:

• Things we need to fear. Healthy fear!
• Irrational Fears
• What I call “mis-directed fear”

First, from an earthly bodily point of view, there are things to fear.  They will hurt you…..they are healthy fears:

Like mom said – “Don’t run with scissors in your hand or a Lolli pop in your mouth or putting your hand on the stove. We need to fear things like taking drugs, playing with guns, driving drunk, not wearing safety equipment when skate boarding or handling chemicals. The intruder at night …or the gang of thugs in the unlit parking lot. The coronavirus… Those are known dangers that are a real possibility to harm you….and God wired us with a sense of fear….to warn us …to alter our actions. For instance because of the fear of coronavirus we wear a mask, wash our hands, and keep a social distance.

But, then there are the irrational fears like the fear of walking under a ladder, or monsters under your bed, or the number 13….or in my case the fear of roller coasters….which even though they are 300 feet up in the air….they are on a track that holds them in place hundreds of times a day.  I read that 95% of things that we fear NEVER happen!! A German Proverb addresses this kind of fear. ”Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is”

But, let’s get to the heart of the issue of fear. What I call mis-directed fear.  We do something wrong, but we fear the wrong consequence while doing it.

So you’re speeding and you see a police car – you hit the brakes afraid of getting a ticket…fear of the consequences of getting caught… but don’t even think about God’s disappointment with you for breaking the law. You hide that dirty magazine or video from your mom so you won’t get in trouble… but you don‘t feel the guilt of disappointing God with your sinful lusts.

You are afraid your income tax return will get audited and they will find those false tax credits you claimed but don’t think about God’s disappointment about our view of stealing.

Well, in each of these situations, you should be afraid of the consequences.  A $120 speeding ticket; grounded for a week; must pay taxes due with a penalty added.

But, I have to tell you those consequences are nothing compared to God’s disappointment when we don’t own up, confess, and repent. When don’t think of God in awe….when we do not fear disappointing God enough to change our behavior.

Now….as saved Christians….one thing we don’t have to fear is the death of our bodies….That’s because we’re saved, we have eternal life. Knowing that God loves you that much…should cause you to be in awe of God…and to want to change your behavior to glorify Him.

Coincidentally (or God-cidentally), as I was writing this devotion my wife called out to me “listen to this post by Carol Martin…” —- “Fear does not stop death, it stops life…and worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles!”

Where do the 2 fears you wrote down at the beginning of this devotion fit into the 3 categories of fear?

So…Be in awe of God…fear disappointing Him with your behavior…Trust God’s Word to guide your life, have a healthy fear for things that can harm you…trust God in other situations …change the things God wants you to change…and trust God when He says…  Isaiah 41:10… So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Lord, there are a lot of uncertainties in our lives right now. Those uncertainties can lead to fear. Help us to cast those fears and anxieties to you because you care for us. Remind is of the certainty of your Love and the fact that you are still Lord. Draw us close to you through Bible study, prayer, devotionals, and quiet time with you. If there are things we need to do or attitudes to change then nudge us. Let us to truly be in awe of you and your Love for us. Watch over and protect those serving in dangerous positions such as, medical personnel, fire, police, postal, store clerks, delivery and truck drivers, restaurant workers. Give wisdom to the leaders as they map out next steps. May these strange times bring about permanent changes in attitudes of love, compassion, kindness, and community. Amen.

So, if I were to ask you “who are you?” What would you say?

Maybe you would give your name, or say I’m a husband or a wife, a son or a daughter, a doctor, landscaper, a Christian, I’m lonely, depressed, or perhaps you would say I’m a successful business owner, or a failure, or an American, or I am one of the many with coronavirus?

We define ourselves in many ways…through relationships, careers, accomplishments. For some the “stay in place order” has impacted the very things that you would say define who you are! Things like jobs, friends, health are in flux right now. But I want to talk about the real essence of WHO YOU ARE. Psalm 139 can help us get started.

Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)…For you created my inmost being;you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Read that verse a few times, let it sink in. Think about what this says…YOU ARE hand made by the Lord!

The message translation puts it this way:

Psalm 139:13-16 (MSG)…Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.

Read this translation, focus on the underlined phrases and how they define who YOU ARE. Identify the words me, I, my. There are 14 times that God speaks about you personally.

So…The bible is written to help you answer 2 questions… who is God? AndWHO ARE YOU? (in light of who God is.)

YOU ARE a child of God! Adopted into His family! And heir to His kingdom! Romans 8:15…The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Let that sink in…you can call God “daddy”…He is your loving father!

YOU ARE a masterpiece! Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)…  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. You are not a mistake or mishap…God never makes junk!

YOU ARE not a finished product…. Romans 12:2…Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. You are meant to grow, to transform into who you are to become in Christ. Created to transform like a caterpillar into a butterfly. The old self is gone and every new day is a new opportunity to get to know God a little better and to love Him a little more.

YOU ARE meant to accomplish God’s plan for your life! Jeremiah 29:11… For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. God wants to use you to accomplish His plans. Maybe God wants to use you to be His answer someone else’s prayer. Maybe they are praying for a friend, someone to ease their loneliness, someone to show them that you care about them, someone to meet their felt needs? The need is even greater during this pandemic world that we live in. What is God’s plan for you?

YOU ARE cared for! The Lord is with you at every stage of your life! Isaiah 46:4…Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Focus on those words…sustain, made, carry, rescue. Find Peace in the fact that God loves you unconditionally. YOU ARE LOVED!

YOU ARE a missionary! Matthew 28:19-20…Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” So think about this verse. Jesus has accomplished His mission on the cross and will be ascending. He does not say “have a great life” “make a lot of money” “look out for # 1”. He says that you have a job to do…”to make disciples”, followers of Jesus….and the best part is that He says He will be with you on your journey.

Maybe God is calling you to go to a distant land (when travel resumes), or maybe to be part of the May 8-10 Servant Saturday, or maybe to connect with the neighbor that lives next door, a family member, a co-worker, a fellow student?

So, what is this devotion all about? It’s about YOU and WHO YOU ARE! To remind YOU that you were made to be YOU…unique, gifted, Loved, and called to reflect the Love of the Lord to all those in your circle of influence! Be creative in these unusual times, reach out to others!

Pastor Dave

My next devotion will be Monday. Take time this weekend to worship with us online. Also spend time checking out the other tools that are on our website….to submit a prayer request, make a donation, find study materials, devotions, podcasts, kids ministries, and much more!

Call me at 440-237-7958 ext. 118 if I can help.

I started my Good Friday sermon with a statement that certainly fits our current situation…I opened that sermon saying:

YOU KNOW…THE NUMBER ONE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION THESE DAYS IS THE CORONA VIRUS AND Its IMPACT…. ITS SCARY NEWS….WE NEED TO BE AWARE…AND KNOW IT CAN BE DEADLY! BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENT VIRUS OR DISEASE…MORE COMMON…AS A MATTER OF FACT WE ALL HAVE IT…IT’S HEREDITARY….AND IT’S 100% FATAL…DEATH IS THE RESULT THE DISEASE IS CALLED SIN…YOU SHOW ITS SYMPTOMS DAILY…HOURLY…. MINUTE BY MINUTE. NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT IT. ONLY ONE CURE. AND THAT’S WHAT GOOD FRIDAY IS ALL ABOUT!

Let’s look at this today. We have every expert (and every want to be expert) tell us all about coronavirus. We hear all about what it is, where it came from, what to do if you have it, how to avoid it, can we make a vaccine to prevent it, can we flatten the curve, etc. I am thankful that we live in a time where technology can give us so many answers to help us fight this virus.

So…what about the disease called sin?

• Where did it come from? We see the first case of sin in Genesis 3:6…When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. God put Adam and Eve in paradise…gave them everything good…one rule, one choice. Don’t eat from a tree that will cause pain and evil. They wanted to be god and make their own rules…. And sin entered God’s creation!
• Who has it? Each one of us has it! It’s hereditary, we are born with this sinful nature. Romans 3:23…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. You and everyone else suffers from this condition. Born with sinful nature and add to it daily.
• How do you know that you have it? We have the disease called SIN…and we show the symptoms of it by the Sins that we commit. Our words, thoughts, actions, motives that fall short of God’s plan for us. The things that glorify ourselves rather than the Lord. Romans 7:15-20…I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.  As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.  For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. You can isolate, wear a mask, keep social distancing and wash your hands…but sin will still control you!
• What happens when you have it? Well, unfortunately it is 100% fatal. It always leads to death! Romans 6:23…For the wages of sin is death. Ouch! Can’t I just buy a way out, try harder, wish I were better? NO! On your own the end is not pretty…an eternity in a very warm climate, separated from God and all that is Good.
• Is there a cure? Yes! The cure was secured on Good Friday! John 3:16…For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Romans 5:19… For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

You see the truth is that God could not stand the thought of spending eternity without you there with Him…that He paid the ultimate price for you to be free from the consequence of this disease called sin. He became sin on the cross to heal you!

So, let me ask you a question. If you knew of a cure for the coronavirus…if you could save the lives of countless people who have that deadly virus, what would you do? Would you hoard it for yourself, hide the knowledge that you have, keep it a secret? I assume you would share the plan with the whole world!

So…since you know of the cure for the sin disease, what will you do with it? Will you share it? Will you save lives? Will you share the secret with your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, fellow students, with everyone you can reach?

Why not start by sharing this devotion with someone. Why not call someone, text someone, social chat with someone? Why not pray for them?

The world is eager and hungry for good news about the coronavirus and a cure!… Well, they are even more hungry and eager to find the Lord in the midst of this upside-down world. Read God’s plan for you as you read God’s Word daily. Pray for God to guide you as to who you can share the cure with. Talk to God and then sit quietly listening for His as He whispers in your ear.

Lord…we look back and judgmentally wonder why Adam and Eve would disobey you and bring sin into your paradise. And yet when we are honest with ourselves, we admit that we are no better. We sin and fall short of your plans for our lives daily, hourly, minute by minute. Lord, heal us, transform us, change our hearts, lead us to confess and repent. Help us to connect with you and your Word daily…to glorify you with our lives. Lord, use us as instruments in your hands to reach others, to show them the way to forgiveness and eternal life. Help us to boldly proclaim that you have overcome sin, the devil, and the world. Amen.

In my devotion yesterday, I told about the bank robbery I witnessed. If you did not read about it yesterday, go back and read it. The police gathered us together (just like in your favorite police tv show) wanting to get all of the facts. I was blown away by the fact that we did not agree on what just happened. What channel were they watching because their “facts” did not match my “facts”! To this day it amazes me that I saw 2 men, one tall and one short, both were Black and in their 30s. Others saw 1 man or 4 men…of assorted sizes and ages. So why is it that we all saw the same event differently?

Well…we view all of life thru our own “world views”.  A world view is the lens thru which we see the world around us. It’s our set of beliefs, assumptions we have (that may be true, partially true, or entirely false) about all of life. It’s a framework of beliefs, values, and conduct. It is our view of important questions like: Is there a God, what is real, and how do we know right from wrong. Our worldview helps us choose who to date, what to eat, and what is my purpose in life. It is thru this worldview that we see the world, we make decisions, interpret choices. It can cause 20 people in a bank to create our own perception of the facts. Our world view is influenced by family, experiences, education, social and economic situation…but most of all your view of God.

Each of us in the bank that day saw the robbery thru their worldview lens. There was only one truth that day and yet it looked different and impacted each person differently.

So…how does this apply to us today? Well we all see life differently based on the way we were brought up, our life situations, the stories of our past, dreams of the future….and of course the truth of who God is and how you respond to His Word and His Truth. Unfortunately, not everyone looks to God’s Word for what is true!

• Some define truth by their feelings…How they feel about something and what do they want the truth to be…the problem is that feelings are fickle and will always deceive you!
• Some define truth by their thoughts…What they think is true…their logic becomes their God. The problem is that our minds are tainted by sin and will lead us astray
• Some define truth by friends and popular opinion…I think we can see that that view is ever changing. What is true today may not be true tomorrow…and that can never be good!
• Some define the truth by Jesus, and His Word…His Word becomes our compass to the truth. His Word will transform our feelings, thoughts, opinions, and of course our actions. His Truth will never let you down…it will “set you free”. I love the fact that Jesus identifies Himself as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”
• So…how can you know the TRUTH??? Know Jesus! Know His Word! Read it daily! Apply it to your life! Share it with others! Let the truth of His Word guide your thoughts, words and actions!
• I pray to the Lord daily for my family to be “men and woman of God…men and woman of integrity…may they know you as Lord and Savior…and then live accordingly…may you bind up Satan and all that is evil…and fill that void with more of your Holy Spirit”
• I like the devotion that I had read in Today’s Light, it put it this way… “When we meditate on God’s Word…think about it, roll it over and over in our minds, and talk to God about it…the Holy Spirit deposits the Truth in our hearts. It’s like a spiritual bank account from which he can draw to help us in times of decision, temptation, or challenge to our faith”

Speaking of the truth of God’s Word…..

Proverbs 2 :1-9… My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,  and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.

 Lord…Thank you for this day and for your love for each of us. Lord, as we move forward may we Glorify you. You have hand made us to be your children. Forgive us when we stray, redirect us to accomplish your plans for our lives. Protect us from the coronavirus and the collateral damage it can cause to our jobs, finances, relationships, and families. Thank you for those that are out working to keep us going. Be with the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, truck drivers, store and restaurant workers, mail carriers. For those assisting at hospice, nursing homes, and for those with special needs. Lord nudge each of us to reach out to 5 people today…to assist where needed, to offer Hope and comfort, to share your Love with them. Lord give our leaders wisdom and compassion. Use your church (the people of God) to bring your Love, Joy, and Peace to a world that is hurting.  Amen.

I have an odd, and yet very true story to share with you.

Years ago, while doing deliveries for a print shop, I pulled up to a bank building to make a delivery to a business that was in the office building above the bank. There were 2 shady characters by the door (not unusual for the 30^th and Euclid avenue area) so I waited for the right moment to get out of the car and go into the lobby of the building. The lobby was glass windows facing the bank and elevators on the other wall. I went up, made the delivery, got back on the elevator and proceeded down to the lobby. When the doors opened, I stepped out, facing the windows to the bank. I will never forget what I saw. The 2 men that I bypassed on the street earlier were in the bank, playing Bonnie and Clyde…or Butch and Sundance! They had guns out and everyone had their hands in the air. Well, I proceeded out toward my car…as they ran pass me and escaped with the money…and police arrived within seconds. We all gave our eyewitness accounts (by the way, they were all different…that will be another devotion I will write). When I got back to the shop, I shared the story with a co-worker named Jack.

The next day Jack decided to play a joke on me. When I can back from that day’s deliveries, Jack met me at the door and said 2 guys came asking about who I was. I asked Jack “who were they, did they leave their names?” , he said “I don’t know, they just wanted to know who the guy driving the delivery car yesterday was”. I was in fear for my life that the robbers were looking for me…because I was a witness to what they did. Well this went on for a few days until he broke down laughing and owned up to it just being a prank. I can still hear Jack say, “you white guys are so gullible!” It’s a story that will be part of my life forever.

So…how does that story impact you? Well…you are a witness to the Love of the Lord and all He has done for you. You have a story to tell about your relationship with Jesus! Your story does not include armed bank robbery (at least I hope not) …. but you have facts to share…your story does include:

• The fact is that…. God hand made you.
• The fact is that… (For most of you) God adopted you into His family through baptism. (If baptism is not part of your story, let me know)
• The fact is that…Even though you are a child of God you are still sinful…you miss the mark…let God down.
• The fact is that…Sin separates you from God…its wages are death.
• The fact is that…. God still loves you. (in spite of your flaws)
• The fact is that…On Good Friday Jesus paid the price for your sins. On Easter He rose and so will you!
• The fact is that…YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE through faith in what Jesus did for YOU!
• The fact is that…You are an eyewitness to the fact that all can be saved through faith. It is the main story that all of your other life’s stories are founded upon!

The fact is that just like the bank robbers, many others do not want you to share or witness to the fact that Jesus is your Savior. It upsets their plans, their motives, their worldview…and unfortunately their eternal destiny.

So, what will you do? Go into hiding, witness protection, change your identity, keep quiet? (I hope not) Or will you be a witness for the Lord and share the Good News with everyone?

Who can you share the Love of the Lord with? How will you do it? Will you use words or actions? What random acts of kindness can you do to God’s Glory? Who can you call, text, email, send a card to? Who can you pray for? The time has never been riper than it is today! The world needs a Savior and you are a witness to His identity!

One last thought…this world probably seems upside down to you. Well…I think we all love snow globes….and yet they are nothing until they get turned over and shaken…and then when they are returned upright, we see a new vision and are in awe. I can’t wait to see what God will do when this world gets set upright again!

Well…I certainly hope that you took Jesus’ Holy Week journey with your church family as we worshiped on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and then again on Easter. If you missed any of these you can go to royred.org/sermon-unveiled-grace/ and watch them.

As I reflect on the fact that…the worst thing that ever happened (Jesus death on Good Friday) turned out to be the best thing that ever happened! (on Easter…for us sinners), I want to ask you 2 questions.

What was the worst thing that ever happened in the history of the world (beside Jesus death)? Maybe you would say the holocaust, 9-11 attacks, 1^st or 2^nd world war, famine, bubonic plague?

Did God create those things? Well…Genesis 2 says that God created a perfect world and Genesis 3 says that sinful man ruined it, and the rest of the Bible is the story of God’s Love for us in spite of our sinfulness. It would seem out of character that He caused those events!

The second question is, what is the worst thing that has happened to you personally in your lifetime? Maybe abuse, illness, broken relationship, bankruptcy, coronavirus and its collateral damage? Did God cause those things to happen? John 3:16 reminds us that God loves you so much that Good Friday happened for you! And Romans 8 reminds us that nothing can separate you from His Love! This does not sound like a God trying to hurt you or ruin your life. Let God speak to you as you look up and read those verses and the verses around them up.

So then…what do we make of the pain and junk that we have to face in this less that perfect world? Where is God in those moments? Doesn’t He care?

Many of you are parents who love your child and would never purposely hurt your child…and yet we know that they will get hurt at some point. As a parent your job is not to wrap them in bubble wrap and lock them in their room. Your job is to love them, guide them, comfort them and help them learn from the issues they face, to become all that God created them to become.

Now…it is hard for us to comprehend when we are in the midst of a bad season of life, but God says that He will bring good out of all situations. John 8:28 … And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Life can seem tough…make no sense…we want to say “stop the ride and let me off”! I want to share one of my favorite stories. I don’t know who wrote it, many have claimed it as theirs. It is called – THE STORY OF THE TEACUP.

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery, especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. They were in this one shop when they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, “We’ve never seen one quite so beautiful.” As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke. “You don’t understand,” it said. “I haven’t always been a teacup. There was a time when I was just red clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, ‘Let me alone,’ but he only smiled and said, ‘Not yet.’” “Then I was placed on a spinning wheel,” the teacup said, “and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. ‘Stop it! I’m getting dizzy?’ I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, ‘Not yet.’ “Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I didn’t understand why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head, ‘Not yet.’ “Finally the door opened. He put me on the shelf and I began to cool. ‘There, that’s better,’ I said. But then he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. ‘Stop it, stop it!’ I cried. ‘Not yet.’ “Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, but not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, ‘Not yet.’ Then I knew there wasn’t any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. “But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later He handed me a mirror, and I couldn’t believe it was me. ‘Wow. I’m beautiful.’” “‘I want you to remember, then,’ he said, ‘I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you would have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven but if I hadn’t put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn’t done that, you never would have hardened; and you would not have had all this beautiful color. And if I hadn’t put you back in that second oven, you wouldn’t survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you.”

Maybe you feel like that teacup and life seems more than you can handle. Maybe you have the coronavirus, or a loved one does. Maybe you are in quarantine. Maybe you are alone and feeling lonely isolated from friends and family. Maybe you have lost your job, your investments, your business. Maybe “staying home” means chaos, violence, relationship issues. Maybe you miss your church family and public worship.

First of all….God did not create the virus or anything that is evil! That would be against His very character! And yet…the good news is that God promises to bring good out of what seems painful, evil, and is not the way we would have planned it. I don’t know what good will come out of this coronavirus situation we are all facing, but perhaps we will appreciate the things we took for granted, maybe we will slow down and smell the roses, maybe we will spend more time with family, have quiet time alone with the Lord, value our public worship. Maybe we will be kinder to others. Live a life of generosity.

The teacup story reminds me of the image found in Isaiah 64:8… yet you, Lord, are our Father.We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

God the potter has you in His loving hands…forming you into who He handmade you to be. He is with you in any tough times you may be facing.

What I do know is that each of us will have to face trouble, pain, issues as long as we are on this earth…but I also know that Good Friday and Easter seal the deal that we will spend eternity in a place with absolutely no viruses, hospitals, funeral homes, relationship issues, money worries, or sin!

Pastor Dave

Let me know if I can help 440-237-7958 ext.118