Good morning and happy Saturday. Hope you are planning to come to our fellowship at the Zoller’s house this afternoon. It is planned for 3:00 to 6:00. We will cook out on the grill and have a good time fellowshipping together. (Because you can’t actually fellowship without each other).
Michelle and I have really been enjoying our walks on the various nature trails this fall. The weather has been great, and it has been wonderful to watch the leaves transition to display the beautiful fall colors. I am often amazed at the beauty that God puts on display through His creation. Sadly, if you are like me, you have spent too much time scurrying about and didn’t take the time to notice. I have become far more intentional about that, especially as I get older and move a bit slower.
On one of our journeys, I noticed when the first trees began to change. On a hillside, in the midst of a sea of green, one tree stood out as it began to display its fall foliage. The next time I recall looking at the same hillside, many more trees around it had followed suit. The hillside was being transformed into something beautiful. This past week, practically every tree on that hill was displaying some kind of fall color. It was beautiful. I commented to Michelle that when all of the trees look the same it is hard to tell how many trees there are. But when the trees display their colors, you can get an idea of the incredible number of trees that make up the forest.
As I thought about that, I am reminded of the role we are to play in this world. As Christians, we are to be different. We are to stand out from the crowd. Obviously, not for our own praise and glory, but for His. Jesus told us that we are to let our light shine before all men that they would see our good works and praise our Father in heaven. Unfortunately, in many ways, we blend in with our surroundings too much. If we are not careful, we look like the rest of the world. We begin to act like and talk like and think like the world. We get caught up in the pursuit of the things of this world. But that is not what we are called to do. In Romans 12:1-2, we read the following: Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 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.
Soon, the leaves will all fall to the ground and everything will have that dreary and dying look. In some ways, that is what parts of our world look like right now. Sin plagues this world like a blanket of death. Violence, immorality, the rejection of all authority including the rejection of God Himself, are increasingly common in this world. The time has come for believers to stand up, stand out and be lights against this dark backdrop.
No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. (Luke 11:33)
Paul exhorts the Philippians to seek, “that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.”
May God strengthen you as you seek to make a difference in this world for Him.
From our neighborhoods to the nations, Pastor Larry
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