CROSSTRAX!
One man’s view
about the things
that really matter….
Pastor’s thoughts
for May….
People change when the Holy Spirit brings the love of God
For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6)
People change when the Holy Spirit brings the love of God to their hearts through the Gospel. Whoever receives the Spirit of adoption as God’s child learns to cry out, “Abba, Father.” People change when truth becomes clearer and brighter than previous life experience. We change when our ears hear and our eyes see what god tells us about himself.
Psalm 103: 10-13
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
Isiah 49: 13-16
13 Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
14 But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.”
15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.
God is in the business of changing people’s minds; he is not hindered by distortions. He can reveal himself, “[shining] in our hearts to give us the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Life experience is not supreme: neither are the lies that people believe. God is supreme, and he alone trumps what we bring to the table.
Your life experiences do not have to dictate your view of reality. On the contrary: disappointing people and experiences can make you long to know the real King, Shepherd, Master, Saviour, and God! Ask the Lord to make himself known to you today, if you do not know him already.
Ron Paton
TRAX Chaplin