David and Goliath

I always loved this story as a kid because David was such a big underdog and was able to take down a giant! As an adult, I realized that God was the one fighting Goliath alongside David. God v. Goliath just seems extremely unfair for Goliath! Sadly, none of the Israelites had the faith in God that David did. Often, we don’t have that kind of faith either!

David was well aware of God’s power in battle. When he was telling King Saul about his bouts with lions and bears he said,  “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37). David had faith God would rescue him. He knew that God was fighting on his side!

My favorite line in this story has always been when David is facing Goliath and says, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands...”  (1 Samuel 16:45-46). David fights for God’s glory and he believes God will deliver him! All the things the world values in battle (size, strength, swords, spears and javelins) mean nothing. In the end, God is the one who determines the victor and we must have faith in Him!

Right before he kills Goliath he gives God credit one more time: “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 16:47). 

Yes, David was brave; but David’s success stemmed from having faith in God and giving God all the glory! 

If you haven't already, enjoy our VBS videos and share them with your friends and family. Here is the FBCW version of David and Goliath:

Church, Don’t Let Coronavirus Divide You

MAY 15, 2020  |  BRETT MCCRACKEN

For church leaders and elder boards everywhere, the last few months have presented a near-constant array of complex challenges related to shepherding a church during the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest complex challenge is perhaps the trickiest yet: how to prudently resume in-person gatherings.

As if the logistical details weren’t challenging enough—how to maintain social distance and limit crowd size, whether or not to require masks, to sing or not to sing, what to do with children, and so on—the whole conversation is fraught with potential for division. If a congregation—and within it, a leadership team—is at all a microcosm of our larger society, it will likely contain a broad assortment of strongly held convictions. Some will be eager to meet in person and impatient to wait much longer to get back to normal. Others will insist it’s unwise to meet at all until there’s a vaccine. Plenty will fall somewhere in between. 

In such a precarious and polarizing environment, how can churches move forward in beautiful unity (Ps. 133) rather than ugly division? It won’t be easy. But by God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit working to unify us in ways our flesh resists, the opportunity is there for us to be a countercultural model for the rest of the world. 

Countercultural Sacrifice

At a time when self-idolatry is being exposed in ugly ways, the church has an opportunity to model love that places the interests of others above the self. For example, someone might find it personally difficult—even maddening—to have to wear a mask during church and stay six feet away from everyone at all times. You might think these precautions are a needless overreaction. But here’s the thing: even if it turns out you’re right, can you not sacrifice your ideal for a season, out of love for others who believe the precautions are necessary? Even if you personally think it is silly, or even cowardly, for someone to stay home even after the church is open again on Sundays, can you not heed Paul’s wisdom in Romans 14: “Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother”? Or 1 Corinthians 8:9: “Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” 

Even if you think these precautions are a needless overreaction, can you not sacrifice your ideal for a season, out of love for others who believe the precautions are necessary?

Likewise, those who think the lockdowns should continue should not pass judgment on those who question the wisdom of the government’s ongoing restrictions. Churches should strive to honor people on both sides of the spectrum. Yes, it will be costly for churches to keep offering online services for those who don’t feel comfortable attending physical gatherings. Yes, it will be a sacrifice for church members who are sick of masks, social distancing, and Zoom to continue to use these for the sake of others. But little is more Christian than a posture of sacrifice (Rom. 12:1). We should embrace it with gladness. 

Countercultural Humility

Have you noticed how remarkably confident so many of us are in our views right now? Unfounded certainty—on the part of laypeople, leaders, modelers, and “experts” alike—is a contagion at least as viral as COVID-19 itself. We could all use a bit more humility, and the church should lead the way.

As much as ever before, Christians should follow the advice of James to be “quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (1:19). Listening well may slow down the process of deliberation and planning, but it is worth it. Whatever opinions church leaders themselves have on the matter of reopening, they should take time to humbly hear the voices of others—perhaps convening forums of various stakeholders within the church, as well as other church and government leaders in their area. Church members should likewise model Christlike humility (e.g., Phil. 2:3) in how they react to the plans outlined by leaders, even if they don’t agree with every aspect of it. No one of us should assume we’ve arrived at the definitive answer on how to do this well. Let’s model humility by acknowledging that everything is not obvious, and we are all just trying to do the best we can in this “build the plane in midair” moment. 

Countercultural Patience

Patience is one of the rarest virtues in today’s insta-everything world. And yet patience has rarely been more needed, as many of us are antsy to break free of “stay home” isolation and get back to normalcy as soon as possible. To be sure, it is good and right to be eager to gather again as churches. We should take Hebrews 10:25 seriously when it says we ought not neglect meeting together. We should feel the ache of what is lost when we only meet virtually, and every Christian should long for the day when “church on Zoom” gives way to “church in a room.” That day will come. But we should be careful to not rush it. We should be careful to not go faster than governments allow, or faster than those in our community can understand. We should be patient with a timeline that might be slower than we’d prefer; patient with a reopening process that will doubtless be clunky; patient with leaders feeling the pressure of this complex situation; and patient with one another as we figure out the new normal. Those who are not comfortable with physical gatherings should be patient with those who are, and vice versa. As hard as it will be to practice patience, remember that in the scheme of eternity this season—whether it’s months long or years—will be but a blip. 

As hard as it will be to practice patience, remember that in the scheme of eternity this season—whether it’s months long or years—will be but a blip.

Countercultural Nuance

We live in an un-nuanced age. The economic model of the media (built on clicks and views) works against nuance. Advertisers know nuance doesn’t sell. Politicians know it too. We shouldn’t be surprised by how rare it is for someone to hold humble, complicated, “both/and” views in today’s hyper-partisan, media-catechized world. But if churches are going to emerge from this crisis with unity and fellowship intact, we must embrace the countercultural path of nuance. It’s the path that avoids ALL CAPS hysteria of every extreme sort, recognizing that truth is rarely as simple and shrill as Twitter would have us think. It’s the path that prizes both courage and prudence, and avoids both pollyannaish and doomsday responses. It means we can be skeptical of some aspects of the lockdown without resorting to outrageous conspiracy theories, and we can honor governing authorities (Rom. 13) while engaging them in civil pushback when necessary. Countercultural nuance avoids thinking the worst of people and concedes that the other side of a debate is sometimes right, just as we are sometimes wrong. Nuance often results when humility and patience combine.

There are some things Christians should not be nuanced about, of course, and one of those is our rugged commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ and all that Scripture commands. What Paul urges the Ephesian church, therefore, should be equally urgent for us today: “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1–3).

Brett McCracken is a senior editor at The Gospel Coalition and author of Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community, Gray Matters: Navigating the Space Between Legalism and Liberty, and Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide. Brett and his wife, Kira, live in Santa Ana, California, with their son Chet. They belong to Southlands Church, where Brett serves as an elder. You can follow him on Twitter.

Water Becomes Wine

John 2:1-12 

1 On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’s mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’s mother told him, “They don’t have any wine.” 4 “What has this concern of yours to do with me, woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 “Do whatever he tells you,” his mother told the servants. 6 Now six stone water jars had been set there for Jewish purification. Each contained twenty or thirty gallons. 7 “Fill the jars with water,” Jesus told them. So they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.” And they did. 9 When the headwaiter tasted the water (after it had become wine), he did not know where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He called the groom 10 and told him, “Everyone sets out the fine wine first, then, after people are drunk, the inferior. But you have kept the fine wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. 12 After this, he went down to Capernaum, together with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples, and they stayed there only a few days.

Jesus has been in Judea. Now the scene shifts from Judea in the south to Galilee in the north, the region where Jesus grew up. Jesus is at a wedding in Cana, with his disciples and his mother. Weddings are a "big deal," with many guests and festivities planned to last for about a week celebrating the new couple.

John selects this event, not found in the other Gospels, to begin to reveal who Jesus is.

The wedding, quickly has a serious problem. They had enough wine to begin the festivities, but before long they ran out of wine!

Mary, who is perhaps especially close to the groom's family, and therefore sensitive to their need, not only mentions it to Jesus, but suggests that He solve their problem.

Mary walks up to Jesus and says, “'There is  no more wine.”

“Why is this my problem????” says Jesus

The text doesn't tell us, she probably knows that Jesus can help. But remember she has lived with him for thirty years and knows that He is not only resourceful in practical matters, but probably has seen Him perform miracles prior to today. She is His mother. She knows Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. She specifically mentions the problem to Jesus in a way that leaves  him no doubt that she expects him to take care of it.

He responds, “my time has not yet come.”

Jesus tells the servants, “Fill the jars with water to the brim." 

It may have taken them several hours to complete Jesus' somewhat weird request.

Had there been no more wine, this could have been tragic for the new couple. This would have been a sign that the man could not provide for his wife and could have ended badly. 

They took off the lid and the water was now wine. Jesus performed this miracle and saved the wedding, and the future of this new couple. 

Jesus then has the disciples take some wine to the “head waiter.” And he is surprised at the quality of the wine. He says, “who saves the best wine for last?” He doesn't seem to be aware of the wine shortage situation nor the actions of the disciples, so he is able to summon the bridegroom.

Verse 11, Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

John uses the greek word sēmeion for signs, which means, a sign or distinguishing mark whereby something is known, sign, token, indication. For John, these wonders are not just miracles, but signs that point to who Jesus actually is. 

According to verse 11 this sign had two functions:

Reveals his glory - The teacher is more than He seems, and every so often the massive Shekinah glory of God shines out.

Inspires faith - It's important to observe that in His disciples, the miracles inspired faith, but in his enemies they inspired only a determination to eliminate him.

Jesus' ministry is now officially underway. The bulk of Jesus' ministry in Galilee is chronicled by the Synoptic Gospels, while John focuses more on Jesus' Judean ministry.

For the children:

What has Jesus done in your life or someone around you that has you in awe? 

Who do you need to share a story of Jesus with?

Read and Meditate:

John 2:1-12

Pray

God, I appreciate that I have a backstage pass to the miracles of Jesus as He shows us that He can meet all our needs. Please help me see the needs around me and find a way to meet them. 

In Jesus name, Amen. 

About the author:

Jose Aguilar Jr. is an Associate Pastor at FBC Weslaco and has served in this capacity for the last 12 years. He and his wife Blanca have served faithfully at FBC Weslaco since 2001. They are the proud grandparents of Lilyana Faythe and Trinidad Esperanza Aguilar.

Avoiding Judgment

Scripture

Luke 6:36-37, 41-42

36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 

 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. 

For the Adults:

Jesus says, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.” Withholding judgment is a spiritual discipline. It’s the practice of replacing condemnation with mercy and humility. Passing judgment is the opposite of humility because it elevates ourselves above others and makes us blind to our own mistakes. The plank in our eyes prevents us from seeing ourselves and others clearly. Being judgmental of others creates an atmosphere where hate thrives and love is in short supply. Certainly the social media platforms used today allow an easy access for judgment (good, bad & ugly) when a user posts something on their wall or page. This can be so hurtful when criticism and judgmental comments are posted instead of positive thoughts.

To be sure, judgment is not to be confused with keeping each other accountable for wrongdoing and standing up against injustice. We can address sin with empathy while understanding our own position as sinners saved by grace. When we practice withholding judgment, we practice compassion, sympathy and the way of peace in our souls. Our hearts become soft towards our neighbor, allowing us to love freely as Christ has loved us. For it was Christ who said, “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). If we all practiced this commandment – the world would be a more peaceful place!

As we watch the George Floyd tragedy and its impact on the black American community unfold, perhaps the most compassionate response is simply preaching Jesus’ gospel of repentance and walking with them. Let’s open our ears to listen, open our eyes to face the racism embedded in all cultures, starting with our own. Many of us have judged people by the color of their skin. Let’s empower each other to live with humble courage to love our neighbor, pray for those who persecute us and to be merciful, just as our heavenly Father is merciful.

For the Kiddos:

Enter:

• How does Luke 6 speak to your heart?

• Is there someone or a group of people you tend to pass judgment on?

• Which enemy is God inviting you to love and pray for today?

Hear:

Read the Bible Passages. (Luke 6:36-37, 41-42, Mark 12:31 (ESV)) For younger children, a picture Bible may be used. 

Pause

Take a few seconds, or maybe a minute to sit with the scripture in silence. This might be a great time to choose a different place to do your devotional time. Maybe sit outside or in the backyard and be still and let God’s word work in their hearts!

Wonder:

• What social media platform do you think is the worst when it comes to judgmental comments & posts?  FaceBook? Twitter? Instagram? Snapchat?

• How can we take a stand against injustice with humility and grace?

• How can we better understand someone who is different than us? 

Bless:

Affirm what was discussed about the story.

• Have a oath with God to only post positive and encouraging comments on social media.

• If you see injustice in this world – then do something!

Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God!

Example:

Father God, we ask for your forgiveness for the ways we may have passed judgment on others. Help us to have open hearts and always seek justice and righteousness as you do. Give us courage to see others the way we see ourselves and to see ourselves as forgiven and free. Show us how to be discipline in our walk on the path of humility and grace. Bring hope and healing to our nation. We pray all this in the mighty name of Jesus! – Amen!

The Sweet Spot

Proverbs 22:6

Start children off on the way they should go,
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

I know there is little chance of baseball actually playing anytime soon, but maybe talking about it can make us feel a little better. Lately, all the rage in hitting is about the launch angle of the ball. Balls that are hit in “the sweet spot” with the right launch angle are more likely to result in a hit. If they have the right amount of power, we are talking home runs! (https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/sports/mlb-launch-angles-story/) Of course hitting is an intricate art form, but it seems like if the ball starts right, it’ll end alright.

As parents (and grandparents), we have to know that the ways we start our children will have a direct correlation to the ways they will develop. Just as hitters now spend a lot of time working on the launch angle of their hits, we should Invest in the launch angle of our children. Spending time reading the Bible, praying together, playing together, attending church (online) and doing VBS online are great ways to start children off in the way they should go.

It would have been great if you started this when your kids were babies, but no matter how old your kids are, it is never too late to find the sweet spot of prioritizing God in your lives!

Kathy Cowden enjoys a Banana Shake of Righteousness with her grandkids.

Mariska and Jackson sport their home made Armor of God from VBS.

God Protects His People

This is a great story with an evil king, a sorcerer, a talking donkey, and an invisible warrior angel! No, its not Disney, it’s the Bible! Even if you already saw this with the kids’ VBS this week, take a minute to realize that God was protecting his people, even when an evil king was paying huge sums of money to have them cursed. The hero of this story is God!

This video, based on Numbers 22-24 (NIV), is entirely home-made with Casey and Lisa Parker leading the artistic design team and the Sanchez family providing the script, narration and character voices, and the music. Enjoy!

Where I Really Fall Short

published on May 7, 2020 at crosswalk.com Encouragement for Today
LYSA TERKEURST

“LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” Isaiah 25:1 (NIV)

Can I admit something to you that I’m not proud of?

Sometimes I struggle trusting God with my kids.

There’s just something so hard about this for me. Though I have complete faith in God, when it comes down to the nitty-gritty of fully trusting His plans for my kids, I fall short.

I worry.

I get incredibly anxious.

I make lots of suggestions to God on their behalf.

I try to keep things in their world calm, free of hurt and on track toward some “best plan” I’ve imagined for them.

It’s like I gather up my people in my arms and tell God: “See? I’ve got it all worked out. Now, if You’ll just bless all this. Don’t mess with it, just bless it. Then life will be good.”

It’s something I can find myself struggling with even now that they’re all adults.

Like I said, I’m not proud of this.

I could go on a little tangent right here and justify the great love of a mother and how God has woven into our very DNA this fierce desire to protect our children and care for them at all costs. But there’s this little prick in my heart because I know how very limited my efforts are. In every way, my efforts are faulty and fragile.

Therefore, I’m learning, slowly, how to grab hold of the only plan that is foolproof with my kids — truly entrusting them to the Lord.

The very best thing a mom can ever do is to recognize only God is good at being God. I’m finally getting this. And it’s helping me get out of His way.

For example, if it were up to me, my daughter Ashley would have never ever gone to the college she chose. Back then, I could have given you a list a mile long why she should absolutely, positively, never ever, under any circumstances have gone to that school.

But God.

He had a plan I never could have imagined.

He had a woman at the school, behind the scenes, whom I didn’t even know, praying for my daughter.

He had friends waiting to love her.

He had small group leaders waiting to show her how to have a real relationship with Jesus.

He had a church family waiting to become one of the most favorite parts of her life. He had a young man with the biggest heart and cutest hair you ever did see waiting to fall in love with her. And now they have the sweetest baby boy this Gigi can’t get enough of!

When Ashley left for college, I couldn’t have seen any of this. I couldn’t have imagined any of this. I couldn’t even sense the tiniest part of it.

That’s why it’s crucial for me to trust God. Because heaven knows He is much better at arranging things than I am.

I know it’s not always easy to release control, sweet friends. But our best job as moms is to be obedient to God. God’s job is everything else.

Honestly, the best way to protect our kids is to show them what it looks like to trust God for themselves.

His plan hasn’t been without ups and downs. But through it all, God showed me how much better He is at arranging life than I am. And He has moved me to a place where Isaiah 25:1 is truly the cry of my heart: “LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.”

Yes. God is good.

And only God is good at being God.

Father God, You know all of the things I desperately want to control. I’m scared, but today I’m ready to give You these areas and walk in trust. I know You won’t arrange things according to my plan. And I’m actually thankful for that. Because I finally recognize Your plan will be so much better. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Proverbs 19:21, “You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.” (NLT)

You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet

John 1:43-51

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and told him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 46 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him. “Come and see,” Philip answered. 47 Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered. 49 “Rabbi,” Nathanael replied, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus responded to him, “Do you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “Truly I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

For the Adults:

When Christ calls us to salvation, He also calls us to follow Him as Lord wherever He chooses to lead us. 

Dr. Bill Wallace was an American missionary to China. He was arrested in China on false charges based on planted evidence. He was beaten with bamboo sticks by prison guards. He was brutally interrogated, he was despondent to the point of insanity in his final days, according to witnesses who were jailed with him. He would later die from these wounds. Few believed the official story that the 43 year old doctor had committed suicide after he was found hanging from a beam in his cell the morning of February 10, 1951. A close friend and colleague was allowed to view his body and saw little evidence of a hanging, but plenty of marks of physical abuse.

While the Lord doesn’t call us all to that kind of life, He does call us all to follow Him wherever and however He commands. He is the Lord and we’re His children. While He always has our ultimate good in mind, the path sometimes is pretty rough. The call to be a Christian is the call to follow Jesus wherever He commands.

We looked at Jesus’ encounter with Nathanael last week. Jesus let Nathanael know that He knew him inside and out. Nathanael is the first man in John’s gospel who is said to believe in Jesus and he is the first to receive a promise from Christ. His testimony teaches us that there are degrees of growth in coming to know Christ. Nathanael was already a student of the Scriptures, searching them to know who the Messiah would be. But he needed to meet Jesus in person. That meeting brought him to believe in Jesus as the Son of God. But Jesus would reveal still more to Nathanael about the future. 

In modern day lingo, Jesus' response, verses 50 - 51, is really, "You ain't seen nothing yet!" The gospel of John covers seven of Jesus' miracles, and he refers to them as "signs." The purpose of a true miracle, or sign, is always bringing a message to people about, or from God. In the gospel of John, these seven miracles are recorded specifically so that people will realize that Jesus is God. Knowing where Nathanael was, and what he was doing, is impressive. But these future signs will be even more proof that Christ was who He claimed to be. Jesus has already gently corrected Nathanael for using stereotypes. Now, He gives an early reminder that those who believe only when they have a miracle are not seeking honestly.

Jesus is telling us today, "You ain't seen nothing yet!” But whatever the next few months bring we are called to do our part as witnesses to what God is doing through us for those most effected by the virus. In order to participate in what God is doing in the world today, the Church needs to provide a consistent, organic witness over the long haul. To do so is to recognize God is at work during this pandemic. 

For the children:

When was the last time you checked in on your grandparents? 

Who have you heard through your contacts/connections is not doing well?

Can you reach out to them and see how you can help? 

Read and meditate: 

John 1:43-51

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and told him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 46 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him. “Come and see,” Philip answered. 47 Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered. 49 “Rabbi,” Nathanael replied, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus responded to him, “Do you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “Truly I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Pray:

Lord I know that this pandemic has been hard on so many people, and I ask that you show me how I can love my brothers and sisters like Jesus does. Help me to be obedient to your Holy Spirit and do something that can help them out during these difficult times. 

I pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ my Savior

Amen.

About the author:

Jose Aguilar Jr. is an Associate Pastor at FBC Weslaco and has served in this capacity for the last 12 years. He and his wife Blanca have served faithfully at FBC Weslaco since 2001. They are the proud grandparents of Lilyana Faythe and Trinidad Esperanza Aguilar.

"DON'T"!!!

This devotional is taken from the YouVersion HolyBible App – “Our Daily Bread Teens Edition” – called “Being Told “Don’t”” (https://odb.org//). ENJOY! - Robin W.

Scripture

Genesis 3:1-7

3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b] she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

For the Adults:

We hate being told, “Don’t” – right? We hear it from parents, teachers, grandparents, brothers and sisters, and even our friends. It can be so annoying when people stop us from doing what we want to do.

But sometimes we need to be told “don’t” – for our own good. If we had the total freedom to do whatever we wanted, without anyone to guide us, we could end up making some pretty bad choices.

Take Adam and Eve for example. They lived in the most amazing place on this earth, where they had lots of freedom. However, when God said, “Don’t” eat from this one specific tree to protect them form a bad decision, they didn’t listen (Genesis 3).

Sometimes we can’t understand why we’re told “Don’t”, especially by God. But if we remember that He created this world and knows best how it works, it will change our way of thinking. It’s just like being told by the manufacturer of your phone not to put it in a microwave; it’s an instruction you’ll follow, because you trust that the manufacturer, who made it, knows that it will explode. (Plus –that would be an expensive oopsy!) We need to realize that when God says “Don’t”, He’s telling us the best way to live.

God doesn’t say “Don’t” to stop our fun; He says it to protect us from bad choices. 

For the Kiddos:

Enter:

• What do you think the Garden of Eden looked liked?

• Where could God be in this Garden?

• How does God guide your life like your parents?

Hear:

Read the Bible Passages. (Genesis 3:1-7 (ESV)) For younger children, a picture Bible may be used. 

Pause

Take a few seconds, or maybe a minute to sit with the scripture in silence. This might be a great time to choose a different place to do your devotional time. Maybe sit outside or in the backyard and be still and let God’s word work in their hearts!

Wonder:

• If you had total freedom from Mom and Dad to do whatever you wanted – what would it be? What choices would you make?

• Would there be any danger or negative consequences that might happen from that freedom?

• What do you like best about your parents looking out for your safety and interests? 

Bless:

Affirm what was discussed about the story.

Obeying your parents leads to wisdom. Obedience brings you closer to God. Obedience is hard.  Here are some tips for obeying your parents when they say “no” or “don’t”:

• Listen

• Show respect

• Have patience

• Communicate, communicate, communicate!

Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God!

Example:

Father God –thank you for your Word which gives us instructions on how to live. Thank you for loving us so much that you care for our safety and happiness. Help us to be obedient to you and to our parents, especially when you tell us “no” or “don’t” do something. Give us wisdom to make wise choices. We pray this in Jesus’ name - Amen

Who is My Neighbor? (Luke 10:25-37)

All we have to do is look around us to see how broken our world is. Pastor Parker’s sermon this past Sunday reminded us that what we really need is an AGAPE kind of love. Read this passage and then listen to the retelling of it by Dr. Doug Jackson. While Dr. Jackson’s retelling pushes the boundaries of what we may deem appropriate, I believe it captures the very essence of cultural animosity between Jews and Samaritans and helps us better understand God’s AGAPE love.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Click on the Icon Below to hear a retelling of the Good Samaritan.

The Parable of the Good Bad Guy

Jesus Christ Our Judge

By Charles Stanley (6/12/20 on intouch.org)

2 Corinthians 5:6-10

The Word of God reveals that Jesus Christ will one day judge every person who has ever lived (Acts 10:42). At that time, unbelievers will be exiled from God’s presence, and believers will stand before Jesus with full comprehension of His extravagant grace. 

True followers of the Savior, however, have nothing to fear, as this judgment is not for the purpose of determining salvation—that was settled the moment they first put their faith in the Son of God. And as Romans 8:1 reassures us, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Instead, the Lord will judge His own for the purpose of rewards. 

In other words, though none of us can live a perfect life here on earth, we do not need to dread this face-to-face time of reckoning with our Savior. Christ’s judgment is not a punishment; it is a reminder that we are pardoned. 

On that day, we will stand before the Lord, clothed in Christ’s righteousness and forgiven of every single sin. And we will at last fully comprehend the depth and breadth of His grace and love for us. 

Living into a New Normal - Fruit of the Spirit is Love Devotional

By Dr. Steven K. Parker  

• What is the most loving thing someone has done for you this week?

• What is the most loving thing you’ve done for someone else this week?

• Why is love so important in life?

• How could a heavy dose of God’s love make a difference in our world so defined by hate, violence, and distrust?

Hear: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:16-26)

Pause:

·      Review & Reflect—According to Paul, what does a “normal” life lived for the “works of the flesh” look like?

·      Why do you think love is the first in this list of spiritual fruit?

Reflection For Everyone: As we begin looking at the fruit of the Spirit and consider what it means to live into a kingdom normal, I want to point out Paul’s use of the singular form of the word “fruit” in this passage.  These are not the “fruits of the Spirit” as we so often call them, but rather, they are together the “fruit of the spirit.”  These are not like the Spiritual Gifts lists found elsewhere in the writings of Paul, where I may have one or two of the gifts and not the others.  The fruit of the Spirit are nine characteristics that will be growing in our lives if we are walking in the Spirit of God.  The first characteristic of the spiritual fruit that are the norm of life in the kingdom is love.

The most used word for love in the New Testament was the Greek word agape.  The early Christians took this rarely used Greek word and filled it with meaning.  Agape love is the kind of love that we show, not because someone deserves it, but because God has shown us love that we didn’t deserve.  Agape love is the kind of love that God showed us when He gave His only begotten Son who died for us, while we yet sinners.  Agape love is the kind of love that we show when we love others, not because they’ve earned our love, but because we have been loved by God.  When we love with this kind of love, God takes those efforts and blesses them mightily in His eternal kingdom.

I can’t help but wonder what kind of difference this kind of love could make in today’s heated climate of racially and politically motivated hate.  What kind of a difference would it make if we stopped sharing half truths on social media in an effort to gain likes from people like us and chose to instead take the time to get to know someone who looks and thinks very differently from us?  What kind of a difference would it make if we started thinking about people on the other side of today’s debates the way God thinks about them?  What kind of a difference would it make if we unplugged from our desire to win arguments and started instead trying to show love and make friends?

As we head toward Sunday and continue to be bombarded by bad news and hurtful rhetoric, let’s ask ourselves: how can I show love?  Who needs a word of encouragement?  Who needs a kind gesture of good will?  Who needs time and space to share their hurt and frustration and feel like they’ve been heard?  How can we stand in the gap and make a difference by showing others the love God has shown us in Jesus?

Wonder:

·      Spend a few minutes discussing the love that God showed us by sending Jesus to die for us “while we were yet sinners.”

·      How can we show that same kind of love?

Bless:

·      Affirm what everyone has shared.

·      Pray that God might help us to grow in His Spirit that our lives might more and more be characterized by God’s love.

Pray together:

“Father, thank you for showing us a love in Jesus that we could never earn or repay.  Help us to love others in that same way.  Show us lost and hurting people who need your love desperately.  Guide us to move our feet into service in those stories.  In the mighty, loving name of Jesus we pray, Amen.” 

We hope that you will join us online Sunday at 9:30 AM in Spanish and at 11:00 AM in English or that you’ll participate in one of our re-launched in person services: 9:30 AM Spanish Service in the sanctuary; 9:30 AM At Risk Service in the FLC (for folks 55 and older or with underlying health concerns); 11:00 AM English Service in the sanctuary. We look forward to worshiping with you!

Come and See

John 1:35-42

35 The next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and noticed them following him, he asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and you’ll see,” he replied. So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed him. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated “the Christ”), 42 and he brought Simon to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated “Peter”).

For the adults:

Our heart is like an unfinished puzzle,

that is why we search for the perfect one to complete it.

-Unknown

In the late 80s, the band U2 topped the charts with a song that speaks of the uncertainty of one’s life journey and their looking in, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” The lyrics speak of a life of climbing the highest mountains, running through the fields, scaling these city walls, and a lot more, “only to be with you.” The song walks us through one’s life, while at the same time indicating that there must be something more than the path that we are on. Ultimately, we cannot find satisfaction in this world. Fulfillment must come from something else, or perhaps from Someone else.

We could imagine, this is the song the disciples may have been singing, as they were looking and longing for something they could not seem to find. In fact, we do not get an answer to Jesus’ question from the disciples, maybe because they don’t even have an idea of what they are looking for.  So they look for a teacher, hoping that if they stick by His side, they will find the answer.

“Come and See” Jesus says to the disciples. Instead of asking them to sit down and listen or giving them a lengthy reading assignment, He invites them into a relational and hands on way of engaging the world.

Jesus is inviting these first followers, and He is inviting us. It is a lifestyle that echoes throughout John’s gospel, for believers to discover firsthand the signs that demonstrate Jesus is the Christ.

When we take the time to seek God’s presence, to immerse ourselves in God’s Word, we cannot help but to be changed. God is working within us, within our community, and within our world. And when we submit, we will be transformed. We will experience the revelation of Jesus as the Messiah.

John’s gospel invites us to take part in this beautiful journey, looking together. Perhaps the question to us now is more than “what are you looking for?”, it’s “what are you waiting for?” Come, and see.

For the children:

Jesus is calling you to come and see.

Is the journey you are on being led by Jesus?

Are you listening to the Rabbi, and learning from Him?

Who are you taking to the Messiah?

Read and meditate:

John 1:35-42

35 The next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and noticed them following him, he asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and you’ll see,” he replied. So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed him. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated “the Christ”), 42 and he brought Simon to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated “Peter”).

Pray:

Lord I know this pandemic has been hard on so many people, and so many people are looking for something. Let introduce You to those who are looking. 

I pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ my Savior

Amen.

About the author:

Jose Aguilar Jr. is an Associate Pastor at FBC Weslaco and has served in this capacity for the last 11 years. He and his wife Blanca have served faithfully at FBC Weslaco since 2001. They are the proud grandparents of Lilyana Faythe and Trinidad Esperanza Aguilar.

Grow in Grace

Scripture

II Peter 3:14-18

14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 

17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

For the Adults:

Growing up, I think most families have a place in the house, probably near the kitchen like I did growing up, where the physical growth of the children is recorded with pencil marks over the years. When we hear “grow,” many images may come to mind of shoe sizes, school subjects, or work skills. For me, it was a good day when I was marked taller than my older sister. We were and still are very competitive with each other since we are close in age (exactly eleven months apart) and being taller than her gave me a slight edge. 

Peter concludes his second letter to early Christians with “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” We tend to accept that we can grow in knowledge, but we can easily skip around the idea of growing in grace. The context here is both believers’ hardship and the hope of Christ’s return. In the hardship, we look to the certainty of Jesus and his grace. This confidence in him does not bring us to freeze or pause, but rather it moves us to be active by faith.

Many times trials can distract or discourage our faith. Certainly the challenge we have all faced with the three month quarantine (has it really been that long?!) and social distancing protocols this year can be tiring and wear down our faith. The biblical perspective is that the Living Lord is using the difficulty for our good. Even when we don’t understand everything in Scripture, as Peter comments here about Paul’s writings, we know Jesus and the Scriptures are our stability. The struggle itself is a catalyst for us to cling to Christ, to grow in our dependency upon his grace. Only later will we be able to look back and see the spiritual pencil marks that the Lord is graciously giving to us.

For the Kiddos:

Enter:

What current area is inviting you to cling to Christ, in order to grow in His grace?

In what ways can your family encourage one another to grow in God’s grace?

Hear:

Read the Bible Passages. (II Peter 3:14-18 (ESV)) For younger children, a picture Bible may be used. 

Pause

Take a few seconds, or maybe a minute to sit with the scripture in silence. This might be a great time to choose a different place to do your devotional time. Maybe sit outside or in the backyard and be still and let God’s word work in their hearts!

Wonder:

• What is your favorite Christian song about grace?

  • (e.g. Amazing Grace, This Is Amazing Grace, Your Grace Finds Me, Your Grace Is Enough, etc.)

• If you keep track of your kiddos’ height as they grow – each time you measure them – ask them how they have grown in their walk with God.

Bless:

Affirm what was discussed about the story.
How to show grace to others:

• Through your words: Be kind and gentle in what you say and how you say it.

• Look for Needs and Opportunities. simple everyday kindnesses and actions often help in great ways.

• Forgive others and ask for forgiveness when you need it.

Extend a little grace to someone this week – because God gives it to us freely, even when we do not deserve it.

Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God!

Example:

Father God –you both saved us by grace through faith and sustain us by your grace. Lead us to lean into your rich grace and to grow in it, for the sake of your name and your Kingdom. We pray this in Jesus’ name - Amen

The Church of Today

Gather:

Who needs Jesus the most?

Who in our church is capable of serving?

Who in our church should we treat with the most respect?

Who in our church has the ability to live into God’s kingdom?

I hope you answered something like, “Everyone!” to all of these questions.

Hear:

Matthew 19:13-14

13 Some people brought little children to Jesus. They wanted him to place his hands on the children and pray for them. But the disciples told them not to do it.

14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t keep them away. The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like them.” 15 Jesus placed his hands on them to bless them. Then he went on from there.

Wonder:

Why do you think people brought children to Jesus?

Why do you think the disciples told them not to bring the children to Jesus?

Why did Jesus take time to bless them?

Jesus has a habit of taking things that seem unimportant and making them important. A manger was used as a bed for a king, water was turned into wine, mud was used to cure blindness, and the list goes on and on. Here, the disciples didn’t seem to think Jesus had time for little “unimportant” children. Jesus, on the other hand prioritized the blessing of these little ones and used them as an example of the Kingdom life.

I’ve often heard people say that children are the church of tomorrow; but, like Jesus seemed to be saying, children are not just the church of the future, they are The Church of Today! Like adults, they can worship, fellowship, serve, and be discipled. The difference is that Jesus says we need to look to them to remind us of the child-like faith we need to live into God’s kingdom.

When VBS starts at 11 am this Wednesday on our youtube channel, it will be the first time in decades that we will not meet on campus. But our children are still important! Please pray for our kids who will be participating. Please share our Wednesday video with anyone you can think of who needs to hear about God’s great story of love, redemption and recreation. Let’s pray that God takes our humble online offering of scripture and teaching and multiplies it in such a way that our church of today grows leaps and bounds!

Bless:

Dear God,

Help us to see your kingdom when we see children in our midst. Bless all who are participating in VBS this year from those making the videos, the crafts, and the music, to those who are watching. Bless our children because they are the Church of Today!

Amen

Do Not Give Up Meeting Together - Live or Online!

Gather:

How is our world technologically different from our world 30 years ago?

How is our world technologically different from Jesus’ time?

If you were around in Jesus’ time, how would you communicate with other people?

Hear:

Hebrews 10:19-25

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to Godwith a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Wonder:

How do verses 22-23 give focus to who we are and what we need to do?

Imagine having no contact with any other Christians. Would it be difficult to continually follow Jesus in this world with no encouragement and support?

How might we encourage and support others?

I’m sure the author of Hebrews never envisioned online services, zoom meetings, or the ability to talk on a cell phone when they encouraged the church to not give up meeting together. At that time, the call to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” could not have been accomplished effectively without meeting together in-person! Now, we have many options when it comes to staying in contact and encouraging one another.

For the next several weeks or months, we want to encourage you, if you feel more comfortable worshiping online, to please continue to do so and we will continue to do our best to grow our online ministry to reach people for Jesus in a way that we never have before. If you feel comfortable worshiping in person, we look forward to seeing you Sunday!

We realize that for some we are relaunching too late and for others we are relaunching too early. Please continue to be patient with us and know that we are making decisions prayerfully and thoughtfully with the greater good at the forefront of our minds as we press forward in faith.  In all of these things we ask you to continue to pray for our church, community, country, and world, as we seek to be faithful to God’s Story and our gospel mission and love those who are loved by God.

Sunday Schedule:

9:30 am Spanish Service in our Sanctuary (In-Person and broadcasted live on Youtube)

9:30 am  High-Risk English Service in our GYM (In-Person for people over age 55 or with underlying conditions that put them at greater risk to the Covid-19 Coronavirus)

11:00 am English Service in our Sanctuary (In-Person and broadcasted live on Youtube) 

In each of these in-person services we will be practicing strict social distancing protocols and asking participants to wear masks for the wellbeing of the others who are in attendance. See you Sunday, in-person or online!

Bless:

Thank you for the ability to continue meeting digitally through the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you for the ability to come together in-person for worship this Sunday, and may we draw near to You with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. May we encourage one another and spur one another on to good deeds.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen!

Living into a New Normal - Fruit of the Spirit Devotional

By: Dr Steven K. Parker

·      What was your favorite thing about the grade / school year you just completed?  Least favorite thing?

·      Now that the school year has wrapped up what excites you about the summer?  Does anything worry you?

·      What has does a “normal” day look like in your house right now?  How is that different from what used to be “normal?”

Hear:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:16-26)

Pause:

·      According to Paul, what does a “normal” life lived for the “works of the flesh” look like?

·      What does a normal life lived in God’s Spirit look like?

Reflection For Everyone:

This week we will be launching a new series on the Fruit of the Spirit titled Living into a Kingdom Normal, as we continue our online services and re-launch several in-person services. We are excited about building our online presence while resuming our in-person services with social distancing protocols in place.  If you’re planning to come to one of our in-person services, please arrive just a few minutes before the service begins and wear a face covering for the consideration of others.  These protocols can be frustrating and a little cumbersome for many.  A lot of people are calling such practices “the new normal.”  The idea is that some of these protocols will be common practice, at least in the coming months as we deal with this pandemic.  That idea of a new normal is a very big part of our faith.  We believe that there is coming a day when God will set right all that is wrong, make whole all that is broken, and bring heaven and earth together at last, as He intended in the beginning.  On that day, in the fully realized kingdom of God there will be a kingdom normal that’s a lot different from how we experience life right now.  Jesus says that on that day “the last will be first and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16).  Isaiah described that day saying:

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:6-9)

John describes a great heavenly vision in which he heard a great voice saying:

Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelations 21:3-4)

Given all that we’re going through right now with the Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic and all the racial and ethnic violence and unrest that has set our society ablaze, we long for that day and all the justice, peace, and healing that will come with it.

The scriptures remind us that we don’t have to wait for heaven to experience the kingdom that is described in these lines.  In the coming weeks we’re going to look at Paul’s teachings about the fruit of the Spirit, because here he shows us some of the key ingredients that are of most importance in God’s kingdom.  This spiritual fruit may stand at odds with life as we currently know it in the world, but these qualities will make perfect sense in the kingdom of God.  How much of a difference will it make in the world now if we become so in tune with God’s Spirit that these qualities become the defining part of our story right now?

Wonder:

·      What are the works of the flesh that Paul lists? 

·      What are the fruit of the Spirit?

·      Think about how the latter become more and more a part of our story when we live in the Spirit.

Bless:

·      Affirm what everyone has shared.

·      Pray that God might help us to grow in His Spirit that our lives might more and more be characterized by the fruit of the Spirit.

Pray together:

“Father, we live in a world that is lost and broken.  We acknowledge that we contribute to that struggle because we have sinned and fallen short of your glory.  Forgive us for the ways in which we have failed to live into Your kingdom.  Forgive us for the ways in which we have failed to live by Your Spirit.  Help us to grow in Your Spirit so that His fruit might be on full display in our lives.” 

We hope that you will join us online Sunday at 9:30 AM in Spanish and at 11:00 AM in English or that you’ll participate in one of our re-launched in person services: 9:30 AM Spanish Service in the sanctuary; 9:30 AM At Risk Service in the FLC (for folks 55 and older or with underlying health concerns); 11:00 AM English Service in the sanctuary. We look forward to worshiping with you!

The Lamb of God

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ 31 I didn’t know him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and he rested on him. 33 I didn’t know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descending and resting on—he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

John 1:29-34

For the Adults:

“The problem is sin, not skin. The answer is Grace, not race. Jesus died for ALL”

I’ve read this line or some rendition of it for several days now and have been praying about this for several days as well. Over the last week we have seen a collective outrage over George Floyd’s death. We have also seen some peaceful demonstrations calling for change. But it is now less about the movement and more about lawless violence that is dishonoring his name. And this quote (I couldn’t find the original author) because of all this, has resonated with me all week.

In verse 29, John the Baptist says the main thing about why Jesus, has come to earth.

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Earlier in this chapter, we see John the Baptist directing the Religious Leaders to Jesus, and here we see him pointing all of humanity to Jesus.

No ordinary human being can be “the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” Everything the Apostle John and John the Baptist have told us is essential to Jesus being the sin-removing Lamb of God.

The reason Jesus was able to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world because he was the 100% God and 100% man. Jesus was holy and He was without sin. Therefore, He became the perfect sacrifice.

God knew all along that we would not be perfect so had a plan to put us back in right standing with Him, and that would be through His son Jesus.

Knowing who Jesus is, can keep us strong when difficult circumstances may cause us to doubt.

We need to know for ourselves and then proclaim to our world the good news of who Jesus is and what He came to do. We are sinners and He is God’s only Savior from sin.

For the children:

Are there people in your life who you refuse to be friends with? Why?

What sins do you have to confess to Jesus?

How can you or who do you have to point to Jesus?

Meditate:

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ 31 I didn’t know him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and he rested on him. 33 I didn’t know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descending and resting on—he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

John 1:29-34

Pray:

God I know I am not perfect, but I also know that when I ask for forgiveness you wipe away my sins. I know I am called to point others to you. Place someone on my heart that I can share the gospel with.

About the author:

Jose Aguilar Jr. is an Associate Pastor at FBC Weslaco and has served in this capacity for the last 11 years. He and his wife Blanca have served faithfully at FBC Weslaco since 2001. They are the proud grandparents of Lilyana Faythe and Trinidad Esperanza Aguilar.

Sowing and Reaping

This devotional is from one of the kiddo’s YouVersion Holy Bible app plans given to them in the month of May (“May the Fourth be With You!). It is from“PRIME, Living a life of adventure, splendor and glory” by BigStuf @ https://bigstuf.com. Enjoy! - Robin 

Sowing and Reaping

Scripture

Galatians 6:7-8 (ESV)

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Star Wars is the fifth highest grossing movie franchise in the history of cinema. It has grossed more than $4.4 billion thanks to its epic dark side vs light side tale. It’s not just a great picture of what’s going on in a long time ago in a galaxy far far away – it’s a great picture of what’s going on inside of us 

We all experience the light – when things are going well and we feel like we’re on track and making good decisions and life is like it’s supposed to be. But just like in Star Wars, no matter how bright the light gets, the dark is not that far off. And before we can ever grab a hold of the prime life….we’re going to have to deal with the dark side.

Have you ever done something that you didn’t think was admirable, or right, or kind, or loving, or godly? That’s the dark side And while we kind of think we can play around the dark side and have our fun, and God will make it all right in the end, Paul has some bombshell words. This is what he says: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Galatians 6:7)

What you plan now is going to pop out of the ground later. And every day, every morning, every time you’re with your friends, every time you open your internet browser, every time you’re in the classroom or on the field, you get to choose what to sow: light side or dark side.

In your relationships you can sow selfishness or selflessness. In your family dynamics you can sow diligence or laziness. In your character you can sow integrity or dishonesty. In your relationship with God you can sow time with God or time ignoring God.

And what you choose is a big deal because a person reaps what they sow. Check out what he says next:

“Those who sow to satisfy their own sinful nature (the dark side!) will reap decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who sow to please the Spirit (the light side!) will reap everlasting life from the Spirit” (Galatians 6:8) NLT

You have a major role to play in living the prime life because you reap what you sow! And the greatest thing is, it doesn’t matter what your track record is. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve failed or how many promises you’ve broken. You can start sowing the light in your life right now because HE is with you.

This summer can be the summer you become the person God designed you to be because he is with you and his grace will never run out.  Let’s start sowing the light!

For the Kiddos:

Enter:

• What is God saying to you through this passage and devotional?

• What “dark side things” do you need to work on?

Hear:

Read the Bible Passages. (Galatians 6:7-8 (ESV)) For younger children, a picture Bible may be used. 

Pause

Take a few seconds, or maybe a minute to sit with the scripture in silence. This might be a great time to choose a different place to do your devotional time. Maybe sit outside or in the backyard and be still and let God’s word work in their hearts!

Wonder:

• What are some things you can do this summer to shine your light (from Christ) to others? (helping out a neighbor, mowing someone’s lawn, helping with dishes, cleaning your room)

• What do you want to sow this summer – light or dark? And how will you sow it?

Bless:

Affirm what was discussed about the story.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King, Jr

Love your neighbor (and your siblings too!) 

Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God!

Example:

Father God – thank you for the light of Christ who lives within each of us. Help us to sow good things in our life, our family and our community. Teach us to be radiant lights of hope in this world. We pray this in Jesus’ name - Amen.

The Family Influence

By Charles Stanley (Posted on intouch.org on June 1, 2020)

1 Kings 15:8-34

8 And Abijam slept with his fathers and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son became king in his place. 

9 So in the twentieth year of Jeroboam the king of Israel, Asa began to reign as king of Judah. 

10 He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 

11 Asa did what was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father. 

12 He also put away the male cult prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols which his fathers had made. 

13 He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother, because she had made a horrid image as an Asherah; and Asa cut down her horrid image and burned it at the brook Kidron. 

14 But the high places were not taken away; nevertheless the heart of Asa was wholly devoted to the LORD all his days. 

15 He brought into the house of the LORD the dedicated things of his father and his own dedicated things: silver and gold and utensils. 

16 Now there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 

17 Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah in order to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to Asa king of Judah. 

18 Then Asa took all the silver and the gold which were left in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the treasuries of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants. And King Asa sent them to Ben-hadad the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Aram, who lived in Damascus, saying, 

19 Let there be a treaty between you and me, as between my father and your father. Behold, I have sent you a present of silver and gold; go, break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so that he will withdraw from me." 

20 So Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah and all Chinneroth, besides all the land of Naphtali. 

21 When Baasha heard of it, he ceased fortifying Ramah and remained in Tirzah. 

22 Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah--none was exempt--and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had built. And King Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah. 

23 Now the rest of all the acts of Asa and all his might and all that he did and the cities which he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. 

24 And Asa slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place. 

25 Now Nadab the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 

26 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father and in his sin which he made Israel sin. 

27 Then Baasha the son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against him, and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, while Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon. 

28 So Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa king of Judah and reigned in his place. 

29 It came about as soon as he was king, he struck down all the household of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam any persons alive, until he had destroyed them, according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite, 

30 and because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger. 

31 Now the rest of the acts of Nadab and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 

32 There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. 

33 In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha the son of Ahijah became king over all Israel at Tirzah, and reigned twenty-four years. 

34 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel sin.

The environment in which children grow up influences the rest of their life. The family dynamic, particularly parental behavior, impacts their perspective about themselves, others, and the Lord. In today’s reading, for example, consider King Asa, a man in the royal line, who followed in David’s footsteps and pleased God. Now compare his story with that of Nadab, who provoked God’s anger by practicing the same evils as his father, King Jeroboam. 

With those men in mind, we must consider what will become of our children if they follow in our ways. We are typically their first example of godly living, which means that they should see us praying, reading God’s Word, and communing with His people. Our families should see us turning to the Lord for strength and comfort whenever a problem or decision confronts us. Kids should see their mom and dad serving friends, neighbors, and enemies alike. And a child should always know by his parents’ actions and speech that Jesus Christ is valued above all else in their life. 

If you want your family members to desire God, then you must live according to His will. Your modeling that priority can lead them directly to the ultimate example of true life—Jesus Christ.