Tuesday, March 17, 2015

...they will come!

Sunday morning retuning:  The New Covenant the Jesus established gives us hope.  Though He established it in the midst of betrayal and denial, still He did it.  It shows us He can still come through today.  If you missed Pastor Myron walking us through Luke 22:21-38, you can find his message and some other helpful resources here
There was a movie back in 1989 starting a young Kevin Costner called "Field of dreams" about a farmer who kept hearing a voice telling him to build a baseball stadium.  The voice kept saying to him, "If you build it, he will come".  The reference is to a famous baseball player who does eventually show up to play on the field.  It is an inspiring story from what I remember.
Image result for field of dreams
Here is the scene with that line.  
This line really made an impression on my as a young man of about 17 years.  The idealist in me, pre-Jesus mind you, thrilled at the idea of throwing some hard work, perseverance and inspiration into a dream and watching become reality, almost out of thin air.  The more mature, occasionally cynical not so young man I am today finds it a little harder to believe such things.   
That is part of what makes the effort of finding 1872 Hershey kisses seem like a bit of a waste of time.  But then there's still that little part of me, that part of me that is filled with faith, but believes that hard work is actually well worth the effort because of the dreams that could become reality if some folks will simply respond, and come.
So it is with that audacity that we will ask people to take plastic Easter eggs filled with a simple invitation and a Hershey kiss and hand them to someone in the next couple of weeks. If we invite them, they will come.  Oh sure, not all of them, but we could say that even if one comes and decides to follow Jesus that all of the work is absolutely worthwhile.
Image result for easter basket plastic eggs
I was encouraged that 13 people, actually a few more, quickly responded that they would help us put all of these eggs/invitations together. I believe God is in this simple thing and I'm asking you to do your part. Begin to pray about who you can invite. Maybe it will be some random person that the Lord puts on your heart in the checkout line at Giant Eagle.  Maybe it's a relative, or neighbor. But let's be sure to invite them, because if we do, they will come.
Not everyone will hear the Voice and invite someone. Not everyone will hear the Voice and come. But if we, like Kevin Costner listening to that unassigned voice, would listen to God's Voice, and obey, I believe they will come.
Jesus, let us hear Your voice as we consider who we will invite, then help us believe they will come.  You said if we will lift You up, You would draw men and women to Yourself.  John 12:32  We are trusting You to help us do your part, and for You to do the rest.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy

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