FCC Etown Podcast

Jesus knew 2,000 years ago that there would be people who were different, people we don't get along with, people in the church who have hurt us or frustrated us, and different churches down the street. His prayer is that we would be like a body, that despite our different parts, differences, and uniqueness, we would work together in the mission of sharing the gospel to people of all nations, tribes, and tongues.

The tyranny of what others have said about you is not what's most important. The words you say about yourself tend to resonate and roll around in your head in those dark moments; what you say about yourself is not what is most important. What God has already said about you is what is most important to you.

The Father of Lies is looking for someone to devour and masquerades as an angel of light so he can kill, steal, and destroy. One way he does that is by getting us to make decisions solely based on how we feel, believe things that we feel are right even when ignoring facts, and base our identity on how we feel in the moment. Real life, however, comes through living life in the Spirit, who leads us to love, joy, and peace.

The Father of lies wants you to believe you are what you've done. He wants to fill you with shame. But Shame has an enemy. And the enemy of shame is amazing grace. Amazing grace lifts our heads. Shame is the language of the father of lies. Amazing grace is the voice of Jesus in the dirt with you telling you you are worthy of love and deserving of forgiveness right now; not later, not after you fix something, not after you prove that you're worthy of love, but right now, in this moment, just as you are.