First Presbyterian Church of Baton Rouge

True mothers are a lot like our Lord: They’d rather “let go” and grant life than hold on and cause death. Christ is the Author of Truth and the Author of Life, no matter how a life was conceived.

"Who's Your Mother?"
Jim Solomon
1 Kings 3: 16-27.

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God alone can create. But he created us to participate in advancing his creation. God alone can save. But he allows the work that we do to become part of his great purposes in the world. Whatever you do that is wholesome, honest and productive contributes to God’s purposes in the world. Your work for God is not only when you are at church. It’s all the time that you are giving yourself to the higher purpose contained in all good and faithful efforts. Your labor is not in vain! Rejoice in whatever God gives you to do, for all good work glorifies God.

"Made for Work"
Gerrit Dawson
Genesis 2: 15; Ephesians 2: 10 and Exodus 31: 1-11

Inside the faith is the most honorable position for doubters. There is no such thing as standing objectively aloof from all faiths. That in itself is a faith position. It is the position that truth cannot be known, or does not exist. That is a worldview to which one commits; such agnosticism is its own kind of faith, no matter how much it hides under the cloak of “scientific objectivism.” Thomas doubted from the position of having thrown his hat into the ring. He put his heart and soul into Jesus for three years.

"Believing Thomas"
Gerrit Dawson
John 20: 19-31

It is a matter of trust. By no means easy. For if I release my will to this Jesus, will he turn out to be a tyrant? Or an abuser? A controller? A stifler? Or will he turn out to be the one who died and rose to everlasting life and wants to share that life with me? Am I willing to trust the one who pre-paid his love for me? He already expended himself entirely on my behalf. Can I not now trust that his way is the way to life?

If you are on the outside looking in today, you know what a risk this is. To give up ownership claims to your life. To entrust yourself to a faithful Savior. Might he turn out to be a harsh Master? It’s a risk. But you sit surrounded by people who will testify to you that Jesus is good. That he is love. That we found comfort in life and in death when we submitted to the truth that we belong not to ourselves. We are not our own, but his. And paradoxically, in his service we find freedom. In dying with Christ to self, we find that we live, more alive and more ourselves than ever before.

If you are a Christian who’s been hedging your bets, compartmentalizing Christ in your life, holding back areas you’d like to keep, here’s a simple word. You know better. You know why you’re not feeling the comfort and experiencing the life. Because you’re trying to still belong to yourself and to Christ. Only you know what it is you’re grasping that he wants. Isn’t it time to let it go today?

"Belonging Body and Soul"
Gerrit Dawson
1 Corinthians 6: 19-20
Romans 6: 4-5, 8-9, 11
2 Corinthians 5: 14-15