Time of Grace With Pastor Mike Novotny

Micah reminds us of God's power and his ability to provide us a way our of our hardships.  He uses our troubles to bring us closer to him.  God has prepared a place for us in heaven.

During the time of the Babylonian captivity, God used people like Daniel to continue to serve him. Though it looked as if the promise of the Savior would be broken, God had a plan. And he made it all work out according to his will. Just as Daniel served God and went with the situation he found himself in, we too can do the same, serving God in whatever situation and trusting that God has a plan for us.

We know that Jesus will come again. But what should we be doing in the meantime? Paul speaks to the Thessalonians and to us about the mission that God has for us. We are to live our faith and display it visibly in the way we treat others, and it is our privilege to share our faith and the good news of Jesus with as many as we can because when Jesus comes on the Last Day, he will take believers to heaven. Those who do not believe will go to hell. God has given each of us a role in spreading his Word.

God had promised Abram that the Savior would come from his descendants, but after many years nothing had happened. Abram was feeling discouraged. God reassured him of his presence, reminded him to wait for God’s time, and then promised Abram many descendants once again. And Abram believed. He is our reminder to trust and wait for the Lord and believe his promises to us just as Abraham believed God’s plans through the eyes of faith.

Hell is often taken lightly in our society—a place that can’t be that bad or maybe doesn’t even exist. But in this section of Scripture, God tells us that it is real and describes how horrible it will be. On judgment day we will all be judged based on either our lives or on the life of Jesus. Those judged on Jesus’ life will gain heaven because his life, death, and resurrection defeated hell for us. It is our role as believers to share the news of Jesus with others so they too can have everlasting life.

Jesus knew Lazarus was sick and yet waited until he died so that by raising Lazarus, Jesus could bring glory to God. When he arrived in Bethany, Martha met him. She showed her faith by declaring that she believed in Jesus and that she knew he could do anything, including raising her brother. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, showing that he had already conquered death. Through faith in Jesus, we too will live because he is the resurrection and the life. 

This section of Revelation tells us that though it may seem that Satan is winning the battle on earth, he has already been defeated by Jesus. Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection are complete and permanent. He reigns over all—including Satan. Because of Jesus’ victory, we have won too, and he will come again to take us to heaven. 

On the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, he prepared his disciples one last time for what was to come and for their future work of spreading the gospel. This section refers to the working of the Holy Spirit, and it also applies to us today. God gives us the Holy Spirit to help us grow in faith and flourish as Christians so that our gifts come out. He is our coach and teacher who will be with us to help us and transform us to live lives of thankfulness and joy and service to God. 

Leah and her father used dishonest ways to ensure that Jacob would become her husband. Due to this and some of her own doing, Leah lived a sad life of not being loved. But God worked through Leah and blessed her with children. Through one of her sons the nation’s priests would come, and through Judah would come the Savior. We too may feel small and insignificant, but God loves to work through us to accomplish his will. 

Attending church each Sunday can easily become part of our routine, but what is our purpose?  The time we spend with our Lord and fellow Christians can help us build our faith.  We are a chosen people and we belong to God.  The devil may try to steal that from us, but our mission is to live as God's people.