Time of Grace With Pastor Mike Novotny

Thinking about all of the injustices in the world can be frightening.  There are so many people hurting and it is easy to get caught up in the worry and negativity.  God reassures us through the Psalms that there is no reason to worry because God is in control.  He has a master plan and that reassurance of his overseeing our lives is comforting to us.  Don't worry about the sinfulness of earth when there is the perfectness of heaven awaiting us.

Jesus is God's rescue plan for us. As sinners, we should suffer and be punished, but Jesus took our place. We are forgiven!

God cares about us, cares about our struggles, our finances, our physical ailments, and the list goes on and on.  If he didn't truly care for us he would not have sent his Son to die on the cross in our place.  David was a popular and handsome king, but he was also a terrible sinner who suffered from physical pain.  He cried out to the Lord for relief.  God promised him the ultimate relief in a Savior.  We might not always see immediate answers to our prayers, but God cares for us and hears us when we call upon his name.

Give thanks to God for the many blessings he showers upon us!  We are "lucky" in life because we have Jesus on our side.

Don't just talk the talk of religion, but live the life of religion.  We are here on earth to be servants of the Lord.  To give to others and have compassion towards those who have less than us.  God will bless us for our efforts and we will reap what we sow.  Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians about the importance of putting forth all that you have to the glory of God.  There was a terrible famine and people who literally had nothing were willing to give any scrap of food to those with less. God will provide for us and will bless us for our efforts.

God gave us the Bible as a resource.  While going to church is helpful and a great place to connect with other Christians, we should also be in the Bible each day.  Having a strong knowledge of the bible enables us to share the true Word of God easily with others.  Paul encouraged his fellow pastors to continue to study God's teachings.  We should continue to be in the Word!

It is easy to sit back and judge others.  All of us at some point in our lives have been "bad." We are sinners and while some sins may seem worse than others, a sin is a sin.  We are forgiven and loved by Christ and because of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice we are holy and pure in God's eyes.  Jesus was proud of the sinful woman for not worrying about what others thought of her, but wanting to glorify her savior.  God's judgment of us is most important, so our job on earth is to honor God the best we can.

Young children are important to God.  They are a part of God's Kingdom, and while many were surprised, Jesus wanted the little children to be brought to him.  A childlike faith is trusting and an example for what true faithfulness should be.  So next time you get disgruntled at the crying child near by remember that children are God's lambs and are an important piece of our kingdom.

Levi really was considered a lowlife when he walked the earth.  He was a tax collector and the majority of people couldn't stand him because his job was to take their money.  Levi, also known as Matthew, was commissioned by Jesus to follow him and to bring his lowly friends along.  We are also commissioned by God to bring our friends, the lowly, sad, or even "bad" ones, to know the saving word of God.  Forgiveness has been made free to us because of Christ's sacrifice, so no more excuses for bad behavior are necessary!

Are you a sheep or a goat?  Jesus' parable tells the story of sheep who will be saved and goats who will not see the gates of heaven.  As children of God, we are sheep.  We have a not guilty verdict and because of Jesus sacrifice we are forgiven for past sins and even wiped clean of sins not yet committed.  What a blessing to be one of God's sheep and to know that eternal heaven awaits us on Judgment Day.