do not forget to do good and to share with others,

Beloved of God,

    Members of this church should be planning to attend our congregational meeting this Sunday, August 28th. We benefit from your wisdom as we discern the Spirit’s will for us together. 
    Our Scripture reading for this week picks up where last week’s sermon text left off. It’s a fascinating part of scripture, and I hope you’ll read through it this weekend. These verses in Hebrews 13 are the type of closing instructions and advice that show up in lots of New Testament letters. It’s normal to end these kinds of writings with instruction and encouragement. But in Hebrews, there is so much attention to the reason behind the advice. Here’s an example: 

Heb. 13:15       Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.


It’s not just what we do, but why we do it. It’s not that Christians simply don’t offer sacrifice. It’s that the substance of that sacrifice changes. We come to know that praise, good deeds, and sharing with others, are the sacrifices of time and effort that honor God. 
We should certainly be obedient, but the idea that we must be obedient with no regard for why is not a universal Scriptural truth. In fact, in an instance like this we learn not just that Christian sacrifice looks different, but why this is so. Doesn’t this teach us something about God? Don’t we come to know God more fully by not just knowing what God wants, but why God wants it? Isn’t it a great grace to know anything of God’s reasons at all? I hope you’ll think of that as we hear this passage on Sunday together.

Please join me this week in praying for:

• Wisdom in this church.
  
• Patience and guidance as we meet Sunday congregationally.
• Students, teachers, staff, and others still getting back in the swing of things in our local schools.
• Those in positions of public trust at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Those who respond to emergencies on our roadways, in our wildlands, in our communities, and even our homes.
• Energy, rest, inspiration, and creativity for God’s people as they serve and minister day by day.
• Neighbors in our state dealing with flooding and other challenges.
• Those stepping into hard moments with family, with pets, or with friends.
• Each other (please email [email protected] if you’d like to be added to our prayer list).

You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world,

Marshall