Hello, Crossroads Family!
I received yesterday a good update from the Evangelical Free Church Central District. I’d like to forward it to you so you can read about what’s going on in our District (E-Free churches in Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, and Southeast South Dakota). A growing connection with other people and churches in the Evangelical Free Church is an important part of our growth and future as a church. Watch for the email which should have “EFCA Central Update” in the subject line. I know these are busy days for many of us, but I hope you’ll take time to at least scan through the email. Ideas and support from outside of ourselves are a blessing to us!
As I thought about knowing God (our sermon last Sunday from the book of Daniel), I was reminded of what J.I. Packer wrote in his book, Knowing God, about the characteristics of people, like Daniel, who know God.
Packer writes that people who know God …
… have great energy for God.
“The people who know their God will display strength and take action” (Daniel 11:32).
… have great thoughts for God.
“… until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes” (Daniel 4:25).
… have great boldness for God.
“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire ; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image you have set up !” (Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in Daniel 3:17-18).
… have great contentment in God.
“So Daniel was taken up out of the lions’ den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God” (Daniel 6:23).
Which one of these characteristics are you experiencing currently ? Sometimes it seems we are filled with all four, and sometimes one is more prevalent than the others.
While I’m not one who knows God as well as I should, if I were to try to answer the question, “How does a person get to know God?”, I might give these answers:
1. By being a steady, long-term student of the Bible. As a part of that study, find good books and teachers to help you! I’ve recently started a book I’m enjoying called How to Read and Understand the Psalms (a subject I’m thinking may be worth studying together on a few Sunday nights this fall). In it, I’ve been reminded that the psalms are really all about the King and not as much about ourselves as we might think. I’ve been watching more for the King in the Psalms! Don’t give up on Bible reading ; it will pay off, and you’ll know God better!
2. By doing the things God instructs / commands us to do … even the little habits we may toss aside out of our wish to not be “legalistic.” In John 7, Jesus said, “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself” (John 7:17). In other words, “If you will do what God says, then you will know Him.”
3. By listening carefully to others. Hearing others’ experiences with God helps us be challenged to watch for Him in new ways.
I’m still learning about God, but I do realize there’s no lasting happiness or purpose in life without Him.
Some things I’m still learning about God include …
His patience. He has a purpose for each stage of our life. He is able to give strength to His children, regardless of the length or brevity of their life.
His vision. I’m amazed at the depth of the work He wants to accomplish in us. He loves us too much to not seek the changes within us that He knows we need.
His compassion. As I interact with people, I’m amazed at the breadth and depth of God’s compassion. Jesus came to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). May His compassion for people around us be a growing quality in us at Crossroads Church!
By the way, President Trump was wrong yesterday to say that by resolving the war in Ukraine he was hopeful of making it to heaven! My heart broke to hear such a statement and then to hear some news commentators suggest that, well, maybe it’s possible he (or anyone else) could be received into God’s heaven on that basis.
The Bible says it’s not by our own works that we’re saved (Ephesians 2:8-9 ; Titus 3:5-7). Even if we solved a world war, imagine all the ways we fall short of the perfection and holiness of God — our deliberate sins, our unintended errors, our pride, our love of self and other things more than God.
Heaven — and a restored relationship with God — are gifts offered to us by God (Rom 6:23). They are received simply by faith in the One who died and rose again on our behalf. If there’s something we can do on our own to be saved — including water baptism or receiving the Lord’s Supper or ending wars — then Jesus didn’t do it all for us at the cross. Thankfully, though, He did! There’s nothing left that we can or must do. “It is finished” was His cry.
“For you know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9).
I hope you’ve received Christ as your Savior. I don’t assume that everyone at Crossroads has ; some still need to take that step of beginning new life by faith in Him, not faith in self.
I look forward to seeing you at some point as we move toward the weekend! Thank you for your prayers for me as I begin my 10th year as show choir accompanist at Nevada High School.
This Thursday, August 21 — Men’s Recharge, 6:30-8:00 pm, at the church. All men invited!
This Sunday, August 24
- Small-group prayer at 9:00.
- Worship at 10:00. The McCallister family will share about what God is doing in Berlin.
- 8-13 year-olds Bible Class (tie-dye) and Children’s Church during the sermon.
- Carry-in dinner following the worship service.
Women’s Retreat — Saturday, September 13, at Kamp Keirsey, 8:30 am – 4 pm.
Women’s Breakfast & A Bible Study begins Saturday, September 20.
Immerse begins Wednesday, September 10, for everyone!
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