One of the great themes of faith is the difference between religion and a relationship.  The Pharisees were all about religion, Jesus was interested in relationship.  Religion is characterized by rules and regulations, relationship is characterized by love.  Despite these clear differentiations, throughout history people have clung to religion over relationship.  The early church was no exception to this and Paul’s letter to the Galatians addresses this over and over.   Let’s look together at chapter 4 today.

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. 12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Paul doesn’t understand how the Galatians, who had embraced his message, are running so quickly back to the idea of the law.  Sometimes we are more comfortable with rules and regulations, systems and structure than we are with Jesus.  Jesus was a radical, He calls us to a radical lifestyle.  A lifestyle that is uncomfortable.  We are called to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, to serve others selflessly and share God’s love with the world.  In many ways following a set of rules and regulations is easier, the problem is that it gets us nowhere.  Jesus calls us to a life changing relationship with Him and relationships with each other that are characterized by love.  May we boldly follow wherever He leads us!

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Hello Advent Family,

Grace doesn’t make sense.  Everything in life is based on performing.  You study hard and do well in school, you get an A.  You work hard at your job, you get a promotion or raise.  You do well at a sport or hobby, you get recognition and praise from others.  Grace is different.  God does for us what we could never accomplish.  Perhaps that is why it is so easy to slip back into “law” thinking.  Thinking that somehow we can or need to earn God’s favor.  The Galatian church struggled with this and often we can too today.  Let’s look together at Paul’s words in Galatians 3.  

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.  12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. 15 Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. 19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one. 21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Paul is telling us that the law isn’t bad but it’s purpose was ultimately to expose our need for Jesus, our need for a Savior.  The problem is that subtly when we slip into thinking that we can earn favor with God by our behavior, our need for Him actually lessens.  Trying to earn His favor subtly moves us away from Him instead of where we belong depending upon Him fully.  We strive to live lives that honor God out of our love for Him and others not to please Him or somehow earn His favor.  We need to simply rest in God’s amazing and crazy grace that doesn’t make sense.  The more we do the more we rely upon Him and cling to Him and are activated in our faith.  

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Have you ever had someone confront you about an area of your life where you were in the wrong?  I remember early in my ministry I would hide away from people before I would preach.  The morning of and even the days before I would avoid people.  There wasn’t a real reason for this it had just become a habit.  I told myself that I was focusing but I’m not really sure what my purpose was.  I think it was just more comfortable for me.  I’ll never forget when an elder of the church approached me about it.  He was gentle yet bold in his approach.  He told me that I was hurting my ministry by avoiding folks.  He said, “you aren’t that great of a preacher but you are great with people, so do what you’re good at and they will appreciate your sermon more.”  It stung a little but it was a valuable and important lesson to learn.  It truly showed me that this man cared for me enough to give me a hard message.  The Bible encourages us as followers of Jesus to do that for one another.  A great example is found in Galatians 2.  Let’s look at it together today.

When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? 15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

Paul comes in being nervous about whether this group will affirm and accept his work with the Gentiles.  He then immediately confronts Cephas, who we know better as Peter about his fault.  It truly is a bold move but one that was important and necessary.  Paul cares enough about Peter and the church to correct him in his behavior.  Often when we see a brother or sister struggling we think that it isn’t our business.  The Bible directly contradicts this thought and tells us that it is our business.  We are called to help each other in this journey of faith and love each other enough to give a hard message when we need to.  That is truly loving each other well.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever noticed that sometimes even when you want to do the right things you slip up?  No one means to break a diet two days in to it.  People don’t pay for gym memberships that they don’t use on purpose.  I recently read that 48% of the Peloton bicycles sold never get used after 1 month.  Fitness is not the only area where we fall short.  Often we fall short in our spiritual goals as well.  David failed many times but the one thing he did well was to keep proclaiming the goodness of God.  Let’s look at his words together in Psalm 40. 

Blessed is the one
    who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
    to those who turn aside to false gods.

Many, Lord my God,
    are the wonders you have done,
    the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
    were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
    they would be too many to declare.

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
    but my ears you have opened—
    burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. 

Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
    it is written about me in the scroll.

I desire to do your will, my God;
    your law is within my heart.”

I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
    I do not seal my lips, Lord,
    as you know.

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
    I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
    from the great assembly.

Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;
    may your love and faithfulness always protect me.

We will all fall short at times, but when we do how do we respond?  Will we just stop or will we press on?  David’s example reminds us that our failures don’t define us God does.  God calls us beloved, His children.  He longs for us to follow Him well yet even when we fall short His love never changes.  So next time you fail, pick yourself up and get back on that bike!  Following God with our lives is not a sprint it’s a journey through life. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Paul wants to remind the Galatian church of the true message of the gospel.  Nothing should be added to or taken away from that message.  It’s why the gospel is so important and why we are told by Jesus to remember it regularly.  God did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves.  We don’t need to add anything to the gospel.  Our tendency is to try and do things to earn God’s favor, but the gospel tells us that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.  May we hold on to this truth of God’s amazing grace.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever had a bad night’s sleep?  Maybe you were tossing and turning or you just couldn’t fall asleep.  Perhaps your mind was racing with some burdens going on in your life and you just couldn’t find rest.  You often even can “oversleep” and wake up feeling unrested.  The Bible actually talks a lot about the importance of rest.  Let’s look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 11 together today.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Last night I couldn’t fall asleep.  I was in a little bit of pain and just struggled to rest.  Finally I looked at my clock and it was almost 3 and I contemplated just getting up.  I decided to pray and fell asleep almost immediately, put it this way I don’t remember much of the prayer.  I woke up finally after sleeping through my alarm (actually Sarah woke me up would be more honest).  In situations like that you just don’t feel rested.  Jesus speaks about rest in Matthew 11 but He isn’t talking about sleep.  He is talking to us about a better way of life, a better way of striving.  He is teaching us that we can’t make it on our own strength into a relationship with God but He has already made a way for us when we rely upon Him.  We are burdened with a heavy load of our sin but Jesus has already unburdened us if we simply rest in Him.  Today take a moment and unburden yourselves.  Find rest in Jesus.  Bring Him your struggles, your sins, your pain and hurt.  He will give you rest.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Most days I come into the office in the morning with a plan on what to write for the daily devotion.  I did today as well but when I told Alexa to play worship music the song, “Wait on the Lord” was playing and then when I opened my Bible app Psalm 27 was the verse of the day.  I figured maybe God had another plan for today so let’s look at a few verses from Psalm 27 together today. 

Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path
    because of my oppressors.

Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Waiting is no one’s favorite thing.  Waiting on God means that we know that He has our best in store and even if we face challenging times He is with us and will bring us to something significant on the other end.  David knew this truth well.  He faced lots of adversity with Saul before he became king and faced it with other nations throughout the time he was king.  He faced challenges in his own family.  Yet God was with him and led Israel to times of peace and prosperity.  David was the king that all other kings of Israel were compared to.  Perhaps you are waiting on God now.  The trick to navigating those times well is what we are focused on.  During times of waiting are we focused on the trouble or challenge around us or are we focused on the God we are waiting on.  When we are focused on God, the tough times are easier and we find we have strength we never realized.  Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord!

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

The book of Micah is filled with prophecy and judgement against Israel for their unfaithfulness.  Yet, in the midst of this God throws in a promise.  Not just a small one but the promise of the Messiah to come.  Let’s look at a few verses from Micah 5 together today. 

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.”

Therefore Israel will be abandoned
    until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
    to join the Israelites.

He will stand and shepherd his flock
    in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
    will reach to the ends of the earth.

In the midst of hard times in life.  We always have the promises of God don’t we.  The book of Micah is tough.  It’s filled with hard times and yet right there in the middle is this amazing promise for the people of Israel to hold on to.  Scripture is filled with great promises from God.  The next time you find yourself in a difficult season remind yourself of some of the great promises of God!

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Have you ever had the ending of a book or movie spoiled by hearing others talk about it?  Everyone knows etiquette demands you say, “spoiler alert”.  I kind of like having the end spoiled when it comes to God though.  We know what is going to happen and we know that even when things look lousy in the end God wins.  Let’s look at one of the many accounts of this in scripture from Micah 4.

“In that day,” declares the Lord “I will gather the lame;
    I will assemble the exiles
    and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame my remnant,
    those driven away a strong nation.
The Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion
    from that day and forever.  As for you, watchtower of the flock,
    stronghold of Daughter Zion,
the former dominion will be restored to you;
    kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem. “Why do you now cry aloud—
    have you no king?
Has your ruler perished,
    that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor? Writhe in agony, Daughter Zion,
    like a woman in labor,
for now you must leave the city
    to camp in the open field.
You will go to Babylon;
    there you will be rescued.
There the Lord will redeem you
    out of the hand of your enemies. But now many nations
    are gathered against you.
They say, “Let her be defiled,
    let our eyes gloat over Zion!” But they do not know
    the thoughts of the Lord;
they do not understand his plan,
    that he has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.“Rise and thresh, Daughter Zion,
    for I will give you horns of iron;
I will give you hooves of bronze,
    and you will break to pieces many nations.”
You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the Lord,
    their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

God sort of ruins the Hollywood surprise ending for us as He tells us how he leads the underdogs to victory in the end.  There is something amazingly comforting and emboldening in knowing this though.  It reminds us of the significance of the mission He left for us to share His love and message with the world.  It encourages us that our efforts will pay off in the end.  It also helps us to continue to press on in our own journey of following Him.  Today and every day be encouraged by God’s great spoiler alert.  Jesus wins!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Throughout the Bible there is lots of talk about false prophets and teachers.  It is not something that we talk about much today but perhaps we should.  In an era with almost limitless information at our fingertips, we should certainly be concerned about what is false and can lead us in the wrong direction.  Let’s look at God’s words in Micah 2 together today.

“Do not prophesy,” their prophets say.
    “Do not prophesy about these things;
    disgrace will not overtake us.”

You descendants of Jacob, should it be said,
    “Does the Lord become impatient?
    Does he do such things?”

“Do not my words do good
    to the one whose ways are upright?

Lately my people have risen up
    like an enemy.
You strip off the rich robe
    from those who pass by without a care,
    like men returning from battle.

You drive the women of my people
    from their pleasant homes.
You take away my blessing
    from their children forever.

Get up, go away!
    For this is not your resting place,
because it is defiled,
    it is ruined, beyond all remedy.

If a liar and deceiver comes and says,
    ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’
    that would be just the prophet for this people!

In this case the false messages were easy to spot.  They were doing things and teaching things that were directly contradictory to the law of God.  Today false messages can be more subtle.  Perhaps they are based in truth and sometimes even use scripture in wrong ways to get their message across.  That is where we have to rely on scripture and the Holy Spirit’s direction in our lives to make sure the messages that we are following are the right ones.  The next time you hear or read something that doesn’t quite sit right with you take a moment and ask God for wisdom and discernment.  Look to scripture to guide you and even seek the council of other followers of Jesus that you trust.  May God guide and lead us all into truth and increased wisdom as we walk through the journey of life.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave