Dear Church Family,
May God’s extraordinary gift of grace in Jesus fill you with the promised gift of peace in your spirit.
In 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 Paul is teaching this group of new believers what it is to live in this world as a follower of Jesus. He describes that once we have decided to accept God’s offer of grace, by choosing to live by faith in our savior Jesus, we will move from looking at everything through our worldly perspective to living out of God’s Holy Spirit perspective. This description includes the truth that a Christian is living in a temporary body until receiving the promised heavenly bodies.
Paul refers to our earthly bodies as tents or a dwelling place. He then describes a believer’s desire to live in our heavenly dwelling. It is a matter of becoming mature in our relationship with God and as we learn to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
What may be the most important verse in this passage is verse 7, “For we live by faith, not by sight.” So let’s explore for a moment what it would mean if we lived by faith instead of by sight. By sight refers to looking at the ways and things of this world, depending upon them as our primary source for decision making and the meeting of our basic needs.
In contrast, living by faith is the constant reliance upon God to provide everything we need. Every part of our being; our spirit, our feelings, our daily physical needs, even what and how we think. Please pause and ask yourself, am I living by sight or by faith?
The essence of love and peace in this world is God. Are you willing to trust God for everything?
On August 18 we as individuals and as a congregation are facing a life changing decision of moving forward with the new building. Please answer this call to pray each day for God’s Holy Spirit to clearly reveal to you, your response when voting. Ask yourself, am I looking at all the worldly parts of this decision or am I willing to live by faith?
May God’s peace fill you to overflowing in your daily prayers for God’s guidance.
Pastor Mike
