This is Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace is a well-known and well-worn hymn, one we sang on our very first gathered worship this past Sunday. Nine weeks of pent up praise expressed by the gathered body of Christ was like medicine to our souls and sweet sacrifice to our Lord. Perhaps like few others this hymn expresses the awakened soul’s awareness to the sovereignty of God and His holy and absolute sufficiency. 

The author of the text, Captain John Newton was reborn, restored, and released to a life radically different than the one he was living, a life which profited off of the utter degradation of humanity through slave trade as the captain of a slave caring ship.   History tells us that John Newton himself was enslaved in 1745.  Perhaps, after his conversion, the freedoms for which Captain, come ordained clergyman fought for were made more fervent as one who, with eyes opened to spiritual realities, saw the complete depravity of desperation the human soul fettered by the chains of sin.  This would give fire and purpose to his life.

As we phase back into our ‘new-norm’ the challenge is to cherish the discovered treasures of relationships with God, family and friends.  How easy it is to return to a pace unmarked by fellowship with the Spirit of God.  What an utter travesty.  It is the prayer of this sinner, now redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and restored to His Kingdom plan that each day brings ample opportunity to react to God’s wholly different character and proclaim his amazing grace!  See you Sunday with a song in my heart. 

Morgan Day, Associate Pastor of Worship, North Run Baptist Church

He left the light on for you

As the days run long and even seem to merge you may have asked one of these two questions lately, “what day is it?” or, “was that just this morning?”  This is a constant reminder of the scenario we are in as a nation and quite literally, the entire world.  The virus has impacted each person in unique ways.  Some have really only worried about running low on toilet paper while others have lost jobs or even loved ones.   One thing that I truly hope has been universal has been greater compassion and grace with one another as we realize life is fragile and we need each other in ways we never realized until recently. 

God loves us with His constant love and Romans reminds us that His love and invitation to grace is evident in creation, and in thousands of big and small ways.  Yet our flesh often chooses to ignore Him in the good times and blame Him in the difficult times.  These extremes are one of the greatest tools of the enemy of our souls.  If allowed this way of thinking will become actions and habits which lead us away from the source of peace and joy, we initially desired.   Are we not like the child who cannot comprehend the pain that will be extracted by the combination of instability, velocity and gravity and, though warned, runs full speed downhill?  Like a child, we are blinded by our ambition, individual or cultural justification, or simply our stubbornness.  We cannot comprehend the pain that will be extracted by the combination of our own actions.  And yet we run full steam ahead. 

Romans 2:13 “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” 

Romans 6:20-23 “When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.  What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?  Those things result in death!  But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.   For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

My challenge to you today is to consider the habits that are being formed in this time of run-on days and considerable sameness.  Will you have used this time in history to become a more fully developed follower of Jesus Christ? You can…here are some suggestions

1. Regard apathy as the enemy to your spiritual formation. 

2. Make it part of your routine to watch the weekly sermons and bible studies from Pastor Adam, but don’t let that be your only way of consuming the Word of God. 

3. A fully developed follower of Jesus finds it fulfilling to take nourishment for their soul through the Word of God and personal bible study. They recognize the Word of God as the lamp for their heart's path.  

4. They recognize God’s character and favor for them in every situation. 

5. When they sin, they don’t justify it but repent, confess, and move forward in grace.

6. They share generously with those in need and give from a heart of gratitude. 

Remember, God is near to the brokenhearted and near to the wandering soul equally.  His love is not diminished our derailed by our current circumstances.  Today you may need to be reminded HE left the light on for you . . . that the Lord is tenderly calling your weary heart to come home.   

Brother Morgan