Greetings beloved family of Common Ground,
The sun is out! The weather is warming up! Our garden is planted! There is just something special about the change of season in Minnesota. More opportunities to get outside and enjoy God’s creation during this Covid-19 overdrive. There is also something much more special . . . like a church coming together again in sweet personal public worship and fellowship!
What has been on my mind as of late and most likely due to our situation we find ourselves living in is a great biblical word and character trait that all who follow Jesus Christ should possess. In fact, you cannot be a Christ-follower without this meaningful grace found in your life, and that word is FAITHFULNESS. Am I a faithful follower of Christ? Am I faithful to Jesus in all my actions and activities, thinking and thoughts? Is my goal and aim when I first wake in the morning to the moment my eyes fall fast in sleep at night, living faithfully and honorably in Christ?
When a friend disagrees with my political views, do I remain faithful to Christ? When I’m conflicted to wear or not wear a mask in this day and age, do I remain faithful to Christ? When I’m confused in which doctor’s virus view is correct, am I still faithful to Christ? When I’m bombarded 24/7 on every single news and TV station shouting COVID! COVID! COVID! COVID!, is my faithfulness to Jesus still intact? When close friends and family have completely opposite viewpoints than mine in this virus-driven scene, am I representing Jesus to the utmost? When several of my friends have already caught big tasty fish and I haven’t been able to, do I still trust Jesus? No matter what happens, what events continue to transpire, who wins and who loses, who lives and who dies, will my faith in Jesus Christ remain steadfast to the very end?
Your and my call is to remain faithful, loving followers of the One True God no matter what circumstance or situation we may find ourselves in. Therefore, I love what Paul says to all of us inPhilippians 4:11-13. I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 12 I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.
May our Lord continue to strengthen every one of us, may our faith increase in Christ and our love go deep in Christ and our love for one another grow greatly. Let us learn to be content no matter what our gracious God allows each one of us to go through.
We are meeting tonight as elders to discuss a faithful and honorable plan in the best way to proceed in coming back together as a real church family, in a real sanctuary with four real walls. May God be glorified in all our plans.
I’m missing you all greatly! I love our church family! Send all and any prayer requests so that we can lift each other up in God-glorifying prayer!
Stay Safe! Stay Connected! Stay the Course in Christ!
Making Much of Jesus!!!
Pastor Gary