Devotions with Pastor Bill

Dear Church Family: 

A New Normal?
 
According to the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary, normal is defined as “conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern.” 

A quick look at Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance verified that the word normal is not listed.  Hmmm. 

As the pandemic panic begins to ease there seems to be a lot of discussion about what the new normal may or must be.  As our local congregation of believers considers this, it seems some new norms must apply if we are to stay within newly-formed legal or semi-legal rules for various activities.  However, as Christians we adhere to a higher calling - a call to holiness.

In Matthew 5:48 Jesus Christ says, You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

In I Peter 1:14-16 the apostle Paul tells us, As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

I Corinthians 11:1 calls us to be imitators of Christ.  This I believe is the normal we are to strive for.  In Hebrews 4:12 we are instructed to:  Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Please remember we are sojourners in a land that is not our true home.  We are just passing through.  We need to also remember whose we are, not just who we are.  Practicing the power and presence of God’s Holy Spirit will see us through.
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Shalom,
Pastor Bill

Photo by Stephen Ellis on Unsplash