Friends in Christ Weekly Message
June 8, 2000

We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. That is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.
Hebrews 4:14-16, CEV*

Sometimes we wonder whether we are worthy of Christ's help, or whether a particular situation is appropriate to bring before him. We need to put these worries aside. Christ knows our weaknesses, but this does not keep him from helping us because he is eager to show us his love, which can transform our weaknesses. And he cares about everything in our lives. There is nothing that it is not appropriate to bring "bravely before the throne of our merciful God." Christ is always there for us.

Our great high priest is Jesus Christ. We do not need a human priest. Christ can work through any of us. Some of us may be called to special preparation for this, but this may or may not be in the form of a conventional seminary education. The disciples were a motley crew, and most had little formal education. Peter, a fisherman, was destined to play a key role in the building of the church, although he certainly lacked the world's notion of qualifications for that role. We are coming up on the church's remembrance of Pentecost, when this untrained fisherman was inspired by the Holy Spirit to address the multitude, and 3,000 were gathered in.

We in Friends in Christ now have a core ministry team of five. None of us has a theological degree, and none of us receives any money for serving in this ministry. We have varied backgrounds. Christ has called each of us to this ministry and is able to work through each of us. Praise God! You also are called by God. You need to discern your call, and be obedient to it. A faith community, such as Friends in Christ, can help in this discernment and nurture you as you develop in the ministry to which you are called. You will not find any notion of laity in the New Testament. You will find many indications that all believers are called to some form of ministry.

Live in thankfulness for the "great high priest" with whom we have been blessed who understands our every weakness and responds to us with undeserved kindness. Bring all your concerns before him. And show your appreciation by accepting his call upon your life. Have a blessed week.

Bill Samuel

* Contemporary English Version ©1995 American Bible Society.

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