Home
Weekly Messages About Us Spiritual Practice Handouts Site Map
Contact Us
Friends in Christ Weekly Message
March 29, 2003
God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.
John 3:17 (Message*)
It is hard to grasp the magnitude of the gift to us of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ; the divine present among us as a human being. It is easy to misunderstand the purpose of the sending of the Son.
It is easy to look upon the sending of the Son as primarily for the purpose of condemning people for unfaithfulness, pointing an accusing finger as Peterson renders it in this translation. Sometimes Christians get all caught up in this, and can become paralyzed with guilt and self-condemnation. Certainly Jesus did point out evil, but this passage reminds us that this was not His primary focus.
We are blessed with a loving, long-suffering, forgiving God. God does not have a heart of condemnation. Rather, God is always seeking to help us, to nurture us into being our best. Christ came to help to put us right, as individuals, as groups, as the whole world.
May we respond to Christ's love and listen to His guidance. We know that we as individuals and the world as a whole desperately need to be put right. If we trust fully in God's love and God's promises, we will be made right as individuals and we will be guided to set the world right. Dear friends, let us anchor ourselves in God's love through Christ Jesus, and let Him transform us into His image.
Bill Samuel
* The Message version © by Eugene H. Peterson.
 Go to previous message |
Chronological list of messages List of messages by scriptural references |
 Go to next message |
Friends in Christ, Inc.
P.O. Box 9295
Silver Spring, MD 20916-9295
Voice mail (641) 715-3800 Access code 10949913#
E-mail fic@friendsinchrist.net
Weekly Message Bible Study groups Site MapValues
Who We Are What People Say About UsOpen Worship
Using the Bible SilenceJesus Prayer
St. Patrick's BreastplateContact Us
Support Us
Subscribe to Our E-mail Lists
We have two email lists, each announce-only so they are very low volume. Subscribe to one or both using the forms below. If you control spam by having an approved list of addresses from which you receive e-mail, be sure to put bill@friendsinchrist.net on your approved list. |
|
| This list is for a weekly inspirational message, usually a brief scripture quotation and a short commentary. Type in e-mail address for weekly messages |
This list is for cancellations, changes, special events and new activities for our Maryland ministries. Type in e-mail address for our announcements |