Beginning with the End in Mind
Good Morning Friends,
Today at Moorings we end our study of Romans with a sermon entitled, “All Joy & Peace in Believing,” and the men sing a song in German that roughly translates, “May God Smile on You.” And I guess God has, for yesterday in Norse mythology was the target date for what essentially was to be end of the world and the beginning of a new one. Yesterday was the scheduled Armageddon of sorts… the culmination of the Fate of the Gods,
Ragnarök. Well I guess that is why it is called a myth. We are still here however there is something to be said for a sermon series and song and our walk with God that benefits from Beginning with the End in Mind.
Scripture: For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
Matthew 16:26 (NRSV)
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’
Isaiah 46:10 (NIV)
We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbour for the good purpose of building up the neighbour. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.’ For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, ‘Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name’; and again he says, ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people’; and again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him’; and again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:1-13 (NRSV)
Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
1 Corinthians 10:17 (NRSV)
Message: There is something to be gleaned here from Covey and from today’s scripture. You see it is not about us. It is about God. Shakespeare put it this way, “What win I, if I gain the thing I seek? A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy. Who buys a minute’s mirth to wail a week? Or sells eternity to get a toy? For one sweet grape who will the vine destroy? Or what fond beggar, but to touch the crown, Would with the sceptre straight be strucken down?” Friends, if we don’t end with a focus on glorifying God we miss the mark. By following Christ, by gaining freedom for others, we bring unity and hope and glory to God. It is our obligation. The encouragement is this: We are not alone. We have hope for a future.
Pray we welcome with hospitality one another as Christ welcomed us. Pray we are ground together to make bread. Pray each of us contributes something to the final loaf. Pray that together we form a final product that looks and tastes nothing like the separate ingredients but is greater than the sum of the parts. Pray we show consideration for each other. Pray we study the scriptures together. Pray we endure to the end with the hope that God inspires. Pray we live in harmony as we praise our God. Pray as we follow Jesus, we become kneaded into this fellowship of faith and baked to perfection. Pray others see Christ in the bread. Pray in the end we develop the habit of glorifying God and are transformed.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 