Hello ICC Family!
We had family stay with us last night. It was a quick trip, with them arriving at about 8:30 PM and leaving just 12 hours later. I did not say anything to run them off early - they were just in town for an appointment this morning and only needed a place to stay for the night. Because it was family, we didn’t do too much to prepare for them. Don’t get me wrong… Everything was good - we had the beds ready and Laurel had muffins made this morning for them. We didn’t have goodie bags on the beds for them like they were AirBnB guests, however. And because they were family you can say things honestly and maybe more bluntly than you can with special guests. So I could joke with them about eating the leftovers they brought in from the nice restaurant they ate dinner at. And they could ask about what in the world is happening to the floors in our home.
You see… we knew that we were starting to have a problem with the laminate wood floorboards sliding around. There are gaps between them all over the main area of the living room. This has been on my to-do list, but not too high up because I will need to move several very full bookcases out of the way to try to fix them. And we just didn’t think it was that noticeable or too big of a deal. But our relatives noticed! It was the first thing they said to us. What in the world is going on with your floor?!?
It’s easy to become comfortable with things in our lives that other people can see are big problems. We keep telling ourselves that we are going to take care of it when we have some extra time, or when we have some extra money… and then all of a sudden it has been years. Sometimes, for whatever reason, we can live in denial that a problem exists at all. It’s one thing to do this with small home maintenance issues, but if you’re doing it with your roof - well, that can become a big problem very quickly. If you neglect or live in denial about health issues… that can become serious as well. But as Christians, we have to remember that sin in our lives is just as serious and costly and even deadly if we don’t do something about it.
Once again, this is why it is important to regularly take some time to see how you are doing with your walk with Christ. Fortunately, we have the Bible, God’s holy Word, to instruct us in how to live according to his will. God’s Word brings us back to the gospel and helps us to see how far short of God’s standards we continue to fall, and then reminds us that Christ alone can rescue us from sin. Until we see Christ in glory, we will never exhaust our need of the law to point us to Him.
“So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin…. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”
Romans 7:14, 24-25
This why the Psalmists so often talk about the law of the Lord so highly - more valuable than gold and sweeter than honey. Because like good friends and relatives… it reminds us that there is a problem. And then points us to Jesus! I am going to write out some questions below from a book that I find helpful. Questions that can function as a checkup for your spiritual life and growth.
I hope all of you are doing well. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have prayer needs, questions about the church, or would just like to get a coffee and hang out a bit. You are all precious to me!
Praying for you!
Pastor Aaron
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