Some thoughts...
May? Already, are you sure? That means it’s graduation time, VBS is just around the corner. Pray for Karen as she is in the process of getting teaching materials, supplies and personnel in place for a great VBS June 26-30.
Also, it’s time to recognize our graduates. If you are graduating from high school or college this spring, please let us know. Call or email us at office@tbctulsa.org so that we can send you a graduate information form and make plans to include you in our graduate recognition. We hope to do that on Sunday, May 14.
And, this coming Sunday, May 7, will be our “First Sunday Lunch” so bring a dish or two and join us for lunch on Sunday.
What makes you happy? What brings you peace? These are important questions, in fact, they seem to dominate most people’s thoughts whether stated or not. Some throw themselves into their work in the hope that a career will give them satisfaction. But what happens when the job sours or the company goes belly up? Others seek happiness in relationships. But relationships are fragile. Spouses disappoint, children grow up, and friendships fade. I’m not saying any of these things are wrong. I’m not suggesting that jobs are not fulfilling or that all relationships are doomed to fail. Many have wonderful careers and retire having achieved great success. Marriages can be wonderful and filled with blessed memories. Relationships with children often grow sweeter as they move into adulthood, and friendships can last a lifetime. But none of this can satisfy ultimately. Money, things, and status can only go so far. Relationships, though wonderful, involve people who are imperfect and thus, at times, there will be strains, hurt feelings, and regrets (sometimes, you will be the cause of that).
My point is, there is only One who will never fail you. One who will always perfectly love you. One who is worthy of your supreme devotion. Happiness, peace and joy are found in Christ and in Christ alone. That is why the Heidelberg Catechism answers the question, “What is your only comfort in life and in death?” with, “That I am not my own, but belong – body and soul, in life and in death – to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.” The Catechism goes on to spell out why this is so. “He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood and has delivered me from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, also assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.”
Having come to faith you now belong to Christ, and he assures you of a future glory as the object of his love and affection for all eternity. He will get you home safely and there will be joy and life forever more. What could be any better than that? Certainly, give thanks for his good gifts here and now but most importantly, give thanks for Christ himself. For he is your ultimate joy and satisfaction.
I’ll see you Sunday.
Rod
Also, it’s time to recognize our graduates. If you are graduating from high school or college this spring, please let us know. Call or email us at office@tbctulsa.org so that we can send you a graduate information form and make plans to include you in our graduate recognition. We hope to do that on Sunday, May 14.
And, this coming Sunday, May 7, will be our “First Sunday Lunch” so bring a dish or two and join us for lunch on Sunday.
What makes you happy? What brings you peace? These are important questions, in fact, they seem to dominate most people’s thoughts whether stated or not. Some throw themselves into their work in the hope that a career will give them satisfaction. But what happens when the job sours or the company goes belly up? Others seek happiness in relationships. But relationships are fragile. Spouses disappoint, children grow up, and friendships fade. I’m not saying any of these things are wrong. I’m not suggesting that jobs are not fulfilling or that all relationships are doomed to fail. Many have wonderful careers and retire having achieved great success. Marriages can be wonderful and filled with blessed memories. Relationships with children often grow sweeter as they move into adulthood, and friendships can last a lifetime. But none of this can satisfy ultimately. Money, things, and status can only go so far. Relationships, though wonderful, involve people who are imperfect and thus, at times, there will be strains, hurt feelings, and regrets (sometimes, you will be the cause of that).
My point is, there is only One who will never fail you. One who will always perfectly love you. One who is worthy of your supreme devotion. Happiness, peace and joy are found in Christ and in Christ alone. That is why the Heidelberg Catechism answers the question, “What is your only comfort in life and in death?” with, “That I am not my own, but belong – body and soul, in life and in death – to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.” The Catechism goes on to spell out why this is so. “He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood and has delivered me from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, also assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.”
Having come to faith you now belong to Christ, and he assures you of a future glory as the object of his love and affection for all eternity. He will get you home safely and there will be joy and life forever more. What could be any better than that? Certainly, give thanks for his good gifts here and now but most importantly, give thanks for Christ himself. For he is your ultimate joy and satisfaction.
I’ll see you Sunday.
Rod