This morning we went to Brooklyn Tabernacle for church. I wish everyone could go there at least once. The people and atmosphere even before the service started were amazing. Then as the choir began to lead us in worship I could just feel the presence of God come in the room. The choir sang this one song in particular that just got the whole room on their feet and everybody looked like they were having one of the most glorious moments of their life.
Pastor Cymbala got up to preach and I could just tell that the message that he was going to talk about was powerful by the way he started. He talked about Joseph and the life he lived and how his brothers sold him into slavery and yet years later it was Joseph who showed mercy and love towards them in a time of need. He said that through the Old Testament you can continually see Jesus. Joseph was beaten within an inch of his life, sold into slavery, thought to be dead and had every reason to hate his brothers. Yet, when he was placed into a position of power and had the ability to do whatever he wanted, he showed love and compassion to his brothers. He did not shame them or charge them with what they had done to him. He revealed his identity to them and said, “Come closer.”
Jesus has done the same thing for us. He has every right to charge us with our sins. He was made fun of, beaten and killed for what he said. He took the blame for our sins. When God reveals Himself to us, He does not condemn us, He tells us to draw near Him.
Later in the afternoon our group had the chance to go to the house of a cadet who also goes to VMI and lives in NY. We got to go to the beach while the food was being prepared and run around like crazy kids. When we went back to the house we ate a great meal of pasta and garlic bread. After eating we sang a few songs, listen to a testimony and then something special happened. The group started to really feed off each other. One person after another would rise up to share something with the group. It was really great to see our group come together and bond. It is amazing how people from such wide backgrounds can come together around Jesus and become a family. I can’t wait to see what happens this week.
Just like that group at the cadet's home, with 'people from such wide backgrounds coming together around Jesus and becoming a family', so are we as Christians around the globe, all celebrating Jesus' love toward us. We're all different, yet it's Christs' love and sacrifice that draws us together.
ReplyDeleteIn Him, Patricia