Press on in Faith

Weekly Update – May 9th, 2024

As Christians, I doubt that any of us would say that we feel satisfied in how often we pray or in how committed we are to other spiritual disciplines.  We should always find ourselves striving to know the Lord better and seeking to deny ourselves and to serve other people.  But in the goal setting and striving for more, we ought not to find ourselves seeking to change everything.  Yes we want to follow Christ faithfully, but that may not mean change.  We may need to instead press on in what we have always done. 

In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus tells his disciples the parable of the persistent widow.  In short, the story is about a woman who continually seeks justice from a wicked judge.  This woman lost her husband and is likely without a voice in her community.  She has been wronged, perhaps stolen from or denied something that was hers.  The judge in her community does not care.  As Jesus says in Luke 18:1, this judge neither fears God nor man.  He has no thought of eternity, nor does he care what others think of him.  This widow has no bribe to offer, nor does she have any clout to convince him to do what is right.  Her only option is to persistently seek him until he relents.

It is in this passage (Luke 18:1-8), Jesus teaches his disciples three things:

First, do not lose heart.  In Luke 17, right before this teaching about the persistent widow, Jesus explains to his disciples what the world will look like at his second coming.  There will be people conducting business as usual, moving forward in life with no eye towards Christ.  Jesus tells his disciples not to go down that path.  It is easy to get discouraged with a lack of results in our lives.  Perhaps we have prayed and wondered what God was doing and as a result we have determined that we need to change our approach.  Instead, Jesus says, do not lose heart.  The question is, how do we not lose heart?

Second, remain persistent.  In Luke 18:8, Jesus asks his disciples, “when the son of man returns, will He find faith?  The widow from this parable persistently sought justice from a wicked judge.  Day and night she came before him, pleading with him to do what was right, until he finally got tired of seeing her.  In verse 5, the judge says, “I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.”  The conclusion that Jesus gives is found in verse 7 when he says, “will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night?”  To those who endure in faith, God will reward on the last day.  In order to avoid losing heart, we must remain persistent in this life with our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Third, the object of our persistence is our righteous judge.  In this world, our only hope is in the mercy of God.  If a wicked judge can give justice because he is tired of seeing a persistent widow, then how much more will God hear us, vindicate our cause in Him and answer our pleas.  What is the key to not losing heart in the new year?  Trusting in a righteous judge and persistently seeking Him in faith.  And though this life may not always pan out the way that we hoped it would, we must believe that as Ecclesiastes 8:12 says, “it will be well with those who fear God.”

As you set your sights are set on living better each new day, don’t always look to change everything.  Yes, strive to achieve goals and change aspects of your life that need to change, but don’t waver in faith.  The enemy desires to get you to reevaluate your life and lose heart in God.  But don’t go down that path.  Instead, don’t lose heart, remain persistent, and trust in God as the righteous judge as you press on in faith.

Serving Him with You,

Pastor Michael Nelson

Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson

Fighter Verse for the Week

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.
- Psalm 139:1-3

Announcements:

2000s Worship Night: We will join together at 7pm on Thursday, May 9th, for a worship night filled with prayer, scripture reading, and some of our favorite songs from the 1990s and 2000s. We hope you will join us for this special night of music.

Services of Betty Bauman: Betty Bauman passed away early Friday morning last week. Her visitation will be from 1:00-2:00pm on Friday (5/10) and her gravesite service will be at 10:00am on Monday (5/13). Both services will be held at Langsford Funeral Home in Lee’s Summit.

Women’s Brunch + Craft: All ladies of the church are invited to the Larson home at 10am on Saturday, May 18th, for a time of food and fellowship. Click HERE for details.

Men’s Bible Study: This men’s study is based on the book, The Exemplary Husband. The study is held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday night of each month at 8:00pm in the library. If you are interested see Clint Blankenship.

Food Pantry: We are in need of pop-top and ready to eat items for our food pantry. These items are needed specifically for the homeless in our community that stop by the church building throughout the week looking for a meal. We are also in need of spaghetti-o’s, ravioli, dry pancake mix, and maple syrup.

Nursery Volunteers Needed: Nursery volunteers are needed each week during the 10:30am service time. Contact Betty for more information on how you can serve.

Equipping Hour

We have three classes held at 9:15am on Sunday mornings. “Firm Foundations” meets in the Sanctuary, a biblical exposition of 1 Peter meets in the Fellowship Hall, and a Ladies’ class studying the New Testament meets in the classroom next to the nursery. You can find more information HERE.

Giving

To Give Online, Go HERE. 

You can also mail your offering to: 1416 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030

Home Groups

Home Groups typically meet on the first and third Sunday of each month. Please contact Pastor Michael if you would like to join a Home Group. You can find more information HERE.

Prayer

An updated Prayer Guide can be accessed HERE. 

Prepare for Sunday

Guide for Worship can be found HERE. 

Wednesday Evening Activities

Youth will continue to meet every week, but all other Wednesday Night Activities will resume on September 4th.