GOD IS YOUR FRIEND. SO WHAT NOW?

Hello everyone, Pastor George here. It was great having all of you join us for our VBS where we learned about how God is our friend in so many different ways. I hope that since VBS you have been able to think more about that and share that good news with your friends, family, and whoever will listen!

As you know, on our final night we invited everyone to come to know Jesus as a friend through the Good News. Those are the five colors we talked about. Green, being the good of creation. Grey, being the sin that came into the world through humanity’s disobedience. Red, being the blood of Jesus which washes away that sin through the cross. Blue, for us being born again in baptism. And yellow, for remembering the resurrection and dwelling with God forever.

If you did accept Jesus as your friend through that you might be wondering: so what now? Being God’s friend is more than just saying the words but comes with a life of grateful action for that love God has shown us. So here I have two simple things to do if God is your friend.

The first is to attend church. You might think this selfish of me to ask, but I promise you it is not. We’d love if you worshipped with us, but we would be happy to find you a church in the area that would suit your needs. We are commanded in the Bible, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” The Christian life is not one that is meant to be lived by ourselves, but through journeying together as friends of God. That way we can encourage one another and help each other to live out God’s commands.

Another great way to go about doing this is also to join us for our G3 program which we have throughout the school year. It is held on Sunday evenings from 6pm -7:30pm and is for ages from 4 years old through High School. It is there where we learn even more about God’s love and friendship.

The second is to tell others. While God loves each of us deeply, his offer of friendship isn’t only for a few people. At the end of the Gospel of Matthew Jesus tells his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) Jesus wants to be friends with as many people as possible, and as his friends, knowing what he has done for us, we should want the same thing.

If you have committed yourself to being friends of God and part of his family: Welcome, we are overjoyed to have you and rejoicing with you. We hope and pray that God works mightily through you and that you are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to bring the good news of God’s friendship to all people.