Peace Seymour Weekly Messages

We are often quick to judge. We jump to conclusions. We speculate about our neighbors. We assume rather than search for the truth. We talk behind the scenes like we have the whole story, but we only recycle old rumors. We think we know all there is about an issue, a person, and even someone's faith, yet the truth is, we don't know as much as we think. God is patient. He waits to act. He desires that all would be saved. God does not judge too quickly or too severely, that by the Holy Spirit, he might save some. He has shown his patient love for us, and we in return out of this beautiful gift, are to show such love, patience, and kindness to others. We endure evil in this world even, that by chance, God's love may reach into the hearts of others, and root out all evil. God waits patiently for us because of his love for us, and he calls us to act patiently with others, that they may experience the life-changing love of Jesus.

Often, we are hesitant to share God's Word. We're worried about if people will believe it. If they'll receive it. They fear and worry about the potential reaction to talking about Jesus or sharing God's Word. Will this person laugh? Will they get offended? Will they be awkward? Will they stop being my friend? We often shrink from sharing about Jesus and living out our faith, because of our fears and anxieties about how it will be received. When it comes to God's Word, it lands anywhere. God doesn't discriminate in making his word known in rough, hostile, desert, or fertile places for his word to grow. Our job as followers of Jesus, is not to decide when and where to plant God's Word. It's to live a life of sowing. To live a life that points to Jesus' promises both in what we say and what we do. We don't know where that will lead us, or if faith will grow, but we know that the more we sow, the more chance there will be of a beautiful harvest. We live as a persistent sower when we share the Gospel without discrimination, without fear, and with trust in the work of the Holy Spirit.

Heaven sounds great, but is that all there is? What comes after heaven? If heaven is simply living as a soul floating with Jesus, then is there more for us? Do we see our loved ones again? Do we get to do what we loved to do on earth, or is just being with Jesus enough? Heaven sounds good, but shouldn't there be more? Heaven is living with Jesus in paradise, but God has even more planned for us! He doesn't just let us live forever as disembodied spirits. He will raise our bodies that we have now from the dead, and make all things new! God will resurrect and remake all things! A new heaven, a new earth, and a new life with God forever! When Jesus returns, he will wipe away tears, redeem what's been lost, and he will make all things new.

Many people say that we have to prepare for our death. We have to 'get right with God', or 'fix our ways'. We have to clean ourselves up for God and make sure we're in good standing to be brought into heaven with him forever. What do we have to do to get ready for our death? What do we have to make sure we do before Jesus returns? God does not require you to clean up your life or do anything to be 'good enough' for him. You don't need to have it all sorted and figured out—in fact, you can't. But Jesus has it figured out for us. Jesus has chosen us as the firstfruits to be saved. We are his own beloved children. All we who have faith 'need' to do, is trust in God's promises, and stand firm in the faith passed down to us. We prepare for the end by trusting in Jesus' promises, standing firm in the faith, and live as he has called us to in that faith.

We are often anxious about the details of the end. Not only details of our own death, but details about the end of all things. We often want to look for signs and indications that the end is coming and is near. We think we can pinpoint the time either generally or specifically of Jesus' return, or we grow anxious and worried about what that end will be like. No one knows the day of his death. Jesus tells us that no one will know when he returns, not even him, only the Father. Yet, we don't have to be afraid of the end, because Jesus' words, his promises, they will not pass away. Even though things may be difficult until then, we don't have to worry, because Jesus will come and welcome us who are awake in faith, into eternal life with him. We don't have to worry about when the end will come, because we know where we are going, we know Jesus' promises, and we know that his promises will never pass away.

Death is scary. It's the great unknown. We don't know what it will be like, what it will feel like. What we will see. What we will be like. Death is a slow, painful process, and we largely don't know what's coming up on the other side. Our sin has caused death to enter into this world. Death is a negative consequence of our sin, and while we know it's not right, we don't what what it will be like. We do know at least one thing. We know that we will be with Jesus. Just as Jesus said to the thief on the cross, we know it's also true for us. We will be with Jesus in paradise. Our suffering will cease. Our pain will be no more. We will no longer be afflicted by sin and suffering in our bodies and our lives. We don't have all the details, but we do have Jesus' promises. Jesus has saved us from death, so that we do not have to fear death, experience eternal suffering, but we will be with Jesus in paradise.

The Peace and Seymour communities gather to worship, spend time in community together, and hear about God’s goodness and see how he works even in our daily lives.

The Peace and Seymour communities gather to worship, spend time in community together, and hear about God’s goodness and see how he works even in our daily lives.

The Peace and Seymour communities gather to worship, spend time in community together, and hear about God’s goodness and see how he works even in our daily lives.

We carry much shame with us in our lives. We're ashamed of our past, our actions, our mistakes. If guilt is the recognition of our sin, shame is the emotion and feeling that comes with it. We are ashamed of who we are, what we've done, and this shame drives us to separate ourselves from others, and even from God. Jesus does not let us be ashamed. Rather he takes on shame for us. He becomes the one who is shamed, that he might give us honor. Jesus invites in the one who is most shameful, that he may give them the seat and place of honor at his table. Jesus takes away our shame, by going to the cross, welcoming us into his family, and giving us the honor that he deserves.