Hi First Presbyterian Church,
It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! I want to remind you that this summer, we will be organizing a sermon series around answering your questions about what we’ve been reading this year in the Bible. We have less than 100 days left in the journey, and we’ve already read most of the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, we’re finishing the Book of Job this week, and then we only have Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, and the Prophets to read. In the New Testament, we’re finishing Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, then we only have Hebrews, Revelation, and a number of short letters from the apostles to read.
Do you have questions about confusing passages you’ve read? Do you wonder what exactly Christians are to believe and do related to teachings and admonitions in the New Testament? Do you have a theological problem you’re still trying to work out in your mind? Do you want to hear about how to apply the teachings of Jesus to your own everyday life? Then, submit your questions to connect@pittsfordpres.org by May 23 so we can incorporate your question into our summer sermon series!
Yesterday, we read Psalm 42, in which the psalmist describes experiencing suffering. The psalmist is feeling depressed (v. 5), is experiencing physical pain (v. 10), and is being oppressed by others (v. 9). Maybe you’ve experienced a similar time in your life or are experiencing one such time right now. I encourage you to respond to your situation the way the psalmist does. He or she doesn’t necessarily ask God to fix the problem, but simply says, “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Regardless of what we are facing in life, the right response is to reorient our lives to this universal truth: our purpose in life is to glorify God.
I know a modern hymn called “Hold Me Savior” that includes these powerful lines in it: “May my burden bring me closer to Your side. Every lack that leads to worship is a precious prize.” I encourage you today, regardless of what you may be experiencing, to turn to Christ and offer praise to him for God’s grace, mercy, and love. As we will read soon in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.”
Blessed Eastertide,
Pastor Aaron