As I shared with you at the beginning of the week there are only four times that the word “goodness” appears in the New Testament so we have a free day today!

Since most of us have some time during this season – wink, wink – I would like to recommend a documentary that is on Netflix right now called, “American Gospel: Christ Alone.” It is free on Netflix and you can rent it on Prime Video for around $4.

The thesis of the documentary is that the gospel being preached at some churches is not the gospel at all. It is a false gospel. What’s worse, this American version of the gospel is being exported to other countries under the guise of Christianity. The particular issue has to do with the dangers of the prosperity gospel. It is what you find on the best seller lists at book stores and what is being preached at some of the largest churches in the United States.

It is one of the best treatments of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the dangers around the prosperity gospel. I highly recommend it.

Pastors Brad, Bill, and I have all watched it and hope that our entire congregation can watch it as well. If we were able to gather, we would show it at the church.

After you’ve watched the video, would love to hear your thoughts. Blessings! See you at worship on Sunday!

“I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another” (Romans 15:14).

The Apostle Paul is bringing his letter to the Romans to a close in chapters 15 and 16. And after having reminded the Romans of all that God has done for us through Jesus Christ – that there is no condemnation, that nothing can separate us from the love of God, that all things will work together for those who love Jesus, because everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved – the Apostle feels confident about the Roman Christians. Not because of their inherent abilities or goodness, but because of God’s amazing power and goodness. And it is God’s power that has now filled the Roman Christians with all knowledge.

So, I too, am confident about you Little Church and Lakewoodgrace. I am confident that God will use you to be a blessing for God’s goodness in our world. I am confident that you have the ability to thrive, not just survive, during this season. I am confident that God chose you and me to be alive for just such a time as this because God is more than able to use the likes of you and me to bless our world, right now!

One of the things that can happen during this season is paralysis. Unless we are careful, we can become convinced that there is nothing we can do during this time because we can’t see people and gather for worship.

That’s a lie. That’s simply not true. There is so much we can do to make a difference in the lives of people.

Just the other day, I noticed that my wife had baked a batch of cookies. You see, there are people who enjoy that kind of thing. And then, I realized there are people who really enjoy eating cookies! What a match made in heaven!!!

You see, normally when my wife bakes, it’s to give away. She enjoys baking and cooking. And she enjoys when others enjoy her food.

If that’s you, hello!!! I love cookies!!!

There are many others who would love a batch a cookies, goodies, pecan pies!

Whatever it is you are good at, think on how you can use that to bless others.

• I have also heard from you who are sharing these daily devotionals with others, and others of you who have been sharing our link to Sunday worship. That’s fantastic! After sharing those links, have a conversation about what God revealed to you.
• There is nothing in the world that can stop the prayers of God’s people. No one can stop us from praying. Be intentional about prayer. Join with me and others on Wednesday evenings to pray for our country, city, and our church.
• If you’re a talker, pick up the phone and call someone.
• If you’re a writer, pick up the pen and write a note, send a card, a letter.
• If you’re a baker, I’m your man!

There is so much we can do. Don’t fall for the lie that there is nothing we can do.

I believe in you Little Church and Lakewoodgrace, because I have a great faith in the God who has saved us!

“For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light – for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true” (Ephesians 5:8-9).

Our world is facing incredible challenges.

• A tiny air-born virus has completely rocked the world
• In the midst of all that, the penned up frustration of racial inequality and injustice has erupted all over our country
• More Americans are self-declaring that they are depressed than at any other time in modern history
• There are millions out of jobs, out of income, wondering how they will make it to the end of the week

You feeling better yet?

If you find yourself struggling, bummed out, emotionally spent, or just numb…welcome to the club.

All this. All that’s described above…that’s the darkness that Paul is talking about in our text. For once we were darkness and lived in darkness.

But now in the Lord we are light.

Did you catch that? We are light, not because our world has changed, but because our location has changed. We are no longer alone in the darkness. We are in the Lord. And because we are in the Lord in the midst of the darkness, there’s a light shining. It’s called hope.

You see, there is no amount of darkness in the universe that can overcome the power of light from one tiny little candle. But, imagine…the light we are talking about is not a tiny little candle, but the One who created light! The light of the sun cannot hold a candle next to the Creator of the sun.

Because of who Jesus, “in the Lord we are light. Live as children of light – for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.” 

Because of Jesus, we are to live as children of light. What does that look like? “For the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.”

• All that is good…
• All that is right…
• All that is true…

This is what the fruit of the light looks like.

Your home work for today is to think on and write down and make a list of all those things that are good, then all those things that are right, and finally all those things that are true. After you’ve made that list, that becomes your to do list for today!

Have a fantastic day, children of light!