Dear Church Family,
As we enter week two of the virus crisis, anxiety continues to build across our country. It is causing healthy eaters to binge on chips and Oreos instead of kale and quinoa. Many have found solace in multiple scoops of their favorite ice cream. The phrase ‘comfort food’ takes on a deeper reality as meat loaf, mashed potatoes and gravy serve as a safe haven in the midst of fear. Before you head to the frig, let me remind you of a better source of security.
In our worship we occasionally use the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism as our Statement of Faith. It asks, “What is your only comfort in life and in death?” Note the qualifying word “ONLY” forces us to narrow all choices to just one. Now chew over all this ‘comfort food’ for a minute or two:
ANSWER:
That I am not my own, but belong – body and soul, in life and in death - to
my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a
way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven:
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to Him,
Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me
wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him.
Sorry to interrupt the feast you have been chewing on. Feel free to chew and chew and chew. What great comfort we enjoy because we belong to Jesus and not ourselves! 1 Peter 1:18-19 teach us, “It was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” The Lamb of God laid down His life for His sheep and He knows us by name. Jesus has a vested interest in His people because He died for them. Therefore, simple logic would lead us to believe He cares for us.
Even better than logic are the words of the Bible that repeatedly remind us of His eternal care. In the Upper Room Discourse Jesus told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) Paul calls us to holiness with words of comfort at the end of 1 Corinthians 6. “You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with you body.”
As God’s holy people we enjoy the riches of His grace. One of those priceless gifts is the comfort only Jesus can give and has given to us forever. May we live holy lives as we rest in the comfort that is better than any food can provide.
Pastor Gillikin