Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ,
And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the fountain of the water of life without payment. He who conquers shall have this heritage, and I will be his God and he shall be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death. Revelation 21:5-8.
The third year of our appointment to serve First UMC of Fairbury has drawn to a close, and the beginning of our fourth year in ministry has begun. (or as the stone over the original entrance from 1903 says: Methodist Episcopal Church) Nancy and I are thankful, grateful, and blessed to be in ministry with you to lead new persons to faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and to encourage one another to love and be built-up in our faith to maturity in Jesus Christ!
A frequent question posed by District Superintendent’s is: “How are things going in __?”
I often respond, “It seems as we are just getting started. There is always something new in the Body of Jesus Christ!”
The Word of God boldly calls us to know God is making things new. If we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are not the same as we were before faith in Jesus!
Isaiah declared the Word of the Lord: I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them. (Is. 42:8-9)
And also: Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? (Is. 43:18-19)
The new thing is the coming of Jesus! His incarnation, birth, life, sacrificial death for the sins of the world, resurrection, ascension, and reign in glory is the radical new thing of God which changes everything for eternity!
Faith in Jesus means he is the new and living, forever Lord of our lives!
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery…For you were called to freedom, brethren, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another…And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another. (Galatians 5:1, 13, 24-26) Freedom without faithfulness is not freedom at all, but chaos!
We are the Body of Jesus Christ, his Church, living and serving God to share the Good News of eternal life in Jesus Christ with everyone. Anyone who seeks to draw close (closer) to Jesus and everyone who does not yet know Jesus are folks we pray to be privileged to influence for Jesus!
Unity in the Church is only authentic under the Lordship of Jesus Christ! We welcome everyone in the Body of Christ. Refusing the enduring, life-transforming Lordship of Jesus that saves us from sin, death and condemnation is not unity!
The Lordship of Jesus is how we maintain unity! Jesus is our unity with God Almighty and one another. Unity is fruit of faithfulness to his Word and devoted prayer. Power to overcome the condemnation of sin and death is given through faith in Jesus Christ and the presence of His Holy Spirit through his precious gift. Stirring one another up to love and good works, growing together in the love of God, sharing the gifting and empowerment of his Holy Spirit as we live in the fullness of life made possible to be Jesus’ body in this world. New life, free and faithful in Jesus Christ.
Praise the Lord we have new, authentic, eternal life in Jesus; new life, for a new day!
Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ,
In Jesus, Paul and Nancy Wier