“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. )”
1 John 4:7-8
In addition to the means of grace: the Gospel message, Baptism, Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper… In addition to Salvation… Jesus chose to give us.. EACH OTHER! “Make disciples of all nations… baptizing them… (Mat 28)” “You are the body of Christ and individually members of it (1 Cor 12)” Yes, we are individually united to Christ AND we are together united to each other in Him.
Jesus has given many Gospel gifts and the gift to us of each other is an often-neglected joy when we list priorities or list blessings. Not just our close circle of family and friends, but all God’s children are on our gratitude-radar. You are the church, the beloved of God, brothers and sisters getting to know each other and discovering what it means to be wrapped up in God’s grace. Did you know that God brought 235 people together at Zion during worship services to see each other, meet each other, and receive His grace together this year? Last month, when we gathered for our picnic, what a joy it was to play games, share food, and begin conversations! Last Sunday when our eldest member Marge’s heart stopped and she was attended to by prayer and CPR, what a unique time it was together of concern, action, and then rejoicing as she was revived. Last month when you put on work clothes to begin preparations of classrooms for our expansion of Children’s and Youth Bible Classes, what a exhausting labor of love it was, filled with hope of little disciples growing in knowledge and faith in Jesus! We experienced public and private sorrows, struggles, and joys that we lifted to Jesus in prayer during small group Bible studies and in the Divine Service.
God wants us always to remember that we are part of His plan to show Jesus as Savior of real people. Lots and lots of beloved people. October offers us many opportunities to know His love and love one another more and more by opening up scriptures to each other and serving side-by-side in times of fun, times of renewal, and times of struggle. Let’s come together for Jesus. Know that the people surrounding you are very much part of His gift in life to us all.
In Christ’s peace,
Pastor Stephen
