Jeremiah
31:3 ESV
The Lord appeared
to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I
have continued my faithfulness to you.
Last year I attended the funeral of a fallen police officer in a
very large community. As I parked our cities car among the hundreds of police
cars, I was amazed at the sea of blue uniforms in attendance. But what struck
me and made the topic of this blog is what I heard when I got out of the car.
“I should turn off my ring tone it is not appropriate for
church, heck, I’m not even appropriate for church!” I took this as a Holy
Spirit opportunity to witness for Jesus Christ, as I approached the officer and
said the following. “Hi I’m Pastor Tim and I’m a Police Chaplain, you are
always welcome in God’s house, and he thinks that you are more than appropriate”.
The officer then replied: “Thanks Chaplain, I appreciate that”.
Beloved how often do people think that they are not worthy
of God’s love and God’s grace? How many people have said to you, that if they
walk in a church the ceiling will cave in or lightning will strike? As I
overheard this officer make this statement, I began to think about all of the
things that he and other police officers have witnessed. How often have they
themselves lost part of themselves in the occupation that they have chosen?
Beloved, there is no hiding from God and nowhere that you
can go that God can’t find you and love you. God has the power, love and grace
to change hearts, and even the hardest souls. Never be afraid of facing God,
because unending love is what God sent His son to die on the cross for. Christ
paid our debt and has saved us even when we feel unworthy and not appropriate
of His heavenly grace.
My prayer is that you will go inside the walls of a house of
worship and meet the people there, called the church. There is nothing that the
Father has not seen or witnessed to ever make us not appropriate to be in His
presence.
You are Appropriate and you are loved.
Pastor Tim.
