If It Had Not Been For The Lord! 8-2–26

Welcome to the word for the week. If It had not been for the Lord on our side where would we be? That is a passage of scripture that is mentioned very often in church. It means exactly what it says and it is true for all of us. Where would any of us be without God on our side? That brings us up to something to really think and reflect on this week. At this point in your, can you imagine your life without God in it? Have you ever thought just how miserable your life really could be? Have you ever thought about how hopeless things really could be for you? It is already a fight once we know Christ to get through things at times. We know He will come through for us but there is not a person reading this who has not wondered where is God in certain times. There is nothing abnormal about that at all. You have not truly experienced God until you felt you were at your last ounce of hope and then He shows up. Welcome to life.

Now we can go a little further here. What is the difference between you and that homeless person who sleeps under the bridge every night? What is the difference when you are at the restaurant eating your favorite dish versus the person who may not have enough money for food for the rest of the week? What is the difference of that person who is still doing those things you used to do? Most of you reading this will say the difference is that you have Jesus in your life. With maybe the exception of the last point about someone doing what you used to do, it could be possible the rest are saved. Maybe they do know Jesus. Maybe they do pray everyday. Maybe they do love the Lord. The real point to make this week is that there is no difference. It just may be their season of difficulty. The truth is those may be the things God is using to get them together and build them up. All of those struggles may be their stepping stones.

It is easy to take God for granted. I shared with our congregation that God has been really showing me there are people who view church attendance as just that. It is simply a place to go and hang out. The truth is that church is a hospital. We go to be fixed. That may involve painful moments. We may need a simple prescription but then we may also need a shot or surgery. We may be leaving in a few hours or one might find themselves there for a few months. It depends on how severe things are. Church is the same way in some areas. We need to be honest with the doctor in order for Him to help us. We must be willing to hear some hard truths about what we need to do differently. We may have to give up things that we love. Whatever the case may be, the follow up things we need to do are for our good. You should not leave the hospital and not follow up with your primary physician. You should not leave church and not follow up with Jesus.

Choice is a powerful thing. God gives all of the choice to choose this day whom we will follow. He gives us the choice to seek Him in prayer. He gives us the choice to study His word and learn about Him. If you believe that if God was not on your side you have no idea where you would be, then you should also believe His commandments. You should know that He did not save you just because. He saved you for a purpose. He saved you to make you better. He saved you so that your latter would be far better than anything in your former. Your favor is not always measured by the things around you. If that homeless person lives by faith and someone else has everything but trusts in themselves then who is really better off? Walking with God is a way of life. It is a lifestyle that you commit yourself to. There is no turning back. There should be nothing that means more to you. It ought to be where you cannot imagine just one day without Him. If God really means what He should to any of us then serving Him with all of our hearts and with gladness should be easy. After all, if it had not been for the Lord on our side where would any of us really be?

May the Lord continue to bless and keep you in His grace,
Bishop Carlos J. Lennon