Sisters and brothers,
Happy Monday to all! It was great to worship with all of you yesterday. It is always wonderful to gather with the family of God. We looked closely at Genesis 2 and God’s special creation of man and woman. We saw God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into man the breath of life. God placed man in a beautiful setting with purposeful existence and provided abundantly for man. God gave man the freedom to love Him and enjoy Him or reject Him. God specifically created the woman for man to be his spouse, companion, and helper. God wanted to show mankind they need other people, so mankind might live in families and in community. God created us to live in relationship and submission to Him. We are not to live bowing to the false god of absolute personal autonomy. Personal autonomy as an idol makes a person the very center of their universe and no outside force can tell that person who they are and how they are supposed to live. This idol denies that there is God in heaven who created us and defines us and who knows what is best for us. This idol denies God as the center of the universe and makes a person the center of his or her universe. The view that you have absolute personal autonomy is in direct conflict with the truth of the Word of God that God made you for Himself to live in relationship to Him and for His glory. God made you to know, love and live for Him and bring Him glory. If you refuse to live for God and outside of Him and apart from Him, you miss what life is truly meant to be. If you make yourself the center of your universe, you miss knowing the true and living God who is truly the center of the universe. You live in a delusional and unreal world. God created mankind to live in relationship with Him as His submissive servants and created us to live in community with each other.
We will be observing the Lord’s Supper next Sunday, February 13, during our morning worship. If you are worshipping with us on livestream, I encourage you to get some crackers and juice and participate with us in the taking of the Supper. You are always welcome to come by the church building during the week and pick up the prepackaged elements for the Supper so you can have them on Sunday.
We are considering updating the windows in the church building and are looking for estimates from responsible companies. If you have a recommendation, could you email that recommendation to me. Also, if you have a company we should avoid, please let us know that.
Remember to keep praying continually for each other.
Love being your pastor,
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church