Topic: Christian Life

If we don’t do what we ought, and if we don’t give due diligence to doing the things we should, then we are going to fall down, susceptible to the powers of sin. There is a fatigue currently affecting believers to do this due diligence in the midst of a culture of increasing opposition to the Gospel. We can only overcome spiritual fatigue by trusting God at His Word and resting in his Son Jesus Christ. Listen as the Rev. Galloway instructs us to overcome spiritual fatigue by following in the example of the Good Samaritan.

We who enjoy the luxuries of 21st century America are the unmatched champions of vain things! Our lives are so dedicated to vain things, trivial things, pointless things, that we go out of our way to celebrate vanity itself! The Gospel calls us away from vain things just as it did the pagans at Lystra. But are we willing to turn away from vain things?

Our lives are littered with difficulties and differences which seem irreconcilable. The will of the nations are brought to naught, and so the nations go to war. Our own plans for life and ministry are thwarted, and we go to war with ourselves to find the answers. Looking to the Apostles Peter and Paul, let us remember that God’s plan for our lives is dramatically different from what we want in our sin – and that is a good thing.

The journey of the Magi following this Star represents the highest calling to which we can devote our lives: a lifetime of being led to Christ, by Christ. In other words, we look to Christ to light our path and direct our steps to Him. It is one thing to see this Star, but we are only wise when we embark on the journey of our lives using it as our guide.

There is the expectation that those to whom we are accountable will eventually visit us, and we should want to have our very best prepared to make a good impression. The same is true of our preparation for the coming Day of the Lord.

Why aren’t we more aware of this idea, the fleeting nature of life? The vast majority of our lives are spent in denial of our mortality, but Scripture constantly reminds us to do the opposite. The refrain from Psalm 90, verse 12 has incredibly wide-reaching implications: “So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Psalm 90 sets the tone for all of our other readings this week, and verse 12 is the lens through which to read the other three passages, as well as our entire lives. Admitting that our time on earth is short is uncomfortable, but it’s not morbid. In fact, it’s required for living a proper Christian life. Watch as the Rector discusses the principle of numbering our days.

We are running to obtain God’s promises. And the greatest of God’s promises is that He so loved us that He gave His only begotten son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal Life. We for our sin deserve eternal damnation, but Jesus Christ bore that sin on the Cross, and His righteousness is imputed to us if we only trust in Him. But at the point of trusting is where we get mixed up in our understanding.

American Christians are no doubt incredibly disheartened by the myriad moral shortcomings of their political leaders and the march of the authoritarian state against individual and religious freedoms. But we can take heart, for as the Rector reminds us, earthly leaders will always fall short, but God in Christ will never fail us or let us down.

Joshua commanded the people of Israel, “Choose this day whom you will serve.” In today’s sermon, the Rector reminds us of the urgency of this decision the Christian life today. Do we obey God, or man? Joshua’s words warn us: If we don’t choose now, then by default we will find ourselves looking back after a long series of incremental changes, realizing we renounced the LORD long ago.