Message from Pastor Jim Faulks 08/24/26
Newsletter 08/24/26
From the desk of Pastor Jim
Every morning we face an important decision: What am I going to wear today? For some people, that decision takes thirty seconds. For others, it involves standing in front of a closet full of clothes and announcing, “I have nothing to wear!”
In Romans 13, Paul gives us a wardrobe suggestion that works every day. He tells us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” No ironing required, no matching socks necessary, and it is always appropriate!
To “put on Christ” means that wherever we go, we carry the love, grace, patience, kindness, and hope of Jesus with us. Paul reminds us, “Owe no one anything, except to love one another.” Love is the one debt we never completely pay off. There is always another person who needs encouragement, another neighbor who could use some kindness, another lonely person who needs a friend, and another opportunity to offer grace.
Of course, loving people would be much easier if people would simply cooperate! Some people are easy to love. Others seem to have been specially assigned to help us develop patience. Yet Jesus never said, “Love your neighbor only when your neighbor is behaving properly.” He simply said to love.
Paul also tells us that it is time to wake up. In other words, don't sleep through the opportunities God gives us each day. Notice the person who needs a smile. Make the phone call. Send the card. Offer forgiveness. Share a meal. Speak an encouraging word. Sometimes God's biggest work happens through very small acts of love.
The good news is that we don't have to do any of this perfectly. God's grace meets us when we stumble, helps us begin again, and reminds us that tomorrow morning brings another opportunity to put on Christ.
So before you head out the door today, check your spiritual wardrobe. Shoes? Check. Coat? Check. Keys? Hopefully. Jesus? Absolutely!
May we go into each new day wearing Christ's love so clearly that the people around us catch a glimpse of God's goodness through us.
And remember—love never goes out of style!
Grace and peace,
