1 Corinthians 1:3–9

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—6even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—7so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

For the Church, this past Sunday began a new liturgical year.  What are your expectations for this year ahead?  Do you expect Christ Jesus to return to judge the world?  In the Bible it is obvious that since God the Father Almighty created the heavens and the earth from nothing, He has done the unexpected.  Scripture reveals so many unexpected actions of God in His plan to reconcile His fallen creation to Himself.  When our first parents disobeyed and ate the forbidden fruit, God promised a Redeemer from their offspring to “crush” the head of the tempter (cf. Genesis 2:25, NIV).  When “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually, the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him to His heart. So, the Lord said, “I will blot out man . . . from the face of the land”” (cf. Genesis 6). Instead of destroying everything He created, “eight persons were brought safely through the water” (1 Peter 3:20), insuring the coming of our promised Redeemer.  In the present we see God doing the unexpected in the lives of people everywhere.  Through God’s Means of Grace, we have the gift of His written and spoken Word through which sinners just like me, are called to saving faith in Christ Jesus.  With His Word in and with the water of Holy Baptism the Lord imparts His Spirit into the hearts of His children and works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe, along with the faith which trusts this Word of God in the water of Holy Baptism.  In the simple bread and wine, we receive Christ’s true body and blood for the forgiveness of all our sins. 

In the days or years to come the Lord will continue to do the unexpected.  The pattern of unexpected goodness and mercy to us that God has established in the past is to make His and our joy complete in the future.  When life is crushing us with disease, crime, war, drought, or some other disaster, God will continue to gift us with His Holy Spirit, to keep us strong in the faith.  And on the day Jesus returns in the same manner as He ascended, He will do the unexpected, declaring you without sin before God, as He ushers you into your eternal inheritance.

As we begin this church year we pray: “Stir up Your power, we beg You O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and be saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You have done the unexpected, You are doing the unexpected, and You will continue to do the unexpected among us: Amen.

825 North 1st West

Cheyenne Wells, CO, 80810-0728

Sunday Service begins at 9:00AM