Real Life

With Pastor Steve

 April 26, 2024

Are you working and doing stuff in order to be forgiven, or is out of joy and relief that you already are forgiven? ~ Anglican Scholar, NT Wright

  One is a burden… out of guilt or out of a sense of obligation.  The other is out of love… as the fruit of being forgiven already. 

  There are some things in life that are just too big… too huge… too expensive… too costly… too messy… too hurtful.   The price for those could never be earned, no matter how hard we try.  And yet we do… we do try, don’t we?  We try with people… and we try with God. 

  There are things that cannot be replaced or paid back… but they can be forgiven.  The cost gets absorbed by the forgiver.  A fresh start is offered… a second chance for those willing to take it. 

  That happened on the shores of Galilee between Jesus and Peter after the resurrection.  Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, flat out denied knowing Jesus during the night before the crucifixion.  He pretty much threw Jesus under the bus.  There’s nothing Peter could do to fix that.  So Jesus just asked one question, three times… one for each denial… “Peter, do you love me.”  Peter said yes… he’d been forgiven… he’d been given a second chance… and rather than trying to earn it… he could serve simply out of love and joy.  So can you!  And that’s … real life. ~Pastor Steve Rowe – Eaglebrook Church

               

Eaglebrook Church

Your “Brook” church in the Northwoods  EaglebrookMinocqua.org

Sundays 10:00 a.m. @ 1025 Margaret Street in Woodruff