The Plumbline

Why would someone need rescue? It could be they found them caught unaware of the danger they were in, such as when a flash flood comes unexpectedly. It might also be that they were at the wrong place at the wrong time, caught up in some event they likely would never have chosen for themselves. It might even be they chose the place, the time, and the event, knowing very well there was a danger associated with that decision. It doesn't really matter how or why the rescue is required, danger exists, and distress is imminent if not already occurring. The deeper the distress, the louder our calls for deliverance are! The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble. The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him. (Psalm 37:39-40) This passage gives me hope that even the godly can be caught up in places or events that require his rescue. It should give us all hope that we won't always make the wisest of ch...

For people who are stumbling toward ruin, the message of the cross is nothing but a tall tale for fools by a fool. But for those of us who are already experiencing the reality of being rescued  and made right , it is nothing short of God’s power. (I Corinthians 1:18 VOICE) Ruin is the downfall, decay, or destruction of anything.  We call old dwellings we uncover in archaeological digs as "ruins", but we all refer to toast charred to a crisp in the toaster as "ruined".  Three things about ruin we need to realize: 1. It describes a condition in which the thing or one who was on the rise at one point is now on the decline.  It can be caused by being taken down a notch, as when we begin to think more highly of ourselves than we ought.  It can also be caused by being overthrown, as when someone goes up against another and finds they just didn't have the capacity or "talent" to continue in a position they wanted to maintain.  The decline c...

1-5  I, Paul, and my companions in faith here, send greetings to the Galatian churches. My authority for writing to you does not come from any popular vote of the people, nor does it come through the appointment of some human higher-up. It comes directly from Jesus the Messiah and God the Father, who raised him from the dead. I'm God-commissioned. So I greet you with the great words, grace and peace! We know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we're in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God's plan is that we all experience that rescue. Glory to God forever! Oh, yes! (Galations 1:1-5 The Message) We begin a new series this morning in the book of Galations.  The author is Paul, a disciple of Christ, born out of the ranks of the Jews - - a former persecutor of the believers in Jesus.  He begins with his credentials.  Whenever we are establishing new "relationship" with people, isn't this similar t...