“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.  The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”

1 Peter 1:22-25

Laments are nothing new.  Laments are the vocalizations of the doubts and frustrations found throughout the Psalms, and pastors and church leaders are still capable of these.  Such laments can include disappointment over families being absent from worship and apathy related to witness and stewardship.  It can even lead to church leaders losing confidence that God’s Word will accomplish what it says.

During these weeks leading up to our celebration of Reformation, it is good for us to be reminded what the Scriptures teach about God’s Word.  St. Peter quotes the prophet Isaiah in his first epistle as He encourages them that the word of the Lord endures forever.  Like Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden, we still fall into the trap of not believing God’s Word.

Our congregations are facing temptations by Satan that lead individuals away from Christ and His Church to chase after other things of this age.  However, we are also plagued by internal doubts that congregations have everything that they need.  It is easy for church leaders to despair about some aspect of congregational life and doubt that the Word of God can change hearts.  We regularly need to be reminded that it is not only the grass that withers and the flowers that fade, but also countless programs and solutions that seek to bring about change apart from the Word of God.  Your congregation has the one thing that will endure forever: God’s Word.  The starting place for church leaders in any role for trying to “fix a problem” at their congregation is to return to God’s Word for the strength and renewal that can only be brought about by God.  If you’re looking for a solution, look to Christ and how He has revealed Himself in His Word.

Prayer – Almighty God, we give You thanks and praise that You preserve Your Church through Your enduring Word.  Help us, by the Holy Spirit, to believe Your Word and gladly hear and learn it, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Fraternally in Christ,

President Lee Hagan