Remember

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are designed to picture and so remind us of Christ’s saving work for us.

Baptism pictures and reminds us of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and how in Him we have spiritually died and been buried to our old sinful way of life and been raised to a new life with Him (Romans 6:3-4).  Baptism also pictures and reminds us that in Christ our sins are washed away (Acts 22:16).

The Lord’s Supper pictures the broken body and shed blood of our Savior, which we are specifically told to remember (I Corinthians 11:23-25).  The same passage also reminds us that the cup is the New Covenant in His blood – it pictures our new relationship with God made possible through Christ in which are sins are forgiven and His Word is written on our hearts (Hebrews 8:10-12). 

And so both baptism and the Lord’s Supper picture and remind us of Christ’s sacrifice, and how in Him our sins are forgiven and we are now able to follow Him. 

So let us remember and rejoice.  I tell people when I prepare them for baptism, that it is a celebration.

Sometimes we talk about celebrating Lord’s Supper, because it should be a celebration.  As we remember Christ’s saving work for us, how could we not celebrate?  As we consider forgiveness of sins and a new life in Christ, how could we not rejoice?  Remember and rejoice!

Let us also remember and rest.  And in two ways: rest in Christ’s love and rest in His finished work.

First, rest in Christ’s love that brought Him to the cross to die for your salvation.  Everyone is looking for love, and as Christians we have found an undying, unselfish, unending, amazing love.  No matter what others think of you, no matter how they may reject you or mistreat you or ignore you, the God of universe, your Creator and Savior, loves you and will not reject or mistreat or ignore you.  As we witness a baptism or gather for the Lord’s Supper, we remember His saving work for us and rest in His love.

Second, rest in Christ’s finished work.  Jesus died and rose again to cleanse you of all your sins.  In Christ, you are clean.  There is nothing you have to do but believe.  It is not of works, so no one can boast.  No penance, no earning, no striving – just rest in His finished work.  Again, He died and rose again to change you, to give you a new life – something you could not do on your own.  You cannot fix yourself.  He has already done it – just rest in His finished work.  As we witness a baptism or gather for Lord’s Supper, we remember His saving work for us.  It is finished, so we can rest.

As you witness a baptism or gather around Christ’s table, remember His saving work for you.  And as you remember, rejoice and rest.

Sermon Songs: Hebrews 10:19-25

On By BrianIn Hebrews Hymns

To God we have confident access
Through Christ our priest, His death made the way
So draw near, come into God’s presence
With true faith, fully cleansed, come today

Chorus
Fast, Fast, Hold fast
Hold fast to Jesus the Better One
Near, Near, Draw Near
Draw near to God through His only Son

Hold fast your hope without wavering
God’s promises never throw away
Commit to the church’s gathering
Stir up to love and good works today
(Repeat Chorus)

© 2023 Brian J. Mikul

(Sing to tune of “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”)

Christ Our Head

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ….  (Ephesians 5:23-24a)

Christ is the head of the church.  And the church must submit to Him, obey Him, follow His leading.

Christ is in charge of the church, not the pastor, not the leadership team, not you.  Christ alone is the head of church.

Follow the illustration.  My body follows the instructions of my head.  My head tells my neck to turn, my foot to rise, my hands to clap, my fingers to scratch my head.  If my body doesn’t listen to my head, then my body is sick.  And to whatever extent the church is not listening to Christ, to that extent the church is sick.  Christ is the head. 

So let us commit to Christ’s leading – as a church and as individual Christians.  We must be committed to the leading of Christ.  We must follow His instructions in His Word for the church and our lives.  We don’t go off and do our own thing.  We don’t make up the church or what we believe or how to live.  No, we must commit to follow Christ in all things.  Christ is our head.

Saturday Strands

On By BrianIn Saturday Strands

Here are some loose strands for continuing to think about the new year:

Old Advice for a New Year – Cassie Achermann (TGC)
Throughout the centuries, pastors and theologians have used the opportunity of the new year to encourage believers. Let’s listen to their advice for the year ahead.

New Year’s Goal-Setting for People with Actual Lives – Joe Carter (TGC)
What we need isn’t a better to-do list but a better grid for making wise decisions across every domain of life, whether we’re planning our fitness goals or our prayer habits. Such a grid should work for anyone, in any season, pursuing faithfulness in any calling.

5 Habits for Better Prayer in 2026 – Blake Glosson (TGC)
Consider five habits or mindsets that can enrich your extended times of prayer.

The Resolution We Rarely Make – Erik Raymond
As you look ahead to a new year—with fresh goals and good intentions—hear again the invitation of Jesus. He does not offer a program of self-improvement, but a path of self-denial. It’s the path of life.

Flashback: Everlasting Significance
Everyone is searching for significance….

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshiping God with your local church!

Sermon Songs: Hebrews 10:1-18

On By BrianIn Hebrews Hymns

Behold Jesus came to do God’s will
Offered Himself to pay for our sins
A single sacrifice once for all
Our sin forgotten and forgiven

Chorus
Fast, Fast, Hold fast
Hold fast to Jesus the Better One
Near, Near, Draw Near
Draw near to God through His only Son

Old sacrifices could not make clean
Could not perfect though offered each day
Only His sacrifice makes us clean
Holy and perfect, sin washed away
(Repeat Chorus)

In His finished work now find your rest
Clean in His sight, come draw near to God
His new work in you now manifest
Follow Jesus – do the will of God
(Repeat Chorus)

© 2023 Brian J. Mikul

(Sing to tune of “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”)

Trust the Father and Grow!

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

Trials are one of ways God uses to help us grow to be steadfast, perfect, complete, that is, mature in Christ.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t like that.  I wrestle with the idol of comfort, and trials are not comfortable.  How then can I count trials as joy?  Only as I trust the Father to use those trials for my good.  How can I love people, obey God, and do good works in the midst of trials?  Only as I trust the Father. 

Consider Jesus on the cross:

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.  (I Peter 2:23)

Jesus was able to love instead of reviling and threatening because he trusted His Father.  Jesus was able to obey His Father’s plan and do this good work of salvation because He trusted His Father there on cross.

It is only as we trust our Father, that we will be able to love those who hurt us, obey even when it’s hard and hurts, and do good works even when we don’t feel like it.

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.  (I Peter 4:19)

God is faithful.  He has a plan in our suffering.  So trust Him while doing good – loving, obeying, and doing good works. 

Trust Him and grow!