The Patience of God

One of the greatest promises in the Bible is the promise of Christ’s return. Someday, Jesus will come back and gather his followers to spend eternity with him in Heaven. He will also, we are told, come to judge the world. The natural question is, “What is he waiting for?”

The Bible gives us the answer: The Lord isn't slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn't want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act. 2 Peter 3:9

In other words, there’s still room in Heaven. God wants every seat filled. God wants your neighbor, your coworker, your family member to experience the love of Jesus, accept his forgiveness, find new life in Christ, and live forever with him in Heaven. Yes – even that neighbor!

And, God has a plan for getting them there…  YOU! Why hasn’t Jesus returned yet? He’s waiting for you! What can we do to hasten his return? Share our faith in Jesus Christ with our lost and hurting world. And the world we’re talking about starts right at our doorstep.

Isn’t it amazing that God has entrusted us with such an important task? So, let’s get to it!

Expected Guests

Every guest who walks through the doors of First Presbyterian Church is a gift from God.

I’ve noticed that when we are expecting guests at our home, we go out of our way to make them welcome. Before their arrival there is a flurry of cleaning activity. Not that our home is usually dirty, but when guests are coming we want our home to look its best.

When guests arrive there’s a little ritual we go through. We greet them at the door, ask them if they’d like something to eat or drink, and show them to the most comfortable seat in the living room. To put it another way, we make sure they are greeted, treated, directed, and seated.

The entire time our guests are with us, we do our best to make them feel comfortable and appreciated. And, when it’s time for them to leave we thank them for coming, and (usually) invite them to come again.

At First Presbyterian, we’re expecting God to bring us guests. We want to be certain that God’s guests are treated equally well!

For most folks who haven’t been to church in a while, attending church for the first time can be a pretty intimidating experience. They don’t know where to park, what to wear, how to get into the building, how they’ll be received (“Will they be glad to see me, or will they make me feel guilty for having been away so long?”), what to do with their kids, where to sit, or what will be expected of them. Most church guests want to be a) appreciated and b) anonymous. Going to church for the first time, or the first time in a long time, is hard.

If you haven’t been to church in a while, I want you to know that we understand just how big a step showing up to church is. We’re eager to see you! We promise to appreciate you and treat you with genuine warmth and love. Please come soon, and be our guest!

If you’re a member or regular attender at First Presbyterian, will you join me as we make it one of our highest Sunday priorities to graciously and joyfully welcome every guest God sends our way? We want to be sure that every guest is: greeted with a smile and told, “We’re glad you’re here”; seated in the best seats in the house, where they’re welcomed with a smile; and treated as the precious gift from God that they are.