Message from Pastor Leo

July 01, 2008

     When you look at how many people come to church compared to how many people serve, how many people give, and how many people are involved, you have to ask yourself, “What are they doing?  Why are they attending?”  You’ve either seen God with the eye of your heart (your soul) and know that He’s worthy of this level of commitment … or you haven’t been born from above and you’re just being religious and going through the motions.

     Forgive me for being a romantic, but I still think it’s important that I not only attend church consistently, but that I do so with passion - with willful intent and desire.  Listen, would you rather have a spouse that says “The only reason I’m not leaving you is because I need you,” or one that says “I’m in love with you.  I’m crazy about you.”  I think that’s the goal of our relationship with Jesus, isn’t it?  It’s really an insult to Him when your heart isn’t in your worship or your Bible reading - when it becomes just a religious ritual.

     Think of the heart of Jesus as He looked at the disciples and said “Would you watch and pray with Me?”  He then goes deeper into the garden of Gethsemane and He sweats drops of blood because of His passion for us.  He’s getting ready to actually give His life to pay for our sin.  When He comes back, He finds the disciples asleep.  He says, “Couldn’t you even watch and pray for one hour?”  Where was the disciples’ passion?  Where is your passion?

     If you can give a brand new movie two hours, if I’ll give an Italian restaurant two and a half hours, if we’ll sit and watch TV for three hours every night, can’t I give the Lord just one hour?  Can’t I spend one hour a day reading my Bible?  What’s wrong with me?  Am I some kind of knuckle-head that doesn’t get it?

     I believe we need to be not only consistent, but also devoted.  And of course devotion is defined as a dedication of time and energy, the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal.  Daily devotion, daily reading the Bible is how you daily meet with your creator, Jesus.

     I want you to make a decision.  Make a new commitment, a new willing choice to live right before Him: Repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Acts 26:20  Choose to love Him: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark 12:30  Decide to love the people God created all around you because: He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:7-8  Care about them like you care about yourself: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Mark 12:31  When you make these decisions and act on them, God will give you His passion.  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Phil. 2:13

     Get up a little earlier.  Spend time with Jesus.  Decide to know Him intimately.  Make Jesus your purpose.  Live your life where you are, but differently than the world. And read your Bible.  Read it every day.

May the Lord Jesus Christ Be Magnified!

Pastor Leo A. Giovinetti