Pastor’s Ponderings
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled”
The night before our Savior died on the cross, He spoke extensively with His disciples. Five chapters in John (13-18) are dedicated to Christ’s “final words” to the men who had so faithfully followed Him the past three years.
After Judas Iscariot departs the room, Christ explains again that He will die soon. While John only records Peter’s protests, the other Gospels mention that all of the disciples proclaimed they would die for the Lord. Jesus then told Peter that before the rooster crowed, he would deny Him three times.
After witnessing the crowd proclaiming, “Hosanna to the Son of David” just a few days before, these words must have devastated them. Knowing their state of mind (and what would happen over the next three days), Jesus makes this simple statement, “Let not your heart be troubled.” (John 14:1).
He went on to explain why they should not fear. First, they had faith, “Ye believe in God, believe also in me.” Second, they had beautiful homes awaiting them in heaven. “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” Additionally, Christ Himself would be preparing these special dwellings. “I go to prepare a place for you.” Next, He would come again one day to take them back to their homes He had prepared. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself.”
But we often miss a fifth reason, peace, because it is found later in the chapter. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
We live in troubled times. The last time we met as a church body for worship was March 15. On that day we were told to limit meetings to 250 people. The next day that number was changed to 50. Two days later the governor stated that no more than 10 people can meet together in a room. We now livestream our services and have Sunday school lessons online.
I miss the fellowship, the hand-shaking, the simple conversations. I miss chasing Tom Morgan and David Smith out of the coffee shop so I can teach my Sunday School class. I miss standing in a group of people after the service and just talking. But most of all I miss “the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:24).
All of this will eventually end, and we will gather again and hear the songs of the faith, the reading of Scripture, and the proclaiming of His Word. Until then, reach out to your friends in the church. Help others in their need. Continue your personal devotional time. Join us for the livestream services. Most of all, let not your heart be troubled.
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In other sections of the newsletter we mention how to watch our services, but I want to state again that we are on Facebook @CalvaryBaptistChurch. If you do not have Facebook, we have a YouTube page. Go you youtube.com and type “Calvary Baptist Cleburne” in the search box.
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We are excited about our Easter services. Sunday morning I will preach on “The Power of His Resurrection.” The Calvary Singers were working on a beautiful musical entitled “Worthy”, and we will present that to the church when everything returns to “normal.”
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CONTACT INFORMATION
817-645-7758
Cleburneprays@gmail.com
cbccleburne@gmail.com
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I have asked from the beginning for you to pray for me and my family in five areas. Thank you for doing so, and please continue to plead with God that I would have:
1) Courage
2) Wisdom
3) Strength
4) Victory
5) Vision