DEVOTION:
John 3:30 — “He must become greater; I must become less.”
THOUGHT:
As most of you know, Nancy and I returned from a wonderful trip to Ireland. We saw incredible scenery, ancient castles, beautiful churches, and magnificent cathedrals. There was history everywhere we looked.
As I walked through some old cathedrals, though, something began bothering me. There were tombs, plaques, statues, and memorials everywhere, telling the stories of important men and women who had lived hundreds of years ago. I understand why they are there. Their lives are part of history, and history is worth remembering.
But I found myself asking a quite simple question: Where is Jesus in all of this?It made me think about our church back home. At EOCC, the Trustees, years ago, made the decision not to name rooms or parts of our church after people. Someone may have given the money. Someone may have spent years serving there. We should remember those people, tell their stories and be grateful for them. But within these walls, there is one name we want above every other name: Jesus.
Interestingly, one of the most powerful things I saw in Ireland was the Book of Kells. It was created more than a thousand years ago, yet we do not know the names of the people who painstakingly created it. Their names have disappeared. But what they pointed toward remains. Matthew. Mark. Luke. John. The Gospel. Jesus Christ.
There is something there for all of us. Someday our names will fade too. Someone else will sit where we sit. Someone else will worship in this church. Someone else will continue the work we have begun. Our greatest legacy will not be to have our name remembered. It will be living in such a way that, long after our name is forgotten, our lives still point someone toward His. What a legacy that would be.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for this Sunday morning and for bringing us together again. Thank You for this church family, for the people sitting beside us, and for those who cannot be with us today. Thank You for watching over Nancy and me while we were away and for bringing us safely home. We are grateful for the places we saw, the people we met, the history we experienced, and the memories we were able to make.
Lord, this morning we also thank You for those who came before us. We remember the people who built churches, taught Sunday School, sang in choirs, served meals, cared for neighbors, gave generously, prayed faithfully, and quietly had an influence on the lives of others. Many of their names may eventually be forgotten, but the seeds of faith they planted continue to grow. And Lord, help us remember that the same will someday be true of us. Help us live so that people see less of us and more of You. May the things we build, the things we give, and the lives we live always point beyond ourselves and toward Jesus.
Keep us from worrying about whether we receive the credit. Keep us from needing our names remembered. Instead, help us to be faithful with whatever You have placed before us. May the way we love, forgive, welcome, serve, and care for one another tell people something about You. May our fears, biases and such be laid aside in obedience to Your Word.
Lord, we bring before You this morning those within our family who are hurting. Be with those who are sick, those waiting for answers, those facing complex decisions, and those who are simply tired. Be close to those who are grieving and missing someone they love. Give them strength for today and remind them that they do not walk alone.
We pray for our children and young people. As we celebrate Rally Day today and look toward another year of Sunday School, help us remember how important it is to pass on our faith to another generation. May they not simply hear us talk about Jesus; may they see Jesus in the way we live.
We pray for our community, our nation, and its leaders, and for people throughout the world living with war, violence, hunger, fear, and uncertainty. Lord, where there is hatred, bring peace. Where people are divided, help us see one another as Your children. And show us where we can have an influence, even if it seems small.
And finally, Lord, as we worship together this morning, reminds us why we are here. This church does not belong to any one of us. It is Yours. Our ministries are Yours. Our gifts are Yours. Our lives are Yours. May Jesus be the name remembered here.
And when our own work is finished and another generation takes our place, may we have lived faithfully enough that something we have done helps them find their way to You.
We ask all of this in the name above every name, Jesus Christ. Amen.
DEVOTION:
John 3:30 — “He must become greater; I must become less.”
THOUGHT:
As most of you know, Nancy and I returned from a wonderful trip to Ireland. We saw incredible scenery, ancient castles, beautiful churches, and magnificent cathedrals. There was history everywhere we looked.
As I walked through some old cathedrals, though, something began bothering me. There were tombs, plaques, statues, and memorials everywhere, telling the stories of important men and women who had lived hundreds of years ago. I understand why they are there. Their lives are part of history, and history is worth remembering.
But I found myself asking a quite simple question: Where is Jesus in all of this?It made me think about our church back home. At EOCC, the Trustees, years ago, made the decision not to name rooms or parts of our church after people. Someone may have given the money. Someone may have spent years serving there. We should remember those people, tell their stories and be grateful for them. But within these walls, there is one name we want above every other name: Jesus.
Interestingly, one of the most powerful things I saw in Ireland was the Book of Kells. It was created more than a thousand years ago, yet we do not know the names of the people who painstakingly created it. Their names have disappeared. But what they pointed toward remains. Matthew. Mark. Luke. John. The Gospel. Jesus Christ.
There is something there for all of us. Someday our names will fade too. Someone else will sit where we sit. Someone else will worship in this church. Someone else will continue the work we have begun. Our greatest legacy will not be to have our name remembered. It will be living in such a way that, long after our name is forgotten, our lives still point someone toward His. What a legacy that would be.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for this Sunday morning and for bringing us together again. Thank You for this church family, for the people sitting beside us, and for those who cannot be with us today. Thank You for watching over Nancy and me while we were away and for bringing us safely home. We are grateful for the places we saw, the people we met, the history we experienced, and the memories we were able to make.
Lord, this morning we also thank You for those who came before us. We remember the people who built churches, taught Sunday School, sang in choirs, served meals, cared for neighbors, gave generously, prayed faithfully, and quietly had an influence on the lives of others. Many of their names may eventually be forgotten, but the seeds of faith they planted continue to grow. And Lord, help us remember that the same will someday be true of us. Help us live so that people see less of us and more of You. May the things we build, the things we give, and the lives we live always point beyond ourselves and toward Jesus.
Keep us from worrying about whether we receive the credit. Keep us from needing our names remembered. Instead, help us to be faithful with whatever You have placed before us. May the way we love, forgive, welcome, serve, and care for one another tell people something about You. May our fears, biases and such be laid aside in obedience to Your Word.
Lord, we bring before You this morning those within our family who are hurting. Be with those who are sick, those waiting for answers, those facing complex decisions, and those who are simply tired. Be close to those who are grieving and missing someone they love. Give them strength for today and remind them that they do not walk alone.
We pray for our children and young people. As we celebrate Rally Day today and look toward another year of Sunday School, help us remember how important it is to pass on our faith to another generation. May they not simply hear us talk about Jesus; may they see Jesus in the way we live.
We pray for our community, our nation, and its leaders, and for people throughout the world living with war, violence, hunger, fear, and uncertainty. Lord, where there is hatred, bring peace. Where people are divided, help us see one another as Your children. And show us where we can have an influence, even if it seems small.
And finally, Lord, as we worship together this morning, reminds us why we are here. This church does not belong to any one of us. It is Yours. Our ministries are Yours. Our gifts are Yours. Our lives are Yours. May Jesus be the name remembered here.
And when our own work is finished and another generation takes our place, may we have lived faithfully enough that something we have done helps them find their way to You.
We ask all of this in the name above every name, Jesus Christ. Amen.