This week’s memory verse: Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. — Hebrews 4:16
Pray the week: Lord, fill me with Your amazing grace. Refresh me with Your joy each day.
What kind of
Amazing Grace?
Brothers and sisters: You have not approached that which could be touched and a blazing fire and gloomy darkness and storm and a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words such that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them. No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.
The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews is asking his Jewish listeners to fully perceive the fork in the road they had come to.
The Children of Israel once stood at the foot of Mount Sinai as Moses ascended the mountain. The mountain was covered in cloud, with lightning, fire, and various terrors. The earth quaked, and the trumpet of heaven sounded The Law was given. The people stood in terror and covered their ears.
Facing God, the people understood their own limitations. They knew they were sinful and unworthy. Isaiah had a similar experience. In meeting God, Isaiah says: “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.†Isaiah didn’t know that he was such a bad guy and had a dirty mouth, but then he saw God in all His holiness. The instant he saw God’s holiness, he was aware of his own sinfulness. Even his smallest sin was terrifying.
God’s plan was that we should not live in fear and dread forever. Those moments, however, are instructive to us for we do not realize the extent of our sin before a holy God. The journey of Israel is meant to teach us the vast difference that Jesus has made. Thus the writer shows the Jewish people and us our choice. Do we chose to live back there, in fear and dread, under the Law, only recognizing that Amazing Grace has taught my heart to fear or instead that Amazing Grace my fears relieved.
God’s Law was His first offer of grace and His Son’s coming was the fulfillment of all grace. Jesus has changed all and now we stand in a new place. Yes, recognizing our utter lack of worthiness before the Father but also recognizing that when the Father looks at us He sees Jesus salvation. We stand in a new place, on Mount Zion.
We honor this day as Youth Sunday in our Church. We all face choices. Do I live in fear and dread every day of my life or do I live in joy and the glory of Zion. The world or law cannot offer this joy, only Jesus can. Let us stand together choosing to accept Jesus’ amazing grace, knowing His joy.
Now Is The Time – Real Worship. Back to Church Sunday, September 18, 2016 Continue reading
This week’s memory verse: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” — John 14:6
Pray the week: Lord, help me to enter into new life in You through the narrow gate, to take up the harder path and so achieve paradise forever.
Who is at the head
of the line?
“And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.â€
The people of Israel believed themselves to be at the head of the line As long as a Jewish person kept the whole Law they were assured entry into the world to come. Others could only enter the world to come if they observed the seven laws that God gave to Noah – the Noahide commandments. However, Christians are excluded as idolaters because we accept the fact that Jesus is God. We cannot be in line for heaven.
Isaiah tells Israel something very important, in fact something shocking – the gentiles will be brought into the glory of God. In fact, some of these unclean people who do not even observe the Noahide commandments will be made priests of God. They will be in line too. Jesus fulfills Isaiah in telling those who thought they were in line that they may well have no place unless they enter through the narrow gate. God’s salvation in Jesus has destroyed preconceived notions. Something much greater is required for salvation.
No one will get into the line for heaven unless they strive to do so. Entering the narrow gate requires strength and a resolute attitude. I will live as Jesus lived. I will follow Him alone. What matters is where we are in our living. Jesus advises us to set aside preconceived notions as to who is righteous and saved. We need to see differently and to take up the challenge of living the life God has designed.
We tend to still live with preconceived notions. Some of our notions have few consequences while others impact our eternal well-being. Some may think that they can earn their way to heaven (by keeping the old Law or by checking things off a holy to-do list). Some think there is no hell or eternal punishment and everyone is going to heaven (common sense – why bother believing in Jesus, belonging to His family, or coming to church if it doesn’t matter). It isn’t that easy. There are consequences for unbelief and for refusing Christ. There is a negative result for walking past the narrow gate.
Jesus broke down every preconceived notion of God and showed us the reality of His loving Father. He challenges us to leave behind self-assuredness. He asks us to take the road that leads to the line. To get there means to live as Jesus did, not as we wish and to take Jesus very seriously. We are to be deeply concerned – not about who is in line but whether we are assuming or striving through the harder gate.
This week’s memory verse: But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. — Acts 20:24
Pray the week: Lord, grant me the gift of perseverance. Help me to keep my eyes on You, not to look back, not to quit.
Run, compete, and
do not quit.
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
One thing you learn in Olympic competitions is that you never look back or across at you opponent during a race. You don’t do it on the track or in the pool. Doing so slows you down, it takes those few milliseconds off your timing and you end up losing.
In the world of sports, particularly like Olympic wrestling, if you are in great pain or can’t take it any more you can tap out. When someone taps out, they are surrendering to their opponent. They are throwing in the towel, they are giving up, and they are quitting the fight. They are saying you win, its over, I’m done, it’s finished.
These competitions are nothing compared to the battle Jesus waged on a daily basis. The writer of Hebrews tells us that if we are struggling and thinking about throwing in the towel, look at Jesus as the greatest example of someone who didn’t quit when the battle was hot, and his foes multiplied.
When we are faced with struggles we need to realize that throughout Scripture we see examples of people who tapped out. Adam and Eve had only one chance at tapping out to temptation – and they took that road. Noah did it with alcohol. Abraham did it out of fear. David did it when he gave into lust. Judas decided money was more important than God. Peter thought denial was the better choice. The crowd found Jesus’ word too hard and quit.
All though history and in our lives we tap out. The record of humanity is a horrible record of failure and tapping out.
But that isn’t the only the thing the Bible, or history, or our lives tell us. From Adam and Eve forward, right alongside every tap out and failure, God gave us His promise: Help is on the way. That promise of help was fulfilled in Jesus. Know that even before trouble comes, help is already worked out.
The thing about Jesus is His humanity. We can really be like Him. We can live as He lived. Look at all He faced and He didn’t tap out. The writer of Hebrews tells us He didn’t tap out even in taking up His cross.
Those who believe in Jesus, who follow Him – His saints too – the great cloud of witnesses figured that out. They too, once they found Him, refused to tap out. It is because of the joy we have – the great promise – that we must run without looking back and wrestle without tapping out.
Now is the time – join us on Back to Church Sunday, September 18th. Services at 9:30am and 11:30am. Welcome back breakfast at 10:30am.
Schenectady County Community College – current job opportunities
Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority – Maintenance Mechanic
The Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority has an opening for a dependable, hardworking person with an excellent performance and attendance record to be responsible for maintenance and repair for specified sites/buildings and upkeep of grounds.
40 hour work week @ $21.56/hour
The job responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Performs skilled repair and maintenance plumbing, carpentry and electrical tasks for buildings, apartments and equipment/small engines; Performs other tasks, such as masonry, roofing and locksmithing; Replaces/repairs wood and tile flooring, walkways and steps; Performs grounds keeping functions, such as mowing, weed cutting, snow removal and grounds cleanup; Replaces/repairs windows, doors, railings and ceilings; Unclogs sewers; Assists in apartment clean outs; Performs minor repairs on appliances and boilers; Handles on-call assignments after hours to perform repairs and other emergency maintenance functions; Uses a variety of manual and power tools.
Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent with at least 2 years’ experience in large scale building maintenance work. Must possess a valid driver’s license and clean driving history. Candidate must take the required Civil Service test when offered and score in the Top 3 in order to retain the position. Qualified applicants should submit a résumé by August 30, 2016 to:
SMHA
Att: Human Resources
375 Broadway
Schenectady, NY 12305You may also fax your resume to 518-372-0812 or E-mail it.
Schenectady Community Action Program – Community Resource Navigator/Outreach Specialist.
Duties: Conduct comprehensive, efficient, and sensitive intake and assessment to customers, triage crisis needs and act as an advocate for customers with community based agencies, government agencies and others, modeling appropriate communication methods and successfully assist customers to obtain benefits and assistance to ameliorate the crisis. Conduct timely, efficient and active internal and external referral processes to alleviate crisis. Follow up timely on all referrals and document outcomes, determining appropriate next steps and appropriateness of referred services. Provide short term case management and ensure support so customer’s crisis is ameliorated for a minimum of 90 days. Refer customer to long term case management, utilizing in-house resources first. Timely documentation of outcomes.
Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field with a minimum of 2 years of additional experience in the direct field of crisis intervention. Master’s Degree preferred. Knowledge of community based services, public assistance and other community resources and demonstrated skills in accessing these services appropriately. Must have the ability to learn quickly the resources available in Schenectady County, and be able to appropriately refer in-house working with other program support staff to ensure full access to SCAP’s services. Two (2) years’ experience providing related services to families and individuals. Sensitive to the needs of low-income and minority populations. Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills.
United States – State Department – Diplomacy Fellows Program
The State Department is currently accepting applications for the 2016 Diplomacy Fellows Program. Visit USAJOBS.gov to read the vacancy announcement and to start the online application process. Please note that the deadline to submit completed applications is August 31, 2016.
For more job opportunities look at those listed in our sidebar —–>
This week’s memory verse: But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. — Isaiah 40:31
Pray the week: Lord, your judgment is just and righteous. Grant that I may be prepared for Your return, expectant and faithful.