Scripture: John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Thought for the Day: In his book, Love Wins, Rob Bell writes: “As obvious as it is… Jesus is bigger than any one religion… He didn’t come to start a new religion, and he continually disrupted whatever conventions or systems or establishments that existed in his day. He will always transcend whatever cages and labels are created to contain him, especially the one called Christianity.” I am not ready to ditch denominations or Christianity in general, but at the end of the day, Bell is right. Jesus came to provide the abundant life, the fullness of life. The term Christianity and the individual denominations within Christianity are only tools (some better than others) through which the Holy Spirit uses to bring the abundant life into the lives of human beings. Let us never confuse religion – any religion – with the gift of abundant life, Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Keep me focused on Jesus, O Kind and Merciful God, especially when the institution of religion tries to take his place. Amen.
pastorfrogge 