Pastor Message
Ephesians 4:25, 30-32
So then, putting away falsehood let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
We live in a confusing time. It is often difficult to know who is telling the truth and who is spinning lies for their advancement and schemes. When I taught at UNI the young adults in my Human Identity and Relationship class named honesty and truthfulness as the primary characteristic they looked for in friends and life partners. Those students are not alone in their desire to live authentic lives. We want friends, partners, colleagues and family members to speak and live the truth. While we may have high expectations for those who we spend time with we also know that we are far from perfect in the way we live our lives. In order to speak and live the truth, we must know the truth about ourselves and our neighbors. The truth is - yes, we do fall short of our own and our neighbors expectations. However, that is not the final word over our lives. God sent Jesus to die for you and for me. As people marked with the cross of Christ, we donít live in the wretched, confusing, grip of sin and hopelessness. Our lives have a new truth. It is the truth of Godís love and compassion and forgiveness. The truth of Christ is love and sacrifice trumps even our most devilish deeds and desires. Our days do not need to be filled with bitterness, wrath, anger, wrong-doing, slander and malice.
God has offered a new truth for our lives and for our relationships here at Zion. We celebrate that truth and aim to speak that truth to one another and to the world. Join us for worship, education and fellowship every Sunday morning at 9:30.
—Pastor Martha Halls
