Growing up in the Pacific, my fellow islanders and I have always been blessed with a rich heritage of culture, tradition, and faith. Just as the waves shape our shores, Christ’s love shapes our lives, calling us to stand firm in faith, hope, and love. As citizens of his kingdom, we are called to fix our eyes on Jesus.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV
Jesus is our living hope, the source of our faith, and the embodiment of perfect love. Like the vast ocean that sustains island life, his love is endless. His faithfulness unwavering, and his hope unshaken. He is the good shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep, leading us into his everlasting kingdom. As Pacific Islanders pass down their traditions, we too must also carry forward the message of salvation and grace.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace, through your Son Jesus. Like the waves that never cease, your love surrounds us. Thank you for being the centre of our lives. Help us reflect your love, faith, and humility in all we do. Strengthen our communities and remind us that we are citizens of your kingdom, walking in righteousness and grace. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.
The apostle Paul writes to the beloved believers in Thessalonica, reminding them to live vigilantly, with clear thinking, as they anticipate the pending coming of the Lord. Not only are believers, then and now, to be awake and sober, but we are to be armed and guarded.
In I Thessalonians 5:8, we see the preeminent graces of faith, hope, and love that mark the kingdom-minded people of God and keep them centered in the person and purpose of Jesus. Hope being rooted in Jesus is the assurance of his work in the world today and his pending coming. Faith is the motive within, the abiding relationship with Jesus that colors our thoughts, desires, and actions. Love has transformed you and me and is exhibited in outward ways as we worship the triune God and serve our neighbors. Paul has this thread of teaching in all his letters to the early church because he knows this is how they (and we) stay wrapped in Jesus and are empowered to act as kingdom citizens now.
Paul spells out more details as to how we more intentionally live kingdom life now and represent him well until his return.
But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets,but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 NRSVUE
Paul begins this passage by appealing to us that we respect and tangibly honor the pastors and church officers who labor among us because their work is meant for our good. I would echo this about our church leaders around the world. I see that they are Christ-centered, dedicated people who sacrificially serve the church. I say a big Thank You to them!
I invite you to go back and re-read the quoted scriptures. This time, look for words like all, always, without ceasing, and entirely. You could circle or highlight these words.
What did you learn from this exercise? For me, I see how Paul is inspiring us to be “all in.” When you read the record of Paul’s personal life you see a transformed persecutor of the church who became an amazing champion for the church, who lost all earthly reputation and status to stake everything in knowing Jesus (even in suffering and to the power of the resurrection).
Being sold out to Jesus and reflecting Jesus to the world around us is the most counterculture practice that we could possibly engage in. The imperatives in Paul’s robust teaching are to encourage and build up. Actively doing this inside the church seems quite natural, but Paul says we are to be this way with all people. This is how the kingdom witness of the Church will happen in your neighborhood and in mine.
Allow me to give you another assignment. Methodically go through the list of actions in this passage, asking yourself, “How am I doing in this area?”
Esteeming the church leaders in my life.
Being at peace with others.
Graciously confronting idlers.
Encouraging the downcast.
Helping the weak (James says to especially care for widows and orphans).
Being patient with others.
Actively seeking to do good to all people.
Expressing joy.
Having a vibrant prayer life.
Leaning into the guidance of the Spirit.
Discerning between good and evil and then choosing the good.
Taking to heart the teaching of my pastor and church.
Minding the condition of my body, mind, and soul with intention.
Wow! That’s quite a list for consideration. Perhaps this would be a wonderful guide during this season of Easter Preparation?
I have one exceptionally important disclaimer that cannot be missed. These are not virtuous qualities or behaviors that can be accomplished by the human spirit. It is the One who calls you, loves you, and empowers you who will be faithful to accomplish these things in you — it is Jesus, the King of the kingdom.
Three full-time positions are now open at the Grace Communion International (GCI) Home Office in Charlotte, NC, U.S.
New!The Legal Coordinator and Assistant Secretary to Board of Directors position is currently available, and applications are being accepted. See the job description here.
The Media Coordinator position is currently available, and applications are being accepted. See the job description here.
The Assistant Operations Coordinator position is currently available, and applications are being accepted. See the job description here.
If you would like further details on either position or would like a GCI job application, please contact Human Resources at humanresources@gci.org or 980-495-3960.
Please share this announcement with qualified candidates who may be gifted for either position at the Home Office.
Overnight hotel rate: $132 per night, per suite, 4-person room (Total with tax is $310.20 for both nights. Breakfast and manager’s reception is included for hotel guests only.)
Group Name: LiLY Women’s Conference Group Code: LW5 Central Reservations Number: 1-866-344-7548 Deadline for hotel reservations at the special rate is Friday, April 4, 2025. Register today online at gccle.church/lily
If not registering online, mail your registration fee with checks payable to: Grace Communion Cleveland 4499 Canterbury Road North Olmsted, Ohio 44070
(Please include your name, address, phone number, emergency contact name and address, and if you are staying for Saturday night dinner)
Citizens of God’s kingdom seek God’s will in all they do. They do not depend on their own understanding. Instead, they rely on the Spirit’s lead to bring discernment. Learn more about discernment in this GCI Buzz.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Matthew 25:35–36 NIV
The GC Cincinnati West congregation is partnering with another nonprofit this winter. Blessing Bags of Love is a local outreach that helps individuals that are unsheltered and unhoused in the Cincinnati community.
On a wintry evening in January, members met other volunteers downtown to provide warm food, hot drinks, blankets, and sleeping bags. The night’s low was 5 below zero, so their neighbors were grateful for the items! GC Cincinnati West provided hot pizzas to 60 members of the community.
Let us join our voices and prayers with the global Church, praying for God’s kingdom to come in its fullness. We look forward with hope to new heavens and a new earth, where people will build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit;they shall not plant and another eat (Isaiah 65:21–22). We pray for those suffering under predatory labor laws and decades of wage suppression that benefit the powerful, oppress the poor, and contribute to homelessness.
If not for Jesus’ willing death and surrender to the Father’s will, we would still be dead in our sins. If not for his resurrection, we would have no hope of eternal life with God and no hope of experiencing Christ’s resurrection life here and now.
This truth is worth meditating on. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, the 40 days of Easter Prep give us a beautiful opportunity to implement some spiritual practices as we prepare our hearts for renewal.
Many people fast during the days leading up to Easter. We don’t fast to seek after our own will, but to seek the will of God and his heart to heal our world.
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter? Isaiah 58:6-7a NIV
We fast to identify with the complete surrender of Christ to the will of the Father. From the 40 days in the wilderness to the agony of Gethsemane, we have Christ as our model and our strength to say, “Father, not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
Perhaps invite others to join you. Observing Easter Preparation with other believers will not only make the journey more enjoyable but will also give each of you the accountability to persevere by lifting one another up in prayer and affirmation.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, bless us with renewed passion. Father, transform us into the image of your Son. Jesus, empower us to live a life of surrender. Amen.
By Jillian Morrison, Pastor, Glendora, California, U.S.
In our Kingdom Culture series, I previously wrote about being a kingdom citizen and drew attention to the people of Hebrews 11. Today I am backing up in the book of Hebrews to chapter 4 to show why the heroes of the faith chapter were so relentless in their pursuit.
Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For indeed the good news came to us just as to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
‘As in my anger I swore, “They shall not enter my rest”’,
though his works were finished at the foundation of the world. For in one place it speaks about the seventh day as follows: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.’ And again in this place it says, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’ Since therefore it remains open for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he sets a certain day—‘today’—saying through David much later, in the words already quoted,
‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.’
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later about another day. 9 So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; 10 for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labours as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs. Hebrews 4:1-11 NRSVA
Entering God’s rest is the ultimate pursuit. If this rest was achievable by observation of a weekly Sabbath day, then the rest from creation through to Joshua would have been enough. And if simply setting aside a day to cease from labor was adequate to enter God’s rest, then human works would have been enough, too.
Why does the author say “… his works were finished at the foundation of the world”? The picture from Genesis shows God creating the earth and all that it is in it and then resting on the seventh day. The creation story is awe-inspiring, and it points us to a God who spoke and the material world came into being. Amazing!
Revelation 13:8 adds an astounding piece to the creation story that helps us have a clearer understanding of the concept of God’s rest:
All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. (NIV)
The Father sending Jesus was the plan from the beginning. In fact, the entire Old Testament history was the stage being set for the main character to appear. The mysterious rest the writer points to is the abiding, healing, empowering relationship with Jesus. Jesus is the only one who gives true rest to the weary and heavy laden.
Hebrews 4 may appear to be pitting obedience against faith. The reality is that we can only enter the rest by the faith of Jesus and faith in Jesus. It is through faith alone that we are saved, and it is by faith that we believe and obey. The surrendered life of reliance on Jesus is how the saints of old remained faithful and obedient to the many hardships that came their way.
So, today as you hear his voice speaking out to you, open your heart and enter the rest of Jesus.
Epeli Nakautoga, Hope Avenue Champion
