Pastor's Corner

As school boys some of us admired how our girl classmates were so adept at jumping rope during recess. We may have been more interested in playing kickball or wrestling on the grass, but some of us harbored admiration in our hearts for how the girls could jump rope!

Recently I saw a video of a young lady named Kaylee who is a six-time world champion. While jumping rope she could do back flips, handstands, and cart wheels. She seemed joyful while doing such amazing tricks. It's hard to imagine how hard and long she must have practiced to develop those skills.

It took practice, focus, coordination, and devotion. Our personal relationship with the Lord depends on some of those same characteristics. It takes focus: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters" Col. 3:23. It takes devotion: "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown" Rev. 2:10.

It takes coordination in bringing every part of our life together in serving Him: "offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness" Ro. 6:13

It involves the disciplined practice of learning each and every day how to walk closer to Him who loves us. And the end result is joy! Walking with the Lord brings joy. "With joy you shall draw water from the well of salvation" Is. 12:3