I came across one of my favorite passages recently reading through Luke’s gospel. Walking along the road with His disciples, Jesus has a conversation with them about the cost of following Him. He tells them at the end of this conversation in Luke 9:62, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” I love this powerful illustration!
The work Jesus calls His followers to is hard work. We are breaking fallow ground in a world hardened by sin. We are daily sowing and watering gospel seed, praying as we wait patiently for life to spring up from the ground. This work is hard enough on its own, but we also battle our own sinful desires and the many deceptions from Satan that cause us at times to look back. Given that we are still being sanctified, there is certain to be a moment of doubt, fear, anxiety, or some other sin that creates a crooked furrow in the field. But here’s where the gospel comforts us. The gospel reminds us Jesus is the One the field belongs to and it is Him who straightens everything out in the end. Therefore, we confess, repent, and believe while we keep working. We press on into the hard work because the plow keeps moving forward.
As we labor together in this work of the gospel, let us be a people who earnestly pray for the strength of the Lord to keep our hands on the plow and our eyes forward on Him. Let us be known as a community of people who gently place each others’ hands back on the plow when they slip off. A church who lovingly points forward to reset one another’s gaze back on the Savior. A family that faithfully reassures each other that even if we make a crooked furrow more often than we’d like, the gospel tells us Jesus will straighten them all out in the end…just keep plowing!
Below are a few things happening within the life of the church to be on the lookout for this month:
Care Net Walk 4 Life - This Saturday, May 13th at 9:30am. Come ready to celebrate life - there will be music, speakers, and activities for the children. Let’s pack the park!! Any questions regarding the event please contact Erika Speight.
PRM - We will serve a meal and conduct a chapel service Sunday May 28th. If you would like to learn more or get involved please reach out to Brent Sanders or Nate Andrew.
Church Clean Up Day - Saturday May 20th from 10AM-2PM. Contact Paul Stuffel for details.
Breakfast Fellowship - May 28th at 10AM. Just a reminder we are taking the last Sunday of each month for a time of fellowship. There will be no NEST, HRF Kids, Students, or Adult Institutes class. bring a breakfast item to share!
Wednesday Evening Fellowship - Save the date for our first meeting on June 7. Time to be determined. We will spend an hour together singing, praying, and going through a guided discussion of “The Gospel-Centered Community” book together. You can order this book here. We will also have copies of the book available in the HRF book store by the end of the month.
Upcoming Sermon Series - Our study through James is coming to a close and we elders pray it has been edifying for you. In June, we will begin a short six week series titled, “What is the Work of the Ministry?” I’m looking forward to exploring this question more with you all!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Paul