Greetings Church Family,
I write this message to you after officially finishing my first month of preaching here at Ledgewood. I can honestly say that it has been an incredible gift from The Lord to dig into His word with you weekly. I truly hope that each of you has heard clearly from The Father, as I have. We are beyond blessed to live in a place where we can open His word daily and meet corporately to worship out loud with no fear of repercussion. Let us not take this for granted and let us make sure to, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow."
I also write this message to you as I am reading through the book of Leviticus. I won't lie to you, it is tough most days. However, God is always faithful to illuminate some truth if I am faithful to allow Him the time to speak. What has struck me in recent days is just how gruesome, hard, and emotional the task of the priest was. One of the hardest tasks had to have been to overlook His countrymen and declare them as unclean when necessary. Can you imagine the dirty looks that guy got when he walked throughout the town? The main truth that stuck out to me in this way that it wasn't the priest's declaration that made this person unclean. The priest was just declaring out loud that which already was. He was walking in obedience and doing that which The Lord had commanded him to do. The priest knew this, the people knew this, but I am almost certain that if people are anything like they are in our day he wasn't given any awards for being the favorite neighbor or most liked around town.
At this point, you may be thinking that I am making some vague and passive attempt for you to feel sorry for me. However, let me clarify if you are thinking that. I am no priest by modern definitions but as far as scripture goes, we all are. 1 Peter 2:9 makes this crystal clear:
"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people
for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies
of Him who has called you out of the darkness into His marvelous light."
My point in all of this is to call us all to action. As brothers and sisters in The Lord let us speak truth to each other in love. When you see me step out of line, call me to account. When I see you venturing from the "narrow path" I will tell you. This will require great humility on all of our parts and each of us must also make sure to first remove our own "eye logs." (Mt. 7:3-5) before pointing out each other's specks.
Next, we are to go well beyond the walls here at 233 Main St. This community and world is quickly dying condemned and separated from the eternal forgiveness offered in Jesus Christ alone. Romans 10 declares that they can not confess unless they are told. Let us tell them.
Remember that like the priests in the olden days two things will be true:
1. This will not make us popular and will come with many costs. Is Jesus worth it?
2. If we hold to the scriptures and declare what it says, and as it says, we are just proclaiming that which is already true. At that point, if someone has an issue it is with The Lord and not you. Live, love, and proclaim in freedom knowing that!
You will not know on this side of eternity how much I love you and this church family. What a blessing you are to me!
For His Name's sake,
Pastor Brock
"My desire to maintain a religious respectability could easily result in a domesticated faith."
-Richard J. Foster