Fields United Methodist Church

Jesus Along the Way: Words of Hope and Grace.                       Pastor Tom Joyce

September 30, 2020

“Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”  I John 3:2-3

Growing up, I always wanted to be like my dad; smart, kind, loving, inventive, and just an all-around good guy. I set a high bar and still working towards that goal, but I am not sure what it will look like when it is obtained. Unlike our earthly aspirations, God gives us an idea what life will be like fully engulfed in the love of God; just look at Jesus. Our hope is confirmed when we realize that God’s goal for us is to celebrate life not only in this life but for all eternity. To be like Jesus is to share the love of God with everybody, regardless of who they might be. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism in England, stated proudly that we are “moving on to perfection.” He took a lot of criticism for that statement, but it was a statement of the hope that Jesus is working in us by grace, transforming our lives so we can offer the gift of grace to all people. Not everyone will accept God’s grace in their lives, but those that do are supremely blessed along the way, increasing in the love of God with every step. As our journey continues, there will be setbacks and even slipping back a few steps every once in a while, but that is what a journey is all about; ups and downs, wrong turns, and detours. But through it all, Jesus is molding us into his image until we face the one who has loved us from our conception; Jesus the Christ.  God’s love only increases with time, and that is our hope; all we can ever hope to be is a reflection of Jesus to the world, full of grace and truth.

Rev. Tom Joyce