Fields United Methodist Church

Thoughts Along the Way

Pastor Tom Joyce

July 13, 2021

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”

Romans 12:15

“So God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31) We all share in common God, the One who created us and the one who authored our salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  In other words, we all share a common humanity, a life that at times rejoices and at other times mourns. The journey we are a part of is a journey paved with the mercy and grace of Jesus; it is not without peril but at the same time it is a journey that has been blessed by the One who deemed creation “very good.” St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans emphasizes our need for God and how we are to respond to the gifts we have received. Paul’s emphasis is in the unity of the “Body of Christ,” taking care to nurture both our faith and the community through the very Spirit of God. The challenge of living a life of faith is to live not for ourselves but for the benefit of others. A “mark” of living faith is to understand that the witness we offer along the way is profoundly important. We are called to share the love of God with those who mourn, with those who rejoice, and ultimately with all of God’s beloved.  Life is an adventure to be sure, an adventure to be shared and to be celebrated. It is the church, the Body of Christ, that opens its heart to all those who seek Jesus, and even those who do not. It is the church that reaches beyond itself to offer hope beyond hope and celebrates the presence of Jesus in times of loss and in times of celebration. With an “old rugged cross” and an empty tomb, Jesus calls all people; those who mourn, those who rejoice, those who are broken, and those seeking to put the pieces of their life back together from the ravages of sin. The church is not a building or a hobby, rather the church is a bunch of people all a bit different but sharing a common beginning and a God that loves them more than the sky is large. The greatest gift you can offer another is the gift of your faith, the gift of the eternal love of God through Jesus Christ. The “Body of Christ,” the church is here for you, to rejoice with you, to weep with you and to offer you refuge in the eye of the storms of life. Share the greatest gift you will ever receive with those along the journey, the gift of Jesus, the gift of your church and the gift of your faith. You are needed today, right now, this very moment to share the incredible love of God.