Fields United Methodist Church

Pastor Tom’s Weekly Blog.              “Confirmed Transformation”              Romans 12:2-21

July 21, 2020

“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that

you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Romans 12:2

“I am wonderfully and fearfully made…,” “We live by faith, not by sight,” Do not judge…forgive and you will be forgiven,” “Did I not tell you that if you believed…,” “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…,” “The Lord redeems his servants….”  These are samplings of our 2020 Confirmation class’s favorite Scripture passages; God is good, really good. As I read their favorite Scriptures, prayed over both our Confirmands and their Scriptures, I rejoiced in their faith. I rejoiced in the gift that God has given them that can never be taken away. What all of these passages have in common is new life, a transformation of the soul and the celebration of the presence of God along the journey of life.  The Word of God has been around for a long time, since the beginning of time and before time began. When Jesus walked among the people 2,000 years ago, he brought a freshness to the Word, a boldness that rose above the challenges of every age. As Christians, we live out the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a gift that allows each of us to see the world a whole lot differently, discerning how Jesus would have us live and celebrate the life we have been given. Psalm 139:14, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Luke 6:37, John 11:40, John 3:16, and Psalm 34:22 have this in common; they witness the heart of God, “what is good and acceptable, and perfect.”  Our confirmation class, their parents, and the congregation of Fields United Methodist Church offers hope to a world that doesn’t always offer hope, peace, where peace may be a distant memory, and grace offered by Jesus the Christ so that we can live life transformed by grace in the abundance of God’s love that has no end. There is a choice, a clear choice, to either follow the fickleness of the world or the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that offers a new way to live, full of life and the joy of witnessing Jesus Christ with every thought, word, and deed.  God speaks through Scripture; God speaks through the witness of the faithful; God is speaking through our Confirmation class and their families; God speaks through the Body of Christ, the church; God speaks in all creation.  God doesn’t stop speaking to us so we should never stop witnessing the love of God to a world that needs Jesus more than ever.  Like the song, “God is so good, God is so good, God is so good…;” it is true. Celebrate Jesus. Celebrate the joy of faith. Celebrate the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that is endless. Be convinced, absolutely convinced that nothing will ever be able to separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rev. Tom Joyce, pastor

Fields United Methodist Church