Hey Advent Family,
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1
Since joining Advent, people have often asked me what my hopes are for the church. To be honest, this is a more difficult question than you may realize. It would be very easy for me to give you an answer if our ministries were a business. I could go on and on about bottom lines, growing attendance, and operational margins. In fact, it sometimes feels like this is all I talk about! But the truth is, while there is business to a church, the church is not a business. Businesses are owned and driven by a different kind of success than a church should ever measure. While a business looks for sales, we look for changed lives. While a business looks for capital growth, we look for ways to give to those in need. The church is a very different place, and I am so grateful to be part of it.
My hope for the church rests in the fact that this is not “our” church, it’s God’s. It’s His mission, His hope, and His future that we strive for. One of my favorite verses is Matthew 25:21, Jesus tells a story of 3 servants who were tasked with caring for something that was not theirs. His response to the faithful servants was: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your Master.” My hope for the church, as well as my hope for you, is that the desire that God has for us will be fulfilled. I believe that if we strive after what God longs for, we will be blessed. After all, if we are accomplishing His mission, He will bless us and the outcome.
So, what is that hope? It’s simple. I pray that every person in our city would come to know Christ and that the relationship formed with Him would change their life for eternity. That you would grow deeper in your faith daily, and that through this you would find the strength and freedom that we all seek in our lives. That this would bless your marriage and family. I pray that you would come to understand why God created you, how God can use you, and the ways that you can develop deeper connections with one another in His name. Finally, I pray that your life would make a difference in this world. That you would use your God given gifts and abilities to change lives around you. I want for your final day on earth to end with your first day in Heaven, received by a Father who says “well done, good and faithful servant”.
In Hebrews, we are told that faith is the assurance of things hoped for. I have every confidence that God will accomplish these things I hope for you, because they are the very things He has said He hopes for you too. The real question is, what are you hoping for in your life? Often, we fill our lives with pursuits and things that don’t really matter. We get stressed, we face fears, we have arguments, and all over things that, ultimately, won’t make a difference when you are standing before God – and you will stand before God. So, the real question is, what are you hoping for… and is it really worth hoping in?
One of the hardest truths that I think we miss in life is that very little of what we chase after really matters. They may be good things, but even great things aren’t necessarily fulfilling ones. The things that are truly worth hoping for are the things that God has first hoped for you. As Hebrews says, you may not see that now, but faith is the trust that what God has in store for you is infinitely better than what you could imagine for yourself. One of the best questions we can ask ourselves each morning is “how can I make today matter to God”. It sounds cheesy, I know, but it is a great way to try and focus our lives on the things that truly make a difference in our lives. So, what are you doing today to Know God, Grow in Faith, Connect with Others, and Make a Difference? Do these, and see what God will do in you!
Pastor Patrick