I’ve been thinking about my walk with the Lord lately. I’m happy to report that I think I’m “in the pocket” with Jesus.
I’ll tell you what I mean by this. There is a sweet spot musicians call being “in the pocket”. It means singing in time and being in the “groove” with the rhythm of the song. You can be in pitch, but if you’re wavering ahead or behind the beat it won’t feel right.…you aren’t “in the pocket” unless it’s all coming together as it should be. As I write this, I’m feeling in rhythm with my Creator. It might help that I’m enjoying two cups of good coffee and a good night’s sleep. I’m also looking forward to a relatively peaceful day. As far as I can tell so far, I’m “in the pocket”.
The early church experienced something like being “in the pocket” of faith at a specific time in Acts.
“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase” — Acts 9:31. We live in a country today where we have the freedom to pursue our faith freely. Like the early church, we enjoy peace, being built-up, and “going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.”
Perhaps the biggest obstacle we face is complacency. There is a temptation to relax in the Lazyboy seat of Christianity. Because of this very real obstacle, the church is not always in a peaceful place. Not everyone is growing in their faith; we can easily lack a healthy fear of the Lord. But, even in the midst of our complacency and despite our lackluster faith, we still have an incredibly grace-filled, merciful, and all-powerful God. One who chooses to carry us along in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
How about this for being “in the pocket”? God loves us unconditionally and for those of us who have faith in Jesus, His blood has made us right with God. Hallelujah! It makes it easy for us to obey this verse, “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” — Psalm 32:11
Shouting for joy while “in the pocket” of Jesus!
Posted in A Word from the Pastor