June 13, 2019
Dear friends,
If you watched the Canadian broadcast of the Stanley Cup final last night, you may remember hearing Craig Simpson say “It’s amazing how quickly the time goes when there’s not much of it left” (or something like that) in reference to the Boston Bruins running out of time to come back from a formidable deficit. When I was growing up, I listened to baseball games on KMOX, a powerful radio station in St. Louis, and became a fan of the Cardinals before Montreal got the Expos. When the TV cameras showed the reaction (and relief) of the crowds in two venues (the hockey arena and the baseball stadium) when the Blues won their first Stanley Cup, it was clear that the folks in the “Show me” state were ecstatic.
Tonight, the Toronto Raptors have the opportunity to capture the first championship in their history. I didn’t Google it, but I guess that this would be the first time that a hockey team and a basketball team won their first title on consecutive nights. We all love winners, don’t we? By some standards, if you are rich and famous, like today’s athletes, you are a “winner.” However, the Bible contains some important warnings about the dangers of pride and selfishness that may result from a pursuit of riches.
In his book “Who Is Jesus?” Greg Gilbert writes this about the angel who became God’s adversary, known as the devil: “More than anything else, Satan’s sin was pride. For all his otherworldly splendor and beauty, he wasn’t content to be what God had created him to be. He wanted more … He wanted to dethrone God.” In examining the devil’s approach to Adam and Eve, Gilbert writes: “Satan’s attack on the humans was exquisitely calculated to overthrow everything God had done in the garden … He wanted to upend every structure of authority, every symbol of kingship and rule that God had instituted. He wanted the whole structure of creation – from bottom to top – overturned, and he wanted God humiliated.”
In teaching a class of children in church last Sunday, I pointed out that there are references to the devil in the first and last books of the Bible and that we should read the entire Bible in order to learn what God wants us to know. What a privilege we have to be able to read what the Creator of the universe has done and will do! If you are in the Montreal area, we would love it if you would come to 33 rue Principale in Chateauguay this Saturday between Noon and 5 pm for an Open House to celebrate the relocation of our ministry office and the work of our colleagues Teddy and Linda Hoare. There is ample parking near the Community Centre down the street and behind the building.
Scripture for the weekend: “And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted’” Matthew 23:12 (NASB)
Thought for the weekend: “God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.” – Max Lucado (from his book “Just Like Jesus”)
By His grace,
Steve