Jesus Sets Us Free to Love God and Neighbor
From Pastor Robert
The voices around us advertise many things to satisfy us: peer approval, substances, sensual experiences, comfort, success, even the freedom to do whatever we want, with no limits or constraints. Peter calls these "waterless springs" and "mists driven by a storm" (2 Peter 2:17, ESV). They promise freedom but deliver bondage. If we are honest, we know our souls are blistered by this "freedom" and still thirst for someone who truly satisfies.
When Jesus says, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35), and "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink" (John 7:37), he does not offer another empty promise of freedom. He gives himself to us so that we may find lasting satisfaction in Christ, who loved us and gave himself up for us.
Our sin turns us inward. We ask other people or experiences to give us the security, attention, or happiness that only God can give. But Jesus says, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). He delivers on that promise. Through his death and resurrection, he frees those who trust him from sin's enslaving dominion. Then he brings them to the Father.
Jesus also says, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). His light shows us where we have sought satisfaction apart from God. It also shows us the way home and how to navigate this fallen, broken world with confidence in our Creator. We need not hide our restless hearts or pretend we are free when we know we are in bondage to our disordered desires. We can come to Christ. We can simply cry out to him and ask him to heal our blistered souls and quench our thirst:
Forgive me, O God, my Creator. Help me see in Jesus, your beloved Son, all that I need for this life and the life to come. May your Spirit energize me to love you and to love my neighbor well. Amen.
When we are satisfied in God, we no longer look to other people or sensual experiences to satisfy or complete us. We are free to love others in Christ. Jesus commands us to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). Paul describes what this freedom looks like: "through love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13).
This week, when you feel the tension of life in this broken world, bring your unmet and disordered desires to Jesus before demanding that someone else meet them. Then look upward and outward. Turn first to Jesus for help. Then listen to a friend, visit an older neighbor, or welcome someone overlooked at school. Begin to enjoy the freedom to love God and others. You are not earning God's favor. You are responding to his love for you in Christ.
Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches" (John 15:5). Remain in him. Lean on him. Find your satisfaction in him. The one who promises life is the one who gives it.
Resources:
Opportunities to Serve
(For Opportunities to Serve at High Pointe, click HERE)
God has blessed each of us with unique gifts and talents, and at High Pointe, we believe serving is how we use those gifts to bless others and advance His kingdom.
Whether you have 30 minutes a week or several hours, there’s a place for you to serve in our children’s ministry, as greeters, with the hospitality team, media/tech support, building and grounds, safety, community outreach efforts, and through administrative support. Reach out to find out more today: info@highpointeaustin.org
Volunteering in the Children’s Ministry
Volunteering in the children’s ministry is a great way to know others at High Pointe and to serve parents. Reach out to Erin Wyman for specific details and to get started on our child protecting screening steps.
Life at High Pointe
Want to know what’s happening at High Pointe? Check out our weekly announcements and upcoming events to stay informed and connected with the life of our church!
Sunday AM Preaching Schedule: Pray regularly for the ministry of the Word at High Pointe. Also, prepare for our gatherings by reading the sermon text, thinking it through, and asking questions about the text before Sunday. Here is our (tentative) preaching schedule designed to help you prepare for Sundays:
October 4 | Luke 19:11-27 | The Kingdom: Already Present and Yet to Come | Pastor Juan Sanchez
October 11 | 2 Peter 3:1-8 | Wait Well for the Coming Day of the Lord | Pastor Robert Cline
October 18 | Luke 19:28-48 | The Arrival of the Humble King | Pastor Juan Sanchez
October 25 | Luke 20:1-21:4 | Opposition to the King | Pastor Juan Sanchez
Begin praying as you prepare to join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Gospel Partner of the Month: The Association of Churches for Missions and Evangelism (ACME)
We are one of the founding churches of ACME. ACME exists to unite and mobilize like-minded churches to fund pastors, church planters, missionaries, and other projects around the world.
ACME is a fellowship of likeminded churches that share the same convictions: (1) Expositional Preaching, (2) Historic Baptist Ecclesiology, (3) Elder-led Congregationalism, (4) One, Unified Assembly (no multiple services or campuses), (5) Reformed Soteriology, (6) Meaningful Membership and Discipline, (7) Biblically Oriented Public Worship, and (8) Church-centered Missions and Evangelism.
To learn more, visit ACME online.
On-Call Pastor
To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.
