Pastor Amy’s Thoughts Oct.1, 2020
During this time of pandemic, it is difficult to stay connected to one another and to our faith families. And yet Jesus taught that to stay connected to Him is to stay connected to life. Jesus used vineyards to describe this connection. In The Parable of the True Vine in the Gospel of John we learn that we must abide in Jesus. To stay connected to Jesus, the vine and then to produce fruit. To go beyond, to reach out and share our faith with others. Adam Hamilton explained that sharing our faith can be as simple as viewing the stars with our granddaughter and then teaching her to thank God for all the good things God has created.
Further, Jesus told the Parable of the Wicked Tenants. The landowner rented his land to tenants and then he sent his servants to collect what was due. The evil tenants beat and killed the servants. Finally the landowner sent his own beloved son and he too was killed. The story begs the question: Is Jesus important to us? Do we realize how important Jesus is in our lives? Are we staying connected to Jesus? Even when we are prohibited in many ways from staying connected to our family and friends? And then because we love Jesus, do we share our faith when a moment presents itself? “Abide in me”, Jesus said: “and I will abide in you.” Stay connected and abide in Jesus.