FROM ELDER PETER RICHARDSON:
It was a great privilege to preach the sermon this past Sunday. Getting a phone call from Pastor Tim the day before gave new meaning to II Timothy 4:2 where it states, “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching!” It was especially sweet because my daughter, granddaughter and son in law were
there, too. I know that they won’t remember me as a great speaker, but that doesn’t really bother me. I want them to remember me as someone who
wasn’t afraid to step out in faith. Someone who was willing to leave their comfort zone to glorify our Savior.
That is what we are all called to do. God gives everyone opportunities to preach the gospel at work, at home, with friends and with complete strangers. The nice thing is that you don’t have to be a talented speaker, either. You just need to let your motivation be love and then let the Holy Spirit speak through you. He will be faithful and will forgive a “stumble” or two. You will be blessed because you were obedient.
The main point of my sermon was to remind each of us that the word of God is alive and active. It is God’s way of speaking to us. I really believe that. I hope that you can recall many times when you needed to make a difficult decision and God’s word directed your course of action. To get that guidance, we need to be in our Bibles! Interestingly, the course of action I get from God’s Word isn’t always what my first inclination was to do!
Please join me in praying for a sensitive heart. A heart that can feel the needs of people around us. You may have already guessed the second part! Pray for boldness to share the life-giving words of the Gospel. I got choked up on Sunday when I thanked God for sending a young man named Tim, a perfect stranger, to my dorm room at college that evening so many years ago. He may not have expected anyone to be willing to talk to him about the Lord, but God had a plan for him. Tim was blessed and I was saved! God has great things in store for you, too!
Elder Peter Richardson