October 28/29, 2023
From the Pastor’s Desk – Rev. Alex Poon
Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,
We’re studying the inspired and documented witness account from the Gospel writer Luke. And through Luke, God has gifted to us the precious words spoken from Jesus Christ himself. We are reading what our Lord has once said. We in 2023, are entering into the scene of Jesus, sitting before his large crowd on the mountain, teaching them, and them listening with attentive ears. Imagine that; we’re reading what Jesus once said out loud – this is precious work, what a delight.
I’m reminded of the important significance of our task from the author of Hebrews who wrote,
“1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)
We are living in the “last days” now. We live in between the days that Jesus last spoke His Words, and before His imminent return to restore all things.
The point of the Hebrew author is this: We are reading the final, definitive, unchanging, complete, and consistent Words of Jesus today. God has written down for us all the Words we will ever need. Jesus’ Word is all that we need. His is the Word we can live by.
This is the Word of God – the person of Jesus, the teachings of Jesus, and the work of Jesus, captured by inspiration in the writings we call the Gospel Accounts.
When I complain that I don’t hear God speaking to me, when I feel a desire to hear the voice of God and get frustrated that He does not speak in ways that I may crave… what am I really saying?
Am I saying that I have exhausted all my efforts into listening to what God has already said? Or have I treated the Word of God lightly? Have I skimmed through the Words of Jesus like I have skimmed through a newspaper? Clicked through it like a quick series of internet postings? And then have I decided I wanted something different, something more convenient, something more palatable? I’m afraid I am more guilty of this than I would like to admit.
God is speaking, and He invites us to listen. He is calling us to hear His final, definitive, and complete Word – to mediate on it and study it and memorize it and linger over it and soak in it until His Words saturates us to the core of our being. We will be transformed.
Let’s do that – together as a church – and individually as disciples. Because we will find hope and joy. And we will come to know our living and intimate Jesus better and better.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Alex Poon