“We’ve got work to do” were the last words of Officer Steve Perez to his family before he went out to do whatever he could to save his neighbors from the destruction of Hurricane Harvey.
In this week’s Gospel, Jesus says “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?”
We believe that God’s grace is a gift, and there is no requirement for us to enter the Kingdom, but when there is an opportunity to give of ourselves to help others, it is a privilege and a joy.
There’s a storm out there, and people in need. We’ve got work to do.
Pastor Mark Summer preaches on Matthew 16:21-28 to the congregation of Zion Lutheran Church of Oldwick, NJ on September 3, 2017.
Zion Lutheran Church has been Connecting People with God’s Grace for over 300 years.