This Week at Mt. Olive

Good evening, fellow redeemed!

This past Friday, my family and I went fishing. I had established the goal of going fishing twice each week. I think this was the first week we had hit it. Tuesday night, we endured wind, surfers, and snagged lines. No “keepers” of any kind were caught. Friday would be different! We left the house and things went downhill from there. None of the bait shacks on the island had live shrimp. In Port Aransas, where we were going anyway, we finally bought some of the elusive critters.

It was then that the usual fun started. Getting lines ready and in the water, followed by waiting. The only thing caught in the first hour or so was…a couple of blue crabs. Then came the bright idea: let’s catch crabs! Kathy went to the local grocery, bringing back some over-aged chicken and string. No bites on either kind of line. We moved to a different location. Still nothing, except the kids had a ball watching the dolphins.

In my return to get the van, I noticed a family using a different kind of crabbing implement. Let’s get some of these – that was my reasoning. Back to the store. Bring the lines out, refit them, and get them back in the water. Still nothing (hermit crabs don’t count). Back to the pier, where we had started. Crab and fish for another hour. Nothing except a sunburn. It was a fun trip, but, in the end, fruitless.

That brings to mind some words from Hebrews.
He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself (7:27).

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption (9:11-12).

But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself (9:26b).

And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (10:10).

What’s huge in all of these verse is the phrase “once for all”! The true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, did not dally in looking at different ways of saving sinners. He didn’t decide which methods would work for which people. Instead, “once for all,” according to the Father’s plan of salvation, the Son became flesh, willingly offering Himself to the death of the cross – once for all – to suffer the punishment of sin. The Spirit, working through message of the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus, brings sinners to faith in their Lord Jesus to the glory of their heavenly Father.

Will we go back to fishing and crabbing? Undoubtedly! As a matter of fact, I go back with the dream that, somewhere in that water, there’s a “big ‘un” waiting to latch onto my hook!

Each day, you and I live with the assurance of the “once for all” sacrifice of our Lord Jesus, who offered Himself, sprinkling His holy and precious blood for sacrifice, and entering into the Holy of Holies of His Father, pleading the case for sinners like you and me.

Kathy, the kids, and I will be out of town this week. If you have a special need, please contact your elder (look in the directory) or the Church Office. One of the area pastors will be covering in the event of an emergency.

God bless!
PKJ

Prayer Concerns This Week:
Those who travel, that their journeys be safe and their homecomings joyful
The defenseless – the unborn, the aged, the dying – that God would move His people to protect them
Those who mourn the loss of loved ones, especially those who mourn the deaths of their children
Those serving in our armed forces – that our Lord would protect them by His might and enable them to do their assigned duties faithfully
The families of those who are serving in our armed forces – that our Lord would strengthen them in their waiting
Pastor Eckert, our circuit counselor, and the pastors in our circuit, that God would keep them faithful to their callings and enable them to preach His word with power

This Week at Mt. Olive:
Monday, July 27
Zumba Aerobics, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, 29 JUL
Deadline for the August Olive Branch, 12 p.m.

Zumba Aerobics, 6:30 p.m.