Every Thursday I write a pastoral letter to the West Congregation of The Austin Stone. It is a simple opportunity for me to share some devotional thoughts from my week with my congregation. This post is one of those weekly letters. You can find the full series here.

Dear West Family

This last Sunday I had the rare treat of being able to attend services without having much to do. I could have unhurried conversations with people, greet friends at the door, and linger in the lobby without having to worry about an upcoming sermon (because Jimmy preached so well and faithfully.)

It seemed to me that every conversation I had was a variation around the same sort of theme. They went along one of these lines. 

May is mental.
We are running hard.
June will be better.
I hate baseball because my kids have too many games.
Also, I may have too many children.
I am really tired.
Did I mention the thing about how I feel about baseball games?

Everyone seemed really tired (and the irony of a sermon about rest wasn’t lost on me) but yet I was encouraged that everyone was still there. Still singing, still learning, still hanging out and sharing lives. In the midst of busy lives, a prioritized gathering of the saints is a supernaturally wonderful thing.

It made me so thankful for us as a congregation and so humbled that I get to serve in your midst. When I got home, I searched the Scriptures for a prayer that I could pray for you all and this one below from 2 Thessalonians 2 really rang true.

But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by what we said or what we wrote. 

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word. 

- 2 Th 2:13–17 (CSB)

When I look around our full (and very stuffy room) on a Sunday morning, I see:

• Brothers and sisters who are loved by the Lord.

• Chosen ones, set aside for salvation and sanctification by the Spirit.

• Those called through the gospel who are obtaining the glory of Jesus.

• Firm standers, holding fast to truth, truth and ancient tradition.

So for you I pray - that even in the manic busyness of May - God would encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and deed.

Don’t just try to make it to summer. Ask God to help you stand firm in the faith to the end. And remember, that in a manic society of busy activity, one of the most counter-cultural things that the people of God can do is to stand still together in an ancient assembly and hold fast to some unchanging truths.

Gosh it is my immense privilege and deepest joy to get to pursue Jesus with you.

Let’s keep going.

The music this week will feature in the sermon on Sunday. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I love it. It is from Orange County rockers Thrice and the words speak deeply about what happens when you begin to understand the scriptures Christologically.

Thrice - Words In The Water - Red Bull Studio Sessions

See you Sunday
Ross