Happy New Year!
Yesterday, we gathered at Palmetto Shores Church to worship the Lord for the first time in the new year. We kicked off a new sermon series through the book of Esther, a unique narrative that intriguingly never mentions God explicitly. This absence, however, imparts a profound truth: God is at work in our lives and in our world even when His presence is not immediately evident.
Esther 1:5-7 describes a lavish scene, an attempt to create a kind of heaven on earth. However, as the narrative unfolds, we are reminded that our efforts to establish paradise on earth are consistently elusive. The world often leads us to pursue personal happiness through luxury and selfishness, but all our attempts at creating heaven on earth will ultimately be thwarted.
This prompts a crucial question: Where is God in the midst of our futile attempts to establish the blessed life? He is sovereignly at work, dismantling false idols and drawing us lovingly toward Himself. God’s ultimate purpose is to point us to Jesus, the only one who can bring heaven to earth.
We also kicked off our Sunday Seminars yesterday. Every other month we gather to pray and dive into a book of the Bible or an important topic. In 2024 we are going to slowly unpack our faith statement, The Abstract of Principles. Last night we opened up with a preview and discussed the importance of subscribing to a confession. I look forward to taking this year and refocusing on God’s story for the church and for the world.
The Lord Bless You
