The Rock Church

You Are Not Forgotten

“But this is what the LORD says: I would no more reject my people than I would change my laws that govern night and day, earth and sky.” — Jeremiah 33:25–26 (NLT, excerpt)

I recently visited a church in Phoenix, Arizona, with my son. Time to tour colleges and explore some options for his future education. We then decided to attend a local church on Sunday morning.

A few things stood out to me during our visit that were incredibly meaningful.

First, even though we didn’t know a single person in the building, we somehow felt at home.

The same familiar language of praise and adoration filled the worship center. We also heard the same expressions of love and dependence upon Jesus that we experience every weekend at The Rock Church. The church celebrated baptisms, just as we celebrated changed lives through baptism back home that same weekend. The pastor preached about Joshua. He reminded the congregation of God’s promises and our absolute dependence upon Him.

Different city, church, and people.

Same Jesus, Spirit, and family.

And as I stood there worshiping, something beautiful struck me.

Though I knew no one, in a very real sense, I knew everyone. God’s children surrounded me as I stood among them. I was not a stranger, but part of the family. Surely God has not forgotten me, but He loves me. At the same time, I was not distant, but connected through a common faith in the living Christ.

Church, do you realize not only WHO you belong to in Jesus, but also WHO you belong WITH?

Church With A Capital C

I’m talking about our local church family, of course. But also the Church with a capital C. The family of God that extends far beyond the walls of our own building, our city, our country, and even our generation.

Have you ever experienced this?

Maybe you stood in line at a grocery store and struck up a conversation with someone. Only to discover that you both know Jesus. And suddenly, there’s a familiarity there. A connection that goes beyond a casual conversation.

Possibly, you’ve experienced it on a mission trip. Worshiping with believers halfway around the world (who don’t even speak your language). Or perhaps, in an Uber, an airport, or some unexpected place, you’ve met someone and thought, I know that Spirit. I know that love. I know the Jesus they belong to, because He’s the same Jesus I belong to.

Isn’t that amazing?

And yet, isn’t it also true that sometimes we feel terribly alone? The daily demands of life sometimes overwhelm us. Indeed, we carry burdens, face disappointments, and struggle with uncertainty. Sometimes. we quietly wonder, “Does anybody really know what I’m going through? Am I the only one? Has God forgotten about me?”

Church, listen to the promise of Jeremiah 33.

He Speaks

God is speaking to His people about His faithfulness. He reminds them that His covenant is as certain as the laws that govern day and night. In other words, as surely as the sun rises and sets, God will remain faithful to His promises.

He has not forgotten His people.

And He has not forgotten YOU.

One of the beautiful reminders of this truth comes through the small, but all-too-real miracle of belonging to the family of God.

Think about it. How is this possible? Take people who have never met. They come from entirely different backgrounds, live hundreds (or even thousands) of miles apart. But they can stand together in worship and experience such a profound sense of kinship and love.

Is it simply tradition? Shared religious customs? Familiar songs and language?

Oh, Church, I think our spirits know it’s something much deeper than that.

It’s the Living Lord. Living in, among, and through his people. Christ reminds us that He is at work. That He knows us, loves us, and never leaves us alone. He is always building us together into something far greater than ourselves.

What An Incredible Gift

So, the next time you feel isolated, forgotten, or overwhelmed by the circumstances of life, remember this: you belong to Jesus. And because you belong to Jesus, you belong to a family that stretches across the entire world.

The Spirit of the Living God unites our family. Not geography, personality, preference, or tradition. On the contrary, the Spirit of the Living God unites us.

And if the Lord is faithful to uphold the very laws that govern the heavens and the earth, you can trust Him to remain faithful to you.

God knows you. He loves you. God never forgets you. And, Church, you are never alone.

May we never take for granted the miracle of belonging to Christ. And through Him, to one another.

Belonging with you, 

Steele

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church

The Roads We Would Rather Avoid

In my previous posts, I have written about the passing of my father and my journey with Jesus through grief. This is my latest entry into that collection. Maybe one day you will find these posts a source of comfort, too.

October 23 marked five years since the day my father went into cardiac arrest while driving us home from work. It was a moment that not only changed my life but also rerouted how my brain navigates grief, pain, and loss.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church

But Let the One Who Boasts…

“This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.” — Jeremiah 9:23-24

Without a doubt, we live in a culture full of boasting, don’t we? There is no need to go further than our phones, computers, news feeds, billboards, television, radio (or even our mirrors) to see how prevalent boasting is.

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by The Rock Church

His Mercies Are New Every Morning (and Every Year)

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:21-23

It’s almost hard to believe that another year has come and gone. Every year, I seem more surprised by how quickly the calendar year moves. The new year always feels like a mixed bag of emotions. While January 1 can seem to give the appearance of a clean slate for goals, resolutions, and moving forward, it’s really no different from December 31.  

Posted in A Word from the Pastor by Caleb Yetton