A Note from Michael Gossett
The Better Way
Everyone wants to live the best life they possibly can. This is not a secret at all. If you were to ask a hundred different people if they wanted the best life possible, then all would respond with a resounding, “Yes!” The problem is, we don’t trust what our best life could possibly be. We all have our own understanding of what that might be based on success stories, history, and based on our own preferences. However, Isaiah 55:8 is clear when he warns and exhorts, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” The Lord has declared clearly that we do not think in the same way He does. We do not go in the way that He goes. It is clear that in order for us to have the “best” life, it would be a life that is surrendered to the thoughts and ways of Christ. John Calvin has a great quote on this passage. Calvin says, “There is nothing that troubles our consciences more than when we think that God is like ourselves.” When you look to the prophets of old, I do not think any of them would have chosen their path, but they would have certainly chosen their destination if they knew the alternative. Job, Jonah, David, Joseph and many more all prevailed on the path of peril. Job would not have chosen to lose his family and all that he had. Jonah would not have chosen his rebellion and being dumped overboard then swallowed by a fish and thrown up on the land he was avoiding. David would not have chosen for Saul to be relentless in his pursuit of ending David’s life. Joseph would not have chosen to be betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, then in the waiting, be betrayed once again, and left in prison. However, Job was restored completely, Jonah surrendered, David was king, and Joseph saved Israel as Egypt’s number two man.
It is not for us to decide what path we take, nor is it ours to rebel against the path we are on. It is not for us to live apathetically and simply say, “well God’s ways are not our ways” as if it is a divine curse or mystery. Rather, it is for us to understand that God loves us so much and that He cares for His children so much that the path of peril in this sin fallen world will not have the final say, nor will He allow His children to sink into the path of their own knowledge and understanding. This is the vantage point of God’s scope. I was hunting one year and was eager to harvest my first buck. I was beyond excited (still am) at the opportunity to harvest something BIG! However, late into the evening, my scope could no longer see the light of day. It was dark and all I could see was an animal with big antlers. I couldn’t see it well enough to know exactly where to shoot. Praise be to God that His scope is never darkened. Instead, from eternity past to eternity forward, He sees and knows all things. To compare our sight to the Lord is only helpful when we understand our limitations and God’s unlimited ability to see all things for all time. This is why His ways will always be better than our ways and His thoughts will always be better than our thoughts. It is incomprehensible to imagine a life where we do not trust in the Lord. We either struggle with trusting His sight, or we struggle trusting His love. Both have been proven over and over again in our lives. So many times, we sinfully disregard His sight and love and begin to believe that we know how to achieve our best life while ignoring the better way of Christ.
Prayer: Before our day begins, we must pray, “Lord, your ways are better than my ways. Your thoughts are better than my thoughts. Will you allow me by your grace to pursue your ways, pursue the mind of Christ and surrender when you reveal it to me? Lord, help me to live today according to your plans in my life. I want your way. Give me the strength to now go and obey the better way because I know your thoughts and your scope know no limit and your love has been displayed by sending your only Son to die in my place. Thank you, Jesus, for another day to serve you.”
This Sunday at Green Acres!
Take time this week as you prepare for worship to read James 5:7-12 as we study “Wisdom with Patience.” If a sermon on wealth and worldly riches were not enough, now James is moving into a more internal language with his teaching on patience. If we are not tested with money (which all of us are), then we will surely be tested with patience in life. Everyone struggles with the concept of patience, but James gives us great insight on how we can have wisdom in patience. Wisdom with patience, just as wealth, can be liberating to those who follow the Lord and His design for your life. Come and worship with us at Tyler or Flint at 9:30 or 11:00 to learn how we should live in wisdom with patience.
DO NOT MISS! THIS SUNDAY NIGHT! Night of Prayer and Worship! Come and join us this Sunday night, October 29 at 6:00pm for a night of worshipping and praying together as a church family.
Midweek at GABC! I want to invite you to come and join me at WEBS this Wednesday in Crosswalk at 6pm. We are currently teaching through different doctrines of the Bible and would love to have you join us. We will end promptly at 6:30pm. Hope to see you there!
I am so excited that the East Texas Area Council, Boy Scouts of America will be honoring Pastor David with the Distinguished Citizen Award on December 5, 2023 in our Crosswalk Conference Center. This is a well-deserved award and could not go to a better man! If you would like to be a part, table sponsors are available here.
I want to give you an update on where we are as a church in terms of financial health. Our giving is higher this year than it was last year as well as the previous year. However, we are currently about $103,000 behind budget. I am proud that our staff and ministry teams have been cautious to underspend their budgets, keeping our expenses well-below what has been received. Praise be to God that in doing this we have still been able to make an impact for the Kingdom of God. But as you know, GABC wants to reach as many people as possible for His name and for His Kingdom! I want you to pray about how you could jump in for the first time, continue, or possibly increase giving to the general budget of Green Acres. I am so thankful for your generosity and the way God continues to provide for the great ministries that take place around the world! I also want to highlight that in just one-week, Green Acres received over $20,000 to give directly to the efforts taking place in Israel! Way to go! Thank you for your commitment and your trust in your church. God is good and will continue to see us through! If you would like to give, you can go to gabc.org/give and the prompts will guide you through the process.
Español Campus Update! I want you to know that the Español campus is off to a booming start! In just six short weeks, we have baptized 17 people and there are more on the way! Salvations, new members, and a deeper impact into the community is taking place because of this new campus and ministry initiative. This is all possible because of YOUR generosity to make ministry happen. Praise be to God! Continue to pray for Pastor Fernando as God continues to use him in really incredible ways!
Cannot wait to see you this Sunday!
You are loved and prayed for!
Michael Gossett