Good News From Pastor Steve

June 2, 2026

Dear fellow redeemed,

I think you will agree with me that life in our society is often a transaction:  I do this for you, and you will do that for me.  So I will work for you, if you will pay me.  I will scratch your back, if you scratch mine.  I will be nice to you if you are nice to me.  And so on…

And so in the Church we often think the same:  God is good to me, so I will be good to Him.  He will bless me if I go to church every Sunday.  He will save me if I believe in Him.

But what if that is not always true?  What if there is more to the story than a simple transaction of this for that?

I often see our relationship with God as similar to a parent and child relationship.  Maybe I should simply say:  our interaction with God is not a transaction, but a relationship.

So a parent will ask their young child to say “please” and “thank you”, before and after receiving a meal, help, etc.  But the truth is:  a loving parent will feed their child, help them in time of need, and so many other things, whether or not the child is respectful or asks permission, etc.

And so in this Sunday’s Scripture Readings, we see the love of God for people who we may say are undeserving.  But remember:  God’s relationship is not a transaction, but a gift of love and grace (which is defined as “undeserving kindness”).  So the reading from Hosea comes from the Prophet that God asked to marry an unfaithful wife.  And when Gomer, his wife, continues to be unfaithful, God then asks Hosea to go and find her, love her again, and bring her home.  So rather than divorcing Gomer, Hosea forgives and pursues her, seeking to renew their relationship.

Just as God has done with all of sinful humanity.  Rather than destroying us, He sent His Son and God forgives each and every one of us of all sin.  He sends us His Spirit to work faith in us.  And He restores our relationship with Him.

In this Sunday’s Gospel Reading, in Matthew 9, Jesus invites Matthew to follow Him.  Matthew had been a tax collector, who are known for their cheating and selfish ways.  He is welcomed by the notorious sinners of the day, at a dinner, which means that Jesus first was welcoming of them!  And He heals a daughter first at the father’s request, and then to his daughter, Jesus says, “your faith has made you well”. But that was after the Lord came to her and healed her.   And the Lord heals a woman who had a faith that one could criticize as placed on touching Jesus’ clothes, rather than in Jesus.  And in other passages of Jesus’ healing ministry, faith is not even mentioned (John 5:1-15; John 9:1-7; Luke 22:50-51; Luke 7:11-17; John 11)  

In other words, it is NOT the faith that heals, but the God who first forgives, heals, restores.  Our faith is simply the response to God’s unconditional grace and love!

The question for each and every one of us is simply this:  How will I respond to God and His undeserving kindness (grace), and His unconditional love (in the Person, life, death and resurrection, life, and promises) of our Savior and Lord?  Ok, so that’s a long question.  May you and I reflect on this.  On all that God has done.  And how you and I can and will respond.  

Looking forward with you, in Christ,
– Pastor Steve