Pen Pals Sermon by William Akehurst, Psalms 5:1-3

I remember a writing assignment for 3rd or 4th grade, where we were to write a letter to a celebrity, or someone of importance like John Wayne or Roy Rogers or even the President of the United States.

Many of those letters went out, and time went by and we never knew whether or not the recipient read or even received the letter. I’m sure many of them ended up in the trash, unopened.

But then there were the few, who received a response. This was an honor, a joy that was shared by our entire class. I remember that some of the letters were displayed proudly around the classroom.

Perhaps you have sent letters to friends or family in a foreign land. And some may have gone unanswered, and you too know the excitement and joy you felt when you received a response.

The Bible is a letter to us…from God. It is an open invitation to us, to call on him.

Developing a relationship requires communication.

God gave us an invitation in His word…John 3:16

God wrote his letter in the blood of His Son Jesus Christ

When we accept His invitation, and call out to Him and ask Him to forgive us and to save us, He receives us and gives us all the benefits of the relationship. When we say Yes Lord, I have sinned against you, forgive me. I need you to save me, I accept you as my Savior, I accept you Jesus Christ.

In your lifetime, you have seen communication change. Years ago pen and pencil, Morse code, train, telegram, telephone, tell-a-woman. Today there is snail-mail, Email, instant and text messaging for the high tech folks.

God has kept it simple, He has provided His word as the means to communicate His word down through the ages.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. The Word is Jesus Christ

In the beginning, from the beginning of time in Gen 1 when God created…everything.

So. How do we respond to the invitation?…through prayer.

Once we establish this line of communication…We develop…God develops…the relationship in us.

• We read the word, and pray, Read and Pray, Read and Pray.

• The bible says in Joshua 1:8 that we are to meditate day and night in the word, and we will have success.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

• In Psalm 1:2, it speaks of a blessed man who habitually meditates [ponders and studies] by day and by night in the law and the scriptures [the precepts or guidelines, the instructions and teachings of God]

• We are to study God’s word. It gives us direction

Psalm 119:105 The Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

When you met your first love boyfriend or girlfriend, and perhaps shared a love letter. You kept it close to you. Perhaps some of you still have those first love letters, or at least remember them as they were burned into your heart and mind.

Psalm 119:11 says, Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.

We must get God’s communication IN US. We must get that first love of the Word, in us. We are to memorize the WORD of God, and ‘write it on the tablets of our hearts’ Proverbs 7:3

Then we are to respond.

Psalm 5:1-3

1 Give ear to my words, O LORD,

Consider my meditation.

2 Give heed to the voice of my cry,

My King and my God,

For to You I will pray.

3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD;

In the morning I will direct it to You,

And I will look up.

We need to start our day, in communication with the Lord.

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