First Baptist Church Litchfield
LCS Graduation Service 2025

      • Proverbs 1:7ESV

      • Proverbs 3:5–6ESV

  • In Christ Alone

      • John 11:25–26ESV

  • His Mercy Is More

  • You live in a culture of no rules

    In the days of the Judges, Israel was a nation with no king, and every person did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). This led to a spiraling moral decline, and eventually exile from God’s Promised Land. In ancient Rome, the concept of law was often disregarded, leading to chaos and moral decay. In both cases, citizens followed their whims rather than a strong God-honoring moral compass. In our own society, we see an inclination towards moral relativism, where right and wrong are subjective. We often elevate personal freedom above holiness, and the fear of man above the fear of God, leaving us without the courage and wisdom we need to live well.
    In some ways we are becoming a nation of prodigals, and if we are not careful, we will join the historical fall of great civilizations that disregarded foundational rules for living a good life. With that, I want to offer you three rules to help you avoid our cultural pitfall os you can live well.

    Three Rules For Life

    God has revealed himself to us through his word. In his word he also reveals that the Fear of the Lord is the begining of wisdom. Wisdom helps you live the good life. Here are three helpful, biblical rules to live by as you leave LCS and begin your journey.

    Trust the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6)

    Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV
    5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
    Valorie, the first rule of life is to trust the Lord with all of your heart. Love Him first and foremost. When you truly love Him you can fully trust Him. But what does it mean to trust? It means to lean on him with all your heart, mind, and strength, and not on your own wisdom, your own understanding.
    Proverbs 3:7 ESV
    7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). Wisdom says that man’s understanding of the world he lives and the way he should live is deficient, and cannot be trusted. The Puritan Thomas Brooks wisely instructs you, Ethan,
    300 Quotations for Preachers from the Puritans Leaning on Christ Alone

    Everything that a man leans upon but God will be a dart that will certainly pierce his heart through and through.… He that leans only upon the bosom of Christ lives the highest, choicest, safest, and sweetest life.

    THOMAS BROOKS

    To lean upon the bosom of Christ is to build your house upon his rock, His truth. The Word of God overrides your feeble reasoning and understanding. The Word of God must be your final and absolute authority in everything that captures your heart.
    Relying on the Lord means recognizing His presence and authority in all areas of your life: your thoughts, emotions, aspirations, your relationships with family, spouse, children, and neighbors. Everything that shapes and influences you originates with Christ above all else.
    Trusting in the Lord involves knowing with certainty that He is always working for your benefit, even when successive challenges threaten to undermine the foundation you've built upon Him. God will fortify your home and guide your journey.
    I came across a story about a man crossing the Susquehanna River one winter’s day, situated between Maryland and New York. The man’s father was unaware of the ice's thickness, so the man crawled on all fours, carefully gauging his progress. Suddenly, he heard a commotion behind him: a wagon drawn by four horses barreled past, its driver urging them on at a rapid pace across the icy river. The driver was a local familiar with the ice's strength. A foot of ice holds as much weight as a foot of dirt. You can safely drive a truck over 12 inches of ice.
    Valorie, hesitant trust in the Lord crawls on all fours along the 12-inch ice, as if it may not support you. Place your trust in the Lord, Valorie. Stand confidently and walk without reservation. Trust the Lord to construct your home, nurture your family, advance your career, and pursue your calling.

    Seek the Kingdom (Matthew 6:33-34)

    Jesus understands that fear is the second strongest emotion you experience, following love. In a world full of brokenness, it’s all too simple to let fear dominate your feelings. What exactly is there to fear? For starters, your sense of security. You might dedicate your life to building your health, wealth, and happiness, only to have it all stripped away in an instant, often by great injustices. The wicked aim to kill and destroy. They do not care about you. Nature shows no mercy either. Consider the value of your home, possessions, and loved ones to a tornado, flood, or hurricane: they mean nothing. Then there’s the quest for satisfaction. What if, Valorie, you gain the entire world and yet your heart remains unfulfilled? What will you do then? Jesus says to you,
    Matthew 6:33–34 ESV
    33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
    Jesus teaches that to secure your life and fulfill your heart, the wise choice is to prioritize his kingdom and righteousness, above your hopes and aspirations. It is a continual and habitual search, not a one-off endeavor, but rather an ongoing plea of “I need thee every hour.” To seek God’s kingdom means accepting his sovereignty and obeying him, continually striving to align with his will. Valorie, seeking the Lord involves experiencing God’s reign in your heart and making his kingdom the focus of your life. The kingdom of God should be central to your three key areas: the church, the community, and the home. Additionally, pursuing his righteousness requires striving for the righteousness that God expects of you—righteousness that you cannot achieve on your own, but must receive through His Son, Jesus. Remember, Valorie,
    2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
    21 For your sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him you might become the righteousness of God.
    To seek the Kingdom and its righteousness is to seek the Lord Jesus Christ who is your righteousness.
    I think Mary E. Byrne, the sister who translated the Hymn “Be Thou My Vision,” captures the essence of Matthew 6:33-34, the lyric sings,
    Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
    Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
    Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
    High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
    Valorie, trust the Lord with all of your heart and spend your life seeking His kingdom.

    Love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39)

    One final rule to help you live a good life. Jesus sums up the entirety of the Law, and the purpose of life in
    Matthew 22:37–39 ESV
    37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
    Jesus commands you, Valorie, to love your neighbor. You are not to love your neighbor with discrimination, but you are to love your neighbor as yourself. That means you will love people who are both lovable and unloveable. Jesus even says your neighbor might be your enemy, and you still must love them.
    Our culture is very confused on love. The best they can tell you is “love is love.” That is vague, arbitrary and unhelpful. The Bible says that God is love. The bible says,
    1 John 4:8 ESV
    8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
    God’s love is patient, His love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a).
    Just as God embodies love and shows it to you, He expects you to reciprocate that love towards others. There will be times when you must extend your love to someone who demands immense patience. At other moments, you may need to show love to someone who urgently needs to hear the truth that brings you joy.
    By this point in your life, you likely understand that loving others is challenging, and often, you feel the burden of your shortcomings. The issue, Valorie, is that your sinful nature prevents you from loving anyone as you love yourself, as it is overly fixated on self-love. That's why getting the priority right is essential.
    Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and might. Cherish Him as your highest treasure. Love Him as your ultimate priority. Only then can you truly love your neighbor as yourself.
    You might wonder, “How does making God my utmost love help me love others?” Because His Son, the embodiment of God's love, is the only power capable of putting your flesh to death while simultaneously granting you a fulfilling life. When Jesus urges you to take up your cross and follow Him, He invites you to die to yourself and embrace the abundant life He promises—the life that empowers you to share love and life with others.
    In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), the wayward young man sought liberation from his father’s constraints, only to end up in dire straits and humiliation. The lack of his father’s guidance drove him towards vain pursuits, ultimately gaining the world while sacrificing his soul. However, upon returning home, he found not merely rules but the loving embrace of his father. Our society's disregard for order can result in spiritual destitution. You need not become a prodigal. You can place your complete trust in the Lord, prioritize His kingdom, and love your neighbor as yourself. Embracing these three principles leads to a fulfilling life.  But if you do find yourself in the pig pen of life, never forget the Father is always ready to welcome you back home.  Life your eyes toward heaven, call out for forgiveness, run to the cross, and you will find Jesus with his arms wide open, ready to embrace.

      • Proverbs 3:5–6ESV

      • Proverbs 3:7ESV

      • Matthew 6:33–34ESV

      • Matthew 22:37–39ESV

      • 1 John 4:8ESV

      • 1 Corinthians 13:4–8aESV

  • Empowered by the Spirit, Guided by the Word
First Baptist Church Litchfield
pastorjason.fbcl@gmail.com
217-324-4232
http://www.firstbaptistlitchfield.org/
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