By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

To a Thousand Generations

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud Link

“But showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
Exodus 20:6 New International Version

Helvetia Community Church, founded in in 1881 by German Swiss settlers, became an independent community church in 1956.

When we visited this church on a Wednesday night, the youth group was meeting and I was told that they had two full services every Sunday morning.  How did this old immigrant church in the middle of rural Oregon continue to thrive in the midst of an increasingly non church going culture?  Was it their state of the art church building?  Built in 1899, this is hardly a high tech worship center!  Was it their location in rural Washington County?

No, what causes this church to flourish is the love of God and the faithfulness of Helvetia’s people to follow that loving God.  For the promise is that our Lord will continue to show love to those who love Him and keep His commandments.

No fancy bells and whistles, no novelties and cute ideas, just faithful people following a faithful God.  For “the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever”. (Isaiah 40:8)

The church is not built on the current cultural trends and tastes and fads, but on our Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son who died for us and is revealed to us in God’s Word.  And for all who believe on Him, He gives them power to become the children of God.

To a thousand, thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.

Lord, keep me faithful to follow Your Word.  Thank you for Your love in Jesus Christ that never grows old.  Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado