Wow!
It just dawned on me Valentine's Day is on Sunday.
Got any plans?
Got a sweetheart?
Want a sweetheart?
Where ever you are in the Valentine's Day scheme of things, remember this: God is love. Or, read it this way, God IS love.
I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately. I went to camp at Hume Lake with the Jr. Highers and was ministered to more than I think I ministered. I've had some fairly intense conversations with people I love lately. One of the things I think I do poorly and observe our church body doing poorly is encouraging one another. Mostly, we're quick to focus on the problem, the negative, the agitation...and not on the good, the growing, the opportunity to see God at work in us and for us.
One of the cool signs I took a picture of at Hume Lake said, "Looking unto Jesus." It has the address, Hebrews 12:2 attached to it, which reads: Hebrews 12:1. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2. fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
And, the cool thing about the sign is we had to look up to read it. That was pretty much intentional, I am sure. The problem I found with looking up to read this sign is that I couldn't concentrate on keeping my footing and I began to slip on the ice. Christine and Adam were with me and quickly came alongside me and helped me not slilp and fall. What a beautiful example of how we are suppose to be living this Christian life!
Read on to see what today's PW has to say about God's love and how we are suppose to reflect it. And, consider how to encourage a brother or sister in Christ this week.
| Love Week: Like This Posted: 09 Feb 2010 01:53 PM PST "Love is patient, 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." (1 Corinthians 13:4-5) We continue our love/hate relationship with Valentine's Week by diving into some real love talk from God's Word. And you might have guessed we'd swing by these verses. Their point is that love is not a feeling or idea or genre. It's a hard thing with edges and rules and definitions -- at least when the Bible talks about it. That word love means something much bigger here than it does on a cheap Valentine's card with a chalky piece of candy glued to it. If that thing you're saying you feel for someone doesn't come with patience, kindness, and a refusal to envy, brag, be rude, serve yourself first, get angry quickly, and keep track of who did more wrong to whom -- then it ain't love. (Yes, I said "ain't," but I resisted saying, "baby.") Much bigger: This is the way God loves us on the days we are least lovable, least obedient, least attractive. Because His love -- real love -- isn't earned. It's given. Think: Do you think it's valid to say we love someone if we don't mostly treat them as these verses describe? Do you have a hard time believing that God loves you -- every day -- with the kind of love pictured in these verses? Pray: Thank God for love that is never envious, boastful, proud, rude, self-seeking, easily angered, or tracking wrongs. Ask Him to help you to love others that way. Do: Write down two names -- the person who treats you most like these verses describe and the person you treat most this way.  |
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Mary E.Hickcox
www.CalvaryBaptistSM.orghttp://mary-neotes.blogspot.com/
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