We have been
examining the theme of “LOVE” for several weeks now. Today we focus on seeking to conform our
hearts to what is close to God’s heart … to fall in love with those things
about which God is passionate .
Our
scriptures today from Isaiah 58 and Luke 14 focus on caring for those who might
seem to be neglected … on having a heart for the people and situations that
might be left out at first pass. The
pattern is not simply to “do good”…. It
is to love God and seek to have God’s heart for the world.
Several of
our members and friends have been reading the book, Crazy Love, by Francis Chan.
He offers some wise advise and asks some deep questions. Here is a sampling for our reflection:
·
The point of Life is to point to Him.
·
Are we in love with God or just His stuff?
·
How we live our days is how we live our lives.
·
Will we choose what is popular or what is right?
·
Ask God to save you from sin … not just sin’s penalty.
· Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of
failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.
·
God does not just want good theology, God wants us to know Him and
love Him.
·
What are you doing now that requires faith?
Jesus models
God’s love and mission. He says, “The Son of Man came to seek and save the
lost” (John 10:10) … “I came that they might have life and have
it abundantly” (Luke 19:10) … and he challenges us: “A new command I give you, love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one
another. By this all people will know
you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).
May we be a
church with hearts that beat in rhythm with God’s heart and lives that radiate
the very love of God, who first loved us!
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
tmartin@epcfl.org (321) 723-8371 ext. 217
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