Thursday, March 13, 2014

God’s heart for the world

Feb. 9, 2014

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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