2-3-2019

Good Morning All,

        1 Corinthians 13:13; “So these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the best one of these is love.”

    If anyone ever questions whether we are born of a sinful nature, all you have to do is put 4 or 5 two-year-olds in a room with a few toys.  Pretty soon they will fight over them and take them away from each other and pretty soon most, if not all, will be crying.  It is really comical when you think about it.

    We can read in the paper or watch the news everyday where someone just wishes we could all just get along.  People should be able to reach out to their inner angels and grab hold of the basic human decency that is truly in all of us.  Because we all know, that deep down, we are all good, right?  If you really think that there is really basic human decency; watch a bunch of two-year-olds play.

    In our sinful nature, we always look out for our own interests and not that of others.  Now I know some of you are going to be offended but if you are truly honest; why do people help others?  How many times have you heard the circle theory?  If you want nice things to happen to you then you have to do nice things for others.  Have you ever heard of that?  We may even innocently buy into it.  Some say that by helping others; you are building up “credits” so that someday we will benefit from it.  Whether we like to view it that way or not, that is a very selfish act.  The only reason we help is so that someday, if we need it, we will get help. 

    In this sinful world, man has turned from God and looks inward only to himself.  Down through the years, we have seen where banding together helps to protect me from others.  This is called self-preservation.  Notice the emphasis on self.  Yet throughout Scriptures; Jesus calls this stand into question.  When the rich man turned away because Jesus called on him to give his money to the poor, he turned away.  He wanted his own interests over the interests of the poor.  When Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek, we often balk because of self-preservation.  Yet the true irony is that you and I have life because Jesus was the exact opposite of self-preservation.  He laid down his life so that you may live.

    In doing this Jesus is beginning the process of restoring mankind to its true purpose; to love one another.  He is restoring the creation to its perfection.  His death and resurrection mark the start and his return will mark the completion.  Through it all, we are called to love, just as He loves.  Do we do this perfectly?  No, but that shouldn’t stop us from trying.  That should not stop us from loving our neighbor; this is the greatest gift, the greatest purpose that we have.  We are to love for this love will last an eternity and the impact of our love for others can be life altering.   The best gift is love because we share with others and serve God as we do.

Dearest Father, we are only selfish children until you redeem us.  Bring us into your marvelous light of salvation and keep us as your dear children, serving you as your hands and your arms in this world. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace

Pastor Bret