The Tortoise and The Hare

Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

The Hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. "I have never yet been beaten," said he, "when I put forth my full speed. I challenge any one here to race with me."

The Tortoise said quietly, "I accept your challenge."

"That is a good joke," said the Hare; "I could dance round you all the way."

"Keep your boasting till you've beaten," answered the Tortoise. "Shall we race?"

So a course was fixed and a start was made. The Hare darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped and, to show his contempt for the Tortoise, lay down to have a nap.

The Tortoise plodded on and plodded on, and when the Hare awoke from his nap, he saw the Tortoise just near the winning-post and could not run up in time to save the race.

Then said the Tortoise: "Plodding wins the race".

The moral of the story is that the race is not won by the fastest runner; it is won by the consistent runner who keeps up a regular pace; the one who keeps his eye on the goal line and doesn't get distracted by the cares of life. 

The hare thought he was better than all the other animals.  He thought he had it all together and could outrun anyone.  While he was fast, he got caught up in pride and vanity which led to his losing the race. 

The tortoise on the other hand knew his weaknesses and his strengths.  He knew he was not the fastest, but that he would not stop till he had reached his goal. 

There are two types of Christians.  Those who, like the hare, start out strong then get distracted along the way.  They gladly accept salvation and may even attend church for a while.  They might even attend a Bible study group.  However, the cares of life, their old friends, their old habits, old ways of thinking, etc. draw their attention away from the things of God. 

The second type of Christian is like the tortoise.  They begin at a regular pace and consistently grow in their faith.  I believe there are some “Regulars” in the life of this type of believer that are missing in the lives of the first type.

     1.       Regular church attendance.  Hebrews 10:25 “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”  Revelation 1:3 “God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near.”  It is critical for believers to belong to a body (church) where they receive, spiritual direction (sermons/teachings), fellowship, and have opportunities to minister.

     2.       Regular commitment to Bible study. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”   2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”  If we are not studying the Word, how can it guide our feet or light our path?  We need to be involved in both personal study and if at all possible join a Bible study group where we can interact with others as we study and learn.  Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

     3.       Regular commitment to prayer.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”  Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”  Romans 12:12 “Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.”  Matthew 6:6 “But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”  The Bible is full of references to believers praying.  Prayer is the open line of communication between us and the Father. 

     4.       Regular participation in ministry (in or outside the church).  We all need to find our place of ministry.  We all have gifts and talents given to us by God.  It is our responsibility as his followers to use them for his kingdom.  1 Peter 4:10 “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”

     5.       Regular practice of the fruit of the Spirit and living by God’s principles. Galatians 5:22-26 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”

There are rewards for living a “regular” Christian life; eternity with Christ for starters.  We will also live lives of joy and peace.  We will live lives of contentment because we will be tapped into our Source.  We will live knowing that we are never alone.  Our BFF is with us 24/7.  He promises to never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).  We will live fulfilled lives of service to our King.

Being “regular” is not only a thing to be desired, it is the only way to live!!!!   Let us run the good race and finish the course!!!!

All Scripture is NLT unless otherwise stated.

Take Off the Masks

Matthew 5:8 “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”

Romans 12:9-10 “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”

Once a man was sitting at a stop light going through some papers on the front seat and ignoring the green light. The driver behind him honked his horn and began screaming and beating on his steering wheel, and telling him he was number one and pitching a holy fit! Just before the light turned red again, the first driver finally took off.

As soon as the other man made it through the light, he saw blue lights flashing in his rear view mirror, so he pulled over. The cop quickly got out of his patrol car, drew his gun, and ordered the man to get out of the car and drop to the ground. The man obeyed, but kept asking “What’s going on. You’re not arresting me for hollering in my car are you?"

The cop said, “No, I saw you screaming and beating your steering wheel and flipping that other driver off, and noticed the Cross hanging from your mirror, and the ‘Jesus’ sticker, and the Fish symbol, on your bumper, I knew this had to be a stolen car." Sometimes our actions don’t measure up to our claims do they?

We all wear masks at different times.  We might wear a mask to work then take it off when we come home.  Or wear a mask to church then take it off when we come home.  We might wear a different mask when we are with our friends. 

A cartoon showed a pastor talking with his wife. She said, "Today let's do something different. Why don't you be charming at home and grouchy at church?"

We wear masks so that others don’t see the real us.  Maybe we are afraid that we will not be liked or accepted or maybe we are ashamed of some deficit we perceive in our character. We may be able to fool our friends, employer, church, or even our family but we can never fool God.  He sees right past the mask to the person we are inside. 

God wants us to be genuine and have pure hearts.  If we are living a lie (wearing a mask) our hearts are not pure.  Purity is transparent.  It has nothing to hide. 

Diamonds are measured by their clarity.  Clarity is an indication of a diamond's purity. Clarity is determined by a diamond's naturally occurring internal characteristics. These characteristics are sometimes not visible to the naked eye and they are what make each diamond unique. The characteristics, or inclusions, may look like crystals, feathers, clouds or dark spots and the quantity, size, and location of these inclusions does have an affect on a diamond's value. Diamonds with fewer and smaller inclusions generally are more brilliant, assuming that the color and cut are the same.

Clarity Grade	Description	Appearance
F	Flawless	Clear stone, free of all flaws, even under 10x magnification
IF	Internally Flawless	No inclusions visible at 10x magnification

http://www.myjewelrysource.com/toplevelpages/diamond_definitions.htm

Webster’s Dictionary defines clarity as: the quality or state of being clear.

Like diamonds, Christians are measured by our purity/clarity.  God looks at our motives, attitudes, thoughts, and desires.  He measures our purity in comparison to that of Christ.  In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says that the pure in heart will see God.  The pure in heart are those who take off the masks and learn to be genuine/real with God and others. 

What does it mean to be pure in heart? 

In the Scripture the heart represents the deepest part of a person’s thoughts and being.  Proverbs 23:7a (KJV) “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:”    Matthew 9:4 “Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, ‘Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?’”

Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”  Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.”

We see from the verses above the God is concerned with our hearts.  We also see that our hearts are capable of evil or good.  David in Psalm 1:10 asked God to create in him a clean heart.  He knew first- hand how easy it is to fall into temptation and sin; to live with impurity in his heart.

So, being "pure in heart" means being saved, having the righteousness of Christ covering your heart and living on the outside what God has made you on the inside. (http://www.sonoraville.org/sermons/archives/mar25_07_am.pdf)

How do we have a pure heart?

     1.       Be born again.  The first step in having a pure heart is being reborn from our sin nature into the nature of Christ.  Ephesians 2:8-9 “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

     2.       Be Tapped into the Vine. John 15:5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”  We get our strength and power to live this life in purity from the Vine (Christ).  He is our source and without him “we can do nothing!!”

     3.       Be in the Word. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”  We must be in the Word daily.  The Bible is our road map for living in purity.  Every time we open the Word we give the Holy Spirit opportunity to cut away at the impurity in our hearts. 

     4.       Be led by the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” If we are listening to the leading of the Holy Spirit we won’t want to put the masks back on.  We will be walking in the Light as he is in the Light. 1 John 1:7 “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

     5.  Be in prayer often. Ephesians 6:18 “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”   1 John 1:9 “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”    As we spend time in prayer we will become more like Christ in our thoughts.  As our thoughts are transformed our lives will be transformed.  We will no longer feel the need to wear the old masks. 

What are the benefits of living a pure life?

     1.       Being blessed. Being blessed includes living a life of joy and peace.  Romans 14:1 (NIV) “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” When we live righteously, in purity, we will experience the joy of the Lord which leads to peace!

     2.       Seeing God.  Our reward for living our life mask-free is eternity with the Father!  Matthew 5:8 “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”                

Let us begin today taking off the masks we've been hiding behind and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out!

All Scriptures are NLT unless otherwise stated. 

Desperate Measures-Drastic Steps

Luke 5: 17-25, One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn't reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

Luke 5 recounts for us the desperate measures and drastic steps four men took to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus to be healed.  These men wanted to see their friend healed so desperately that when they could not reach Jesus through conventional methods (the door) they took drastic steps to get his attention.  Luke 2:4 puts it this way, “They couldn't bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.”  As we read in Luke 5, this got not only Jesus’ attention, but the attention of the entire crowd. 

Imagine if you will; the crowd is made up of both common people and religious leaders.  They have all come for different reasons, but they have all come.  They have come is such numbers as to make entering the house impossible.  Four men hear that Jesus the Healer is in their town.  They want to bring their paralyzed friend to him because they have heard the stories and believe that he can heal their friend.  They load their friend onto a sleeping mat and each one taking a corner, they set off. 

Upon arriving at the home when Jesus is teaching they encounter a crowd of such great magnitude that they are momentarily taken off guard.  “How,” they think to themselves, “will we ever get in to see Jesus?”  Maybe they set the man down on the ground and have a huddle to discuss the problem at hand. Or maybe one of them sees the stairs going up to the roof right away and starts leading them toward it pulling the rest along with him.  Whatever happened in that moment, they made their way to the stairs and began the climb to the roof carrying their friend, still on his mat. 

Once on the roof the issue they now face is how to get their friend into the house.  Luke tells us that they tore a hole in the roof.  My assumption is that none of them were roofers.  They were probably not carrying along their axes or shovels.  They must have gotten down on their hands and knees and using the only tools they had available (their hands) they began to rip off the roof covering layer by layer. 

Let’s go inside for a moment.  I've watched many home improvement shows and when you begin to tear off a roof, dust, drywall, loose wood, etc. begins falling inside the house unless the necessary precautions have been made first.  If those listening to Jesus had not heard the sounds of the roof being torn away, they would soon feel the rain of debris on their heads.   As the debris rains down the crowd has varied reactions.  Some probably are thinking they should be leaving now.  Others are confused.  Still others are indignant (religious leaders). 

As the mat is lowered down, those on the roof peer down through the hole.  They may be expecting a reprimand or rebuke.  They may be expecting the threat of a law-suit.  But one thing is certain, they were expecting a miracle.  They were so desperate to see their friend healed that they faced the crowd below with confidence and faith.  (Luke 5:20)

How desperate are we to meet with Jesus?  To receive the answers to our prayers?  To see our loved ones come to salvation? Are we desperate enough to become totally undignified and to throw ourselves at his feet?  Are we desperate enough to fast until we hear from God? Are we desperate enough to obey with blind faith, trusting him to fulfill his promises? 

The Word tells us that “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, ‘Young man, your sins are forgiven.’” It goes on to say, “Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’ And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God.”

This man’s friends had the faith and the desperate determination which lead them to take drastic measures to see their friend healed.  What are we willing to do to see our prayers answered?  The Word says that “that faith without works is dead.”  God doesn't answer our prayer because of our works (fasting, prayer, sacrifice) but he does expect us to put our faith into action.  Are we willing to look foolish, risk ridicule or rebuke, or maybe even get dirty to put feet to our faith?  Are we desperate enough to take drastic steps?

All Scripture is NLT unless otherwise stated.

Storm Warnings

Matthew 7:24-27 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

We are living in the last days.  However long they last, these are the last days.  This means that there will be storms brewing. Storms stronger than any we've faced yet in our Christian lives.  Are we ready to face them? Matthew 7 tells us the way to be secure when the storms of life arise is to have a foundation built on The Rock, Christ. 

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew destroyed thousands of homes in South Florida. Yet in an area where the wreckage looked like a war zone, one house remained standing, still firmly anchored to its foundation. When a reporter asked the homeowner why his house had not been blown

away, he replied, “I built this house myself. I also built it according to the Florida state building code. When the code called for 2” x 6” roof trusses, I used 2” x 6” roof trusses. I was told that a house built according to code could withstand a hurricane—and it did.”  (https://bible.org/seriespage/12-storm-warning-matthew-724-29)

Are our lives built according to code (God’s Word)? When the storms of life arise we must:

     1.       Obey the Words of the Lord.  Jesus tells us in verse 24 that the way to build a firm foundation is to obey his instructions.  Psalm 119:1-3 “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!”

Storm: Our marriage is falling apart.  Firm Foundation Response: When our marriage is falling apart and friends encourage us to divorce our spouse to find happiness for ourselves and we choose to honor our marriage vows (Matthew 19:6 “Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”) and try to work things out. 

     2.       Be doers not just hearers of the Word.  James 1:22 says, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”

           Luke 11:28, Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it            into practice.”

           Storm: Loss of employment.  Firm Foundation Response: When our income doesn't meet    

           our bills and we choose to pay our tithes first.  (Malachi 3:10 “Bring all the tithes into the                    storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s              Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you    

           won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”)

     3.       Know on whom to call for help. Matthew 8:23-27 “Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

Even with Jesus in their boat the disciples face a terrific storm.  When the storm arose they knew who to call.  In their moment of crisis they called out for Jesus to help.  We too can call on the Lord when storms arise.  Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Storm: We are diagnosed with illness.  Firm Foundation Response: When we are afraid and choose to cast our cares on Christ rather than wallow in fear and defeat.

We all face storms in life but the true test of our foundation is our response to those storms.  Is our response one of selfish disobedience and fear (weak foundation) or is it obedience and faith (firm foundation)?  

All Scripture is NLT unless otherwise stated. 

Legacy

Psalm 78:4 “We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders”

Last week I asked my daughter, “When I die and someone asks you what you will remember most about me, what will you say?”  Her response was underwhelming.  She said that I wasn't dead yet and she hadn't thought about it.  While I was sort of teasing her at that moment, I began to think about what I wanted her to be able to say.  My children are definitely not receiving much of an inheritance from this world’s perspective. I have nothing of monetary value to leave.  However, I pray that my life and faith leave a godly inheritance (legacy) that will influence every decision they make in this life. 

Whether you have children or not, you can still leave a legacy for those who come after you.  Our lives are to be lived for Christ.  We are to share what we have been given with those around us.  Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!” Every one of us has a circle of influence in which we can minister.  We all have family, friends, co-workers, children, or neighbors with whom we share our lives. 

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”

We see in Deuteronomy that we are to talk about the Lord at every time of day.  This doesn’t mean we need to be weird and only talk about God to the exclusion of all else.  It does mean, however, that our conversation is to be tempered by the Spirit and sprinkled with the Word.  As believers, we have the answer to every problem that arises. 

I once heard a story about a little girl.  She was sitting in the classroom at school and her teacher asked her what 2 + 2 was.  She smiled broadly and announced “Jesus!”  The teacher look puzzled and asked her what 1 + 1 was.  Again, she smile and announced “Jesus!”  The teacher then informed her that 2 + 2 was 4 and 1 + 1 was 2.  The little girl politely told her teacher that she knew that.  Again the teacher looked puzzled.  Why then, she asked, did the little girl answer “Jesus” both times?  The little girl said, “Well, my Sunday school teacher says Jesus is the answer to everything.”

The story is cute and even makes me chuckle, however, the truth it conveys is significant.  Jesus is the answer to everything! 

The Word commands us to share the Answer to the questions of life with everyone God places in our path. 

      A.      To win the lost: Matthew 28:16-20 “Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”

      B.      To teach and instruct: 2 Timothy 2:2 “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.”

      C.      To correct, rebuke and encourage: 2 Timothy 4:1-4 “I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”

      D.      To remind those who already know: 2 Peter 1:12-15 “Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught. And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live. For our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I must soon leave this earthly life, so I will work hard to make sure you always remember these things after I am gone.”

      E.       To build our faith and the faith of others: Joshua 4:21-22, Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’

When I die, I pray my children and friends will say that I talked about Christ, invested in prayer for them and others, lived a life that exemplified Christ-likeness, I loved God first, my family second, and others next. 

When I am gone, the only thing that matters is the legacy I leave behind.  Are others closer to Christ because of my life?  How about you? What kind of legacy do you want to leave when you are gone?

All Scripture is NLT unless otherwise stated.

Set Apart

Leviticus 20:26 “You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own.”

TheFreeDictionary.com defines set apart as:

1. To reserve for a specific use.

2. To make noticeable.

What does it mean that we are set apart?  Deuteronomy 7:6 tells us, “For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.”  This verse was written about the Jewish people, but it applies to us today as is seen in Ephesians 1:4 “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.”

God has called us to be his holy people.  In the book of Exodus we read about Aaron and his sons being set apart for service to God.  Then in 1 Peter 2:9 we are told that we too are also set apart.

Exodus 28:1-5 “Call for your brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Set them apart from the rest of the people of Israel so they may minister to me and be my priests. Make sacred garments for Aaron that are glorious and beautiful. Instruct all the skilled craftsmen whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom. Have them make garments for Aaron that will distinguish him as a priest set apart for my service. These are the garments they are to make: a chestpiece, an ephod, a robe, a patterned tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother, Aaron, and his sons to wear when they serve me as priests. So give them fine linen cloth, gold thread, and blue, purple, and scarlet thread.”

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”

Observations about being Set Apart:

      A.      Greater responsibility/accountability

1.       Only the high priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. Hebrews 9:7 “But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.”

2.       Only the priests could offer sacrifices to God.  Leviticus 6:8-9a Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give Aaron and his sons the following instructions regarding the burnt offering.”

3.       Priests were accountable for the temple. Numbers 18:1 Then the Lord said to Aaron: “You, your sons, and your relatives from the tribe of Levi will be held responsible for any offenses related to the sanctuary. But you and your sons alone will be held responsible for violations connected with the priesthood.

4.       We will all give an account of our lives.  Romans 14:12 “Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.”

5.       Our works will be tested by fire. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 “Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.”

6.       We are accountable for the things God gives us (talents, gifts, abilities). Matthew 25:29 “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.”

      B.      New Clothes

1.       Priests were given special robes to wear.  Exodus 28:2-3 2 “Make sacred garments for Aaron that are glorious and beautiful. Instruct all the skilled craftsmen whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom. Have them make garments for Aaron that will distinguish him as a priest set apart for my service.”

2.       We are given the clothing of salvation. Isaiah 61:10 “I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.”

3.       We are clothed with the presence of Christ. Romans 13:14 “Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”

4.       We are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

       C.      Called to Holiness

1.       When God called the children of Israel to be holy he wanted them to be set apart from the other nations.  He wanted others to be able to identify them as his people by their distinct lifestyle which was contrary to that of the nations around them.  (Leviticus 11 and 19).

2.       We, as God’s people, are called to holiness today.  1 Peter 1:13-16 “So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’”

       D.      Promise of Eternity

1.       The Jews were promised the land of Canaan (Joshua 21).

2.       Believers are promised eternity with God. 2 Timothy 2:10 (NASB) “For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.”

Matthew 25:46, “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

      God promised to give to the seed of Abraham the land of Canaan for a possession, and now they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the promise of the heavenly Canaan is as sure to all God's spiritual Israel; for it is the promise of Him that cannot lie.

(Taken from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary)

Being set apart involves great cost and responsibility; however, it also comes with great reward!  

All Scripture is NLT unless otherwise stated.

Sometimes 7 is Required

Joshua 6:1-5 “Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. But the Lord said to Joshua, ‘I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.’”

Today we will look at the Battle of Jericho. A little back story; Joshua 2 tells us that Joshua secretly sent out two spies and told them to check out Jericho closely.  This was the first city that the Israelites had to defeat in their quest for the Promise Land.  The two spies went into Jericho and when the king began looking for them Rahab the harlot hid them under flax bales on her roof.  She lowered them out her window (which was in the wall of the city) after they promised her that she and anyone from her family who was inside her house at the time of Jericho’s defeat would be saved from death.  

Joshua 2:23-24 says, “Then the two spies came down from the hill country, crossed the Jordan River, and reported to Joshua all that had happened to them. ‘The Lord has given us the whole land,’ they said, ‘for all the people in the land are terrified of us.’”

We pick up the story of Jericho again at the end of Joshua 5.  An angel, the commander of the Lord’s Army, came to Joshua as he was nearing Jericho.  He told Joshua the Lord’s strategy for defeating Jericho (Joshua 6:1-5).

The plan was simple, for 6 days Joshua and the fighting men were to march around the town one time.  Seven priests were to walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn.  No one was to make a sound at all.  On the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times, with the priest blowing the ram’s horns.  On that day, when they heard to long blast on the ram’s horn the people were to shout as loud as they could. 

Imagine being one of the Israelite soldiers.  Bear with me as I think “out loud” for a minute.  “Seriously, this is your amazing plan.  Walk around the city!  What good will that do?  Cause the people of Jericho to laugh at us?  What about the siege ramps? The scaling ladders or towers?  Walk around? Perfectly quiet?  Joshua, have you lost your mind?  Who came up with this lame idea anyway?  Who ever heard of an army intimidating their enemy by walking around their heavily fortified city before?”  You must admit, if we were there we might have felt like my fictitious Israelite soldier. 

We all face battles in our lives.  We all have Jericho’s that hold us back from fully possessing the promises God has for us.  Our strongholds might be hidden sin, unforgiveness, physical illness, financial issues, scars from past hurts, or struggles at work or in our family.  The list is limitless. 

When we are forced to face our Jericho, God gives us instructions on how to defeat it.  These instructions are typically found in the Word, however, God does use his messengers (pastor, friend, member of the church prayer team, etc.) to deliver the instructions at times.  When we follow the instructions, freedom/victory is assured.  Isaiah 55:11 (NIV) “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Why is it then that most Christians are not walking in complete freedom and possessing God’s promises?  The problems lies in the harsh reality that too often we give up early.  We fail to see the battle through.  Another issue is that we don’t like the cost of freedom and chose not to obey the instructions God gives us. 

Let’s look at financial issues as an example.  Malachi 3:10 “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”

The Word tells us to bring our tithes to the storehouse (the place we are being spiritually fed – typically our church).  It promises that if we do, God will pour out a blessing on our lives.  The problem is that when we don’t have enough money at the end of the month to pay the bills, we often fail to pay our tithes.  Rather than making it easier to pay the bills, this really causes our problem to be worse because we rob ourselves of the blessing promised for obedience in tithing.  Some may say, “I tried tithing and things did not get better so I quit.”  My point exactly.  The Lord says try me; he never says stop trying if things don’t go as we want.   

Let’s go back to the Israelites for a minute.  They walked around the wall in silence once a day for six days.  Historians estimate that it took between 30 minutes to an hour to complete this walk.  Think about how it must have felt to walk for an hour then return to camp and wait until the next day.  Imagine if they had rebelled on day 6 and told Joshua to walk himself that they weren't going.  They would not have gained the victory and might have forfeited the Promise Land entirely.  They would have stopped one day short of the miracle. 

The same holds true for us.  How many times have we given up one day, week, month, short of the miracle we were seeking?  How many promises have we robbed ourselves of because we grew weary of waiting, praying, etc.?  Galatians 6:9 says, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

Sometimes 7 IS required.  God may ask us to hold on a little longer for the victory.  He may do this to test our endurance or faith, it may be due to timing, it may even be due to spiritual battles that we are not even aware are taking place all around us.  It doesn't really matter why, what’s important is that we don’t give up short of the miracle.  The battle is the Lord’s, thus it will never be more than we can bear because he is carrying the majority of the load.  Matthew 11:28-30 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Don’t give up!  Sometimes 7 is Required.  

All Scripture is NLT unless otherwise stated. 

Change Your Perspective Part 2

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV) “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!     Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Let’s review Part

Proper Perspective:

A. Sees Problems as Possibilities: Matthew 14:13-21 (Feeding of 5000)

B. Sees Failures as Stepping Stones: Biblical examples of failure as a stepping stone.  (Abraham, Moses, David, Peter)

________________________________________________________________________

A little boy was playing outside and was stung by a bee.  He went into his house crying and said to his mother, "I hate bees! I wish God had never made them." The mother eased his pain, then sat him down at the table and gave him some toast and honey.

The little boy said, "This is great!"

"You really do like honey, don't you?" the mother responded,

"Like it?" the little boy replied, "I love it!"

The mother then said, "The same bee that stings also produces the honey you are enjoying right now."

Her son thought for a minute and said, "I never realized there was a good side to that bee!"

We can view a bee as an enemy that stings or as a friend that produces honey.  And that's the way it is with everything in life.  We can choose to look at the plus side in every situation, or we can choose to look at the minus side.  The difference will be one of living a life of depression or a life of rejoicing. (Kent Crockett, The 911 Handbook, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2003, 83-84)

C. Sees Conflicts as Opportunities for Grace: John 18 (The Arrest of Jesus)

John records the arrest of Jesus in Gethsemane.  Jesus and his disciples had gone to the garden so Jesus could pray.  John tells us that while they were there Judas Iscariot lead a group of soldiers to arrest Jesus.  When the soldiers came up to Jesus, Peter draws his sword and cuts off the ear of the High Priest’s servant.  Jesus tells Peter to put his sword away.  Jesus could have led a rebellion against the soldiers or called down angels to wipe them out but instead he extended grace in his behavior toward them as well as showing grace toward the servant by healing his ear. 

How often when a conflict arises in our lives do we look for ways to retaliate or do we react in anger?  Conflict is our opportunity to extend the grace we have received to those, who like us, don’t deserve it. 

D. Sees the Word as the tool for transforming our thought life and perspective.

Following is a chart listing some possible perspectives we may have followed by God’s promise 

relating to that perspective.  There are also Verses to reflect on in relation to each one. 

My Old Perspective                     
God’s Promises                                                 
Bible Verses To Reflect On

                                                                     

It's impossible                         
All things are possible.                                    
Luke 18:27

I'm weary and tired.                
I will give you rest.                                          
Matthew 11:28-30

I'm not loved.                           
I love you unconditionally.                              
John 3:16, 34

I can't keep going.                  
My grace is sufficient for you child.               
2 Corinthians 12:9,   Psalm 91:15                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

I don't know what to do with my life.                        
I will direct your ways as you seek Me.                   
Proverbs 3:5-6

This is too hard for me.           
You are able to overcome using My strength.
Philippians 4:13  

I'm not able.                            
I am able                                                         
2 Corinthians 9:8

I'm discouraged.                    
I am here with you child.                                
Romans 8:28

I can't forgive myself and those who have hurt me.                      
I died on the cross for you my child so you can live in freedom.                                     
1 John 1:9,

                                                                                                              

Life is too hard.                        
I will provide for you.                                      
Philippians 4:19

I'm afraid.                              
I have not given you a spirit of fear.              
2 Timothy 1:7

I'm worried about my life.      
Bring your cares to Me in prayer.                  
1 Peter 5:6-7

I'm not smart enough.              
I will give you wisdom, insight and courage.
1 Corinthians 1:30-31

(Take from: http://www.theverseoftheday.info/a-new-perspective)

All Scripture is NLT unless otherwise stated.

Change Your Perspective Part 1

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV) “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!     Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

We experience our perspective. Philippians 4:6-9 tells us that when we take our worries to God, leave them in his more than capable hands, and focus our thoughts on what is “true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable” we will have peace (this comes from having a new perspective – God’s perspective).  Our perspective changes when we look to God for his perspective on our situation.  Gaining a proper perspective requires putting on new glasses.  Glasses that see things through the eyes of Christ.  Glasses that don’t ignore our situation, but that don’t focus on it either. 

Proper Perspective:

A. Sees Problems as Possibilities: Matthew 14:13-21 (Feeding of 5000)

¹⁸“Bring them here,” he said. ¹⁹Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people.          

               

Jesus used the problem of 5000+ hungry people to give the disciples an opportunity to participate in an amazing miracle.  He saw the lack of food (new glasses) as a possibility for a divine miracle and an opportunity to teach his disciples that he was their provider/source (something we need to grasp in our own lives!)

During the Civil War, General Robert E. Lee had a shortage of soldiers. His army could be devastated if the Union army discovered this weakness. Since he could not increase the number of soldiers, he decided he could make his army look larger than it actually was.

He loaded troops on trains and transported them to different places. At every train station, the same Confederate soldiers were unloaded from the trains. It appeared that new troops were being transported in to be added to the Rebel army.

The Union forces became confused and afraid because they believed the South had a much larger army than they actually had. General Lee hadn't made his army any larger or more powerful. He was simply using a psychological tactic to discourage the Union army. And it worked. (Kent Crockett, The 911 Handbook, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2003, 76)

In this story, we see that General Lee used his shortage of men as an opportunity to confuse the Union soldiers.  He didn't sit around looking at his small army in despair; instead he looked through new glasses, saw the possibilities and capitalized on them.  His strategy paid off that day. 

We too need to see the problems we face as possibilities. Possibilities for: God to shine, our faith to grow, our witness to be increased, our flesh to die, His strength to be made perfect in our weakness, etc. 

               

B. Sees Failures as Stepping Stones: (Abraham, Moses, David, and Peter) 

Genesis 12:10 – 13:2: When Abraham should have waited on the promise of God for a son; he listened to Sarah, took another wife, and had a son (who was not the son of Promise).  We know from the Word that Abraham became the father of many nations and that all of us, Jews and Gentiles alike, are blessed through him.  It was through Abraham’s seed that the Messiah was born!  

Exodus 2:11-15: Moses, in trying to help his people, ran ahead of the Lord and killed the Egyptian. Moses fled and lived on the backside of the desert for 40 years, however, we see him return to Egypt and do things God’s way.  This led to the deliverance of the Hebrew children from 400+ years of slavery. 

2 Samuel 11:5-27: When David should have been out in the field of battle, he stayed home and committed adultery with Bathsheba and then plotted the murder of her husband.  The child conceived as a result of the adultery died, however, God used this unholy union to bring about the birth of the wisest man who ever lived – Solomon. 

John 18:15-27: Peter, in spite of his self-confidence and his great boast, denied the Lord, as did the rest of the disciples who fled before the evening of our Lord’s arrest was over. The Bible goes on to tell us in Acts 2:14-42 that Peter did not stay down, but preached on the Day of Pentecost and 3000 people came to saving knowledge of Christ that day.  Peter went on to be used by the Holy Spirit to minister to the Jews as well as to pen 1&2 Peter.

The enemy tries to capitalize on our failures and to tries to convince us that they mean we are failures.  This is not true at all.  If it was, from the worlds perspective, Jesus would have been the biggest failure to every live.  He had the opportunity to change the physical world by overthrowing the Romans and freeing the Jewish people.  He had a huge following.  He could have had fame, fortune, etc.   Instead, he died alone on a cross, the worst death the Romans could inflict on a person.  His followers all fled and left him when things got tough.  The crowds he had healed, fed, and loved all turned on him and demanded his death. 

We see however, that Jesus’ perceived failure brought life and salvation to all mankind.  His failure paid the price for our freedom, peace, healing, for our very life! 

Failure is not final; it is a stepping stone to our future. 

Today Lord, we ask you to change our perspective.  Give us the eyes of Christ to see things as you see them.  Help us to focus on your perspective not on our own!

All Scripture is NLT unless otherwise stated.

A Biblical Look at Love

Since tomorrow is the day we set aside to celebrate love, Valentine’s Day, I thought it was appropriate to see what the Word has to say about love. 

It is important to note here that we are not just looking at romantic love, but Godly love.  Love as seen in our culture is selfish love.  It is centered on what is in it for me.  I love you because you __________. Each individual fills in the blank differently. This type of love is conditional.  Our society seems to feel that if you are not making me happy, no longer meeting my ___________, then I don’t love you anymore and I can look for someone else who will make me happy.

Godly love is unconditional. God never changes his mind about loving mankind.  He never stops loving us no matter how much we sin, rebel, or even if we walk away from our “first love” Jesus! 1 Corinthians 13 lays it out clearly. 

1 Corinthians 13 “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”

When we think about love in the Bible we generally think of 1 Corinthians 13, however, there are many other references to love in the Word.   

1 John 4:16-18 “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.”

Here we see that our love is perfected as we live in God.  God’s love for us drives out our all our fear, because we realize that his love is unconditional/perfect.  Think about this, we love our children and would give our lives to protect them from harm.  As humans though, we cannot protect them 100% of the time. We are finite beings and can only be in one place at a time.  However, we love them and that knowledge expels most of their fear because they know we are there for them.  In contrast, God not only desires to protect us, but he can 100% of the time.  If we could get this truth deep in our soul and spirit we would be able to live without fear.    

Romans 12:9-13 “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.”

Love serves.  If we love others with God’s love we will serve those in need.

1 John 3:10-17 “So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.  Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them. We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?”

As believers we must not hold bitterness or anger in our hearts because it leads to hatred.  1 John tells us that those who hate others have really murdered them in their hearts. We must forgive just as God through Christ forgave us.  Ephesians 4:32 “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” True love forgives and 1 Peter 4:8 tell us “… love covers a multitude of sins.”  When we choose to love rather than hate we are demonstrating God’s love. 

Matthew 22:34-40 “But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: ‘Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?’ Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.’”

In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, "Do not waste your time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbor act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less."

Newspaper columnist and minister George Crane tells of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. "I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me."

Dr. Crane suggested an ingenious plan "Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him. After you've convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. Tell him that your're getting a divorce. That will really hurt him." With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, "Beautiful, beautiful. Will he ever be surprised!" And she did it with enthusiasm. Acting "as if." For two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, sharing. When she didn't return, Crane called. "Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?"

"Divorce?" she exclaimed. "Never! I discovered I really do love him." Her actions had changed her feelings. Motion resulted in emotion. The ability to love is established not so much by fervent promise as often repeated deeds.

J. Allan Petersen.

As we celebrate Valentine’s Day let us not only remember how much we are loved by our Heavenly Father, but act in love toward all those God has placed in our life.  Let us love as Christ has loved us!

All Scripture is NLT unless otherwise stated.