Mid-Week Encouragement February 14th, 2024
Since today is Valentine's Day, I thought I would share a few verses about what the bible says about love.
1 John 4:7-8 "let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.”
These verses may make you think about feelings and emotions and warm fuzzies; however, put another verse into the mix, and we can quickly become confused.
Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
It becomes obvious there is a difference between the love of God and human feelings and emotions. You see, feelings and emotions are not under our control. You can't always help if you like someone. You cannot help how you feel inside. If someone hurts you, you are hurt. Emotions and feelings are not the love of the bible.
God "demonstrates" for us what the love of God IS. Read Romans 5:8 again. Did you catch it? He demonstrates His love for us through ACTION. Look at 1 Corinthians 13 and read how the bible describes what love IS and IS NOT.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love is patient, love is kind, is not jealous, does not brag, is not puffed up; 5 it does not act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered; 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails..."
Love is not our feelings and emotions but how we treat others and our actions. This is the love of God and what scripture describes as our call to show we are His, not by sweet words driven by feelings and emotions, but by our actions and how we treat others, even when we do not particularly like them. That is the Love of God.
So let us, "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind," and "love your neighbor as yourself," and show that we are truly His children.
SERMON FROM LAST SUNDAY
NEXT SUNDAY'S SERMON
Serving the Lord Part 3: Serving Through Our Relationships
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONGRATULATIONS to our newest Deacon, Lanora White! As it says in Romans 16:1-2 "Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deaconess of the church which is at Cenchrea; 2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints..."
UPCOMING EVENTS
Iosco Ministerial Association Community Event - GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE NOON on March 29th, at the Tawas Methodist Church in Tawas on M55. Join us for this community event!
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
With Hebrew Scholar Chad Bird from 1517, a nonprofit organization that exists to declare and defend the Good News that you are forgiven and free on account of Christ alone.
OTHER NOTES
Pastor Bruce's latest book on faith, Drowning in Milk: A Guide to Spiritual Growth, is available at the church, along with his other books, Heaven & Hell and The Minister's Manual, on the vestibule table just outside the sanctuary. All of his books are also available on Amazon.
Our new online giving system makes supporting our church easy. The new system allows you to give a one-time, weekly, or monthly donation of any amount. See for yourself at https://www.ps127.org/tithes-offerings. Please support our ministry by giving.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Kari Sidel
Lanora's Daughter and grandchildren
Our country and the leaders
BIRTHDAYS
No February Birthdays!
If you need anything added, such as an announcement, birthday or anniversary, or prayer request, send it by email to Contact@PS127.org.
