Good evening:
“Black lives matter!” has become a rallying cry for many across our country. Of course, it’s true, black lives do matter. But what about other lives: the lives of the unborn, the lives of the elderly? What about the lives of those who have wronged you or let you down? Do they matter? All of us would agree that all lives are important, yet do we really treat others that way?
Are you quick to drop everything when a friend calls to say they’re stranded and need a ride? Are you just as eager to stay late at work to help the fellow employee who always talks about you behind your back? Do you purposely avoid talking with the unpopular person, while trying to make a friend of the person everyone else admires?
When God commands, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” He is talking about everyone around us, not just family and friends and those whom we like because they like us. Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). Why? Because all lives matter to Him. Each person, no matter their race, age, or gender, is so precious that Jesus died on the cross to atone for that person’s sins and reconcile them to God. Each life matters so much that the Lord is not willing that any should perish. He wants all to come to repentance and receive eternal life.
That means that your life matters. No matter how insignificant we are, no matter how badly we have messed up, God’s love and forgiveness are there for each of us too. It means, as well, that every life around us, that of our classmate, the person across the street, the person delivering the mail, and the customer service rep on the phone matters.
May that all-encompassing love of God give us a new perspective, appreciation, and love for those around us today. May it lead us to look forward to hearing more of that divine love in our Sunday service, Sunday school, and Bible class.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor
Services are at the usual 8:00 and 10:45 a.m.
Choir is at 9:10 a.m. and Sunday school at 9:30 a.m.
Bible class begins at 9:45 a.m. Thought-starter: How did God lead you to your calling in life?
The Sunday school children will sing at the beginning of second service.
The quarterly voters meeting will be held after second service. The gifts of all our voters are important for carrying out the Lord’s work among us.
