It’s a frequent analogy used throughout scripture. The subject of marriage captures the heart of Jesus’ relationship with his church. Spiritual infidelity, lack of respect shown to our Lord as well as Jesus and the continual faithfulness of our Bridegroom are pictured throughout the Bible. Jesus’ parables are always simple pictures with incredibly deep concepts. Down through the annals of time, God has loved his people with a passionate, single-minded, un-deflected devotion. God has even used the prophetic pens in scripture to write of His love for people that could easily be put to music.   Isaiah mentions in v. 5 of his 45th chapter that Israel’s maker was also her husband. Later in chapter 62, he painted the picture of God’s rejoicing over the people as being like a bridegroom delighting in his bride. Jeremiah understood these concepts as well. In fact, God told the people through His prophet, “I am your Husband.” Even though Israel continued to practice infidelity, God always remained faithful. God is a persistent, patient and pure husband. In the 19th verse of Hosea chapter 2 it says God’s wife might fail, but his love for her never would. It’s not that we deserve the kind of love he has to offer. We’ve done very little to return the magnitude of his love! But, while we don’t deserve it, we can’t resist it either. In the first chapter of Ephesians, Paul tells us in verse 11 that we have obtained an inheritance in Jesus Christ. The long and short of this is that God inherited us the same way we inherited God: through Jesus Christ! This is a win-win situation if our appreciation bleeds over into our commitment to God. Faithfulness is key in serving Christ Jesus. It’s a love story, pure and simple. It’s the story of two lovers: Christ and His bride. If you’ve pledged your life to Christ, you should be longing for the “shout of the Bridegroom”. If you’ve never made that commitment to Him, that day will be horrific.
 
Have a blessed day and remember the One who gave it to you!                                                        Kevin

​Col. 3:12-15 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”   One would think this particular subject would be the most simple to incorporate...just love each other.  Show genuine concern for someone other than yourself.  Make sure you look out for the wellbeing of those around you.  And, yet sometimes it appears to be the most difficult.  At times it becomes increasingly allusive.  Our society grows more and more distant from each other.  Husbands and wives become disinterested with each other.  Siblings grow apart; communities remain aloof one from another.  The result of all this alienation makes Paul’s admonition to the folks in Colossae very difficult to emulate!  Have we stopped recently to consider why human beings are so disconnected these days? In some areas of the world if you were to speak to another person, they might look at you as if you just beamed down from another planet!  I’ve received looks from others after trying to be cordial that made me ask myself why I even bothered in the first place!  But, just because the world doesn’t know the concept of putting on tender mercies toward others, doesn’t mean God’s people shouldn’t know!  Notice Paul addresses this admonition to God’s ELECT. Responsibility to put on tender mercies doesn’t belong to the world.  It belongs to God’s people!  So, the next time you’re cordial to someone and they snub you in return, don’t return their scoff.  Pray for them.  Pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you.  (Matt. 7:12; Matt 5:43-48).
 
Have a blessed day and remember the One who gave it to you!
                                                        Kevin

A song made popular by pop artist Billy Joel in 1989 touts, “We didn’t start the fire. It was always burning since the world’s been turning. We didn’t start the fire, no, we didn’t light it, but we tried to fight it.” The lunacy which exists in our world today is blamed on a variety of things: the latest presidential exchange, economic unrest, political upheaval, societal injustices, and abuses of substances, policies and aid programs. So many seem to have a finger pointed at something. Somebody; someone has to be blamed for all the craziness. Far too often we wrap ourselves up in the kingdom of this world and lose sight of the Kingdom of God. Dallas Willard asks a poignant question: “why did early believers believe what they did? Was it because they HAD to? Was it because if they didn’t they would be doing something wrong or bad? NO! They concluded that they would have been fools to disregard it! THAT was the basis of their conversion.” While it’s true that our world is in utter confusion, to blame that confusion on one person is absurd. Through the media, the “fire” of fear is spread by biased journalist who douse our minds with bizarre quotes which lead to societal unrest and concern. It’s in times like these that we must remember who we are and WHOSE we are! Our life as God’s people doesn’t consist of us immersing ourselves in the kingdom of this world. This is Satan’s domain! Our life as God’s people should consist of us allowing the light of Christ to burn in us brightly. If you see our current political administration as those who are out to destroy the lives of innocent American citizens, go back to when David was King of Israel. Because of his lust, lies and corruption, Israel went through intense political unrest. When Judah was exiled to Babylon or Israel to Assyria did it change the fact that they were God’s people called to do God’s bidding? No! It’s far easier to point a finger than it is to look in a mirror. Why are things unfolding as they are? Could it be that our Loving God doesn’t want us to have attachments to this world as much as we do?
 
Have a blessed day and remember the One who gave it to you!                                                   Kevin
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