Greetings in Christ!
1 Corinthians 13:13
King James Version
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Valentine’s Day is February 14th (as always), but February 14th is on a Tuesday this year!
Jesus says in Matthew 22:39, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But we know that another and greater commandment precedes it. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
While we realize Valentine’s Day’s primary purpose is the expression of love between each other, the foundation for the kind of love God wants us to have is in the Word of God!
“Love your neighbor as yourself” is far more than an overused statement; it is something we as God’s people, should take the lead on. We live in a world that needs the love of God expressed through His people more than ever before.
It seems we live in a world that is more divided than ever. Even without sharing examples in this letter, you have probably already thought of many.
Sadly, many churches around the World have often become battle stations instead of “hospitals for the hurting.” I pray that God will help our church, St. Timothy’s ACC, to set the tone in our community by being a people who love people! Loving people, even when we may not fully and completely agree about everything, is how we need to be!
There should be one thing that unites us: the love that Jesus Christ had for us by coming to this World and dying on the cross for you and me.
John 15:13
King James Version
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Jesus laid down His life for His friends and those who treated Him with disdain and outright hatred. We can learn so much from His example if we are open to learning more about the kind of love God wants us to have.
This kind of love leads us to pray as He did:
Luke 23:34
King James Version
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
I invite you to join us for services as we learn more about this excellent example of the love Jesus lived.
Hope to see you in church!
In Christ,
St. Timothy’s ACC