Striving for Obedience and Love

This past week, we enjoyed attending an event downtown Grand Rapids called "Believe in our City."  The event focused on opportunities in greater Grand Rapids to create a culture where all people can thrive and prosper, as the founding fathers of the United States had desired.  We heard some engaging speakers, with topics around the basic principles of the Constitution, including faith, freedom, and the fact that all mankind was created equal under God.

Furthermore, it was discussed how the Founding Fathers didn't always live up to their established ideals. In his writings, Patrick Henry consistently denounced the practice of slavery yet was a slaveowner himself, stating that he did so due to the general inconvenience it would cause him to free them! Wow, he knew better but continued to act against his moral conviction!

This caused us to reflect on our own lives and the Christian values taught to us in the Bible: love God and Love others, honor God, keep the Ten Commandments, etc. Are there things in our lives that "we know better" but continue to sin?  Of course, there are, guys. We are broken!

The only person on earth who fully lived out these values was Jesus Christ, who died so that we could receive eternal salvation DESPITE our shortcomings…However, grace doesn't give us a free pass; we know better!

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift from God – not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God's handiwork in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:8-10

Jesus consistently told us we must "Love God" and "Love Others."  When we think about how we put those into action, does "Love of Self" ever get in the way of loving God or others? Does the "cost" of obedience ever keep us from doing right?

"Love the Lord your God with all your hearts and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second of this is to love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:30-31

Guys, have you ever heard the saying that there is "no I  in team?"  We somehow find a way to put together a "me" 😉. Challenge for us to consider this week. What biblical truths are we bending, overlooking, or simply ignoring due to our selfishness?   Let's all be honest with ourselves!  And be serious about making changes where they are needed. God has a plan for each one of us, MEN!!!

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

We appreciate you guys and are praying for you this morning. We pray that God will meet each of you where you are in life and specifically meet your needs.