Ok, so we are in the middle of a series at Generation Ablaze (the youth group at my church) and as i began this message series I really wanted us to be known as the youth ministry that was truly after God's Own Heart. King David was the only person in the bible to ever be referred to this way and it amazes me. David was an awesome guy there is no doubt about it, but he messed up a few times. he had an affair, plotted a guys murder, and tried to cover it all up. Then there was this certain time a guy named Shimei threw rocks and insults at David just to later ask for David's forgiveness. David forgave him but on David's death bed he told his son Solomon to "arrange a bloody death for him" (i kings 2:9) kinda crazy. yet David was a man after God's Own Heart. Psalm 51 is an account of David's repentance for the affair he had with Bathsheba...could that be why he is after God's Own Heart?, because he was repentive? or was it because he didn't have Shimei killed right away? maybe it is because he danced before the Ark without restraint and earnestly pursued God with all he had... so as we began this series, we opened up last week with the history of David, then last night. Last night was supposed to be part 2: After God's Own Heart pt 2: the Pursuit of Love. well i was going to go through 1 co 13:5-14 and then 1 co 14:1 in a matter of 30 minutes. There is no way i can do a subject like Love justice in 30 minutes. so last night was the opening of a series within a series. over the next few weeks we will be studying love for all that it's worth. I told the teens last night, there is something about this subject that God really wants to teach me, so i will do all the studying and preach at myself for the next few weeks and as i told them last night, they get to watch :)
What is Love? I know what Hallmark says love is, and it changes from card to card. my own definition of Love has changed over the years. the definition that i have now as a Christian is different from the one i had in High School my senior year when i was dating someone that i thought i loved. Now i am a Husband, Father, Pastor, Teacher, Friend, Mentor, etc... and my definition of Love is different then it ever used to be.
I want to know what true Love is. so next week we will begin to break apart 1 co 13:5-14 and we start with Love is Patient. and i ask myself, if i claim to have love am i truly patient? are there times i am not patient? if so, do i not have love at that particular time? is love a choice, reaction, response, or does it just happen? can i fall out of love? If God is love according to the Book of John? can i fall out of God? just some questions that i will be looking into over the course of the next few weeks.
-In Christ
-David
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