What is Love?

Recently, our Children's Minister Reiko, gave a devotional on 1 Corinthians 13, a passage that speaks on love. She commented how many children hear this passage at weddings...she pointed out the context of these verses. So as I revisit it, I note that there are divisions over corporate worship, lawsuits, more divisions, and sexual immorality in the church. Perhaps God is telling us that in the church we really need to be patient, kind...(see v. 4-7). I was reminded how I need to keep no records of wrong, etc. (Not ignoring church discipline issues, a discussion for another day) but it reminded me of how important it is to love, esp. our family, and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Eph. 3:10 speaks of how God has chosen the church as his connection to the world, to spread his message, and to model love. I pray that we don't give up on the church.

Depression

This weeks devotional: Have you ever felt like this?

1 Kings 19: 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. and he asked that he might DIE, saying, "It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers." (emphasis mine)

I had a week like that recently. Off and on I get really depressed. Sometimes depression can hit after a spiritual high. If you look back at 1 Kings 18, Elijah had a big spiritual victory, and not so soon after he is running for his life.

We went over this passage in Nepal, right before our return home...and so often after spiritual highs we hit lows...but God doesn't want us to fall into despair. Later in Chapter 19, an angel comes to feed him. Defn. something about being fed...spiritually. Jesus said that we don't live on bread alone, but every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matt 4:4).

I pray that you are eating God's word, and spiritually nourished.

Thanks for reading, and I plan to be back next week with a short written message. Take care and God Bless You.

-William