March
20, 2017 Monday Message:
“Protect
me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you,” Psalms 86:2 NLT
Sometimes,
it seems that David doesn’t get things quite right. Like in Psalm 86, it seems
like he’s saying, “I do this for you, God, so you owe me. Hold up your end of
the covenant.”
But
God’s covenant with His people isn’t a mutual-aid pact. Rather, it’s an
unconditional love arrangement.
We
are to serve God, trust God, and be ever-devoted to God because it’s the right
thing to do. He is, after all, our creator. Love the Lord without any
expectations of what He’ll do for you in return.
Likewise,
God, who has adopted us into His Holy Family, loves his children and takes care
of us, knowing that we won’t be perfect. Historically, God’s people seem to get
close to God, then drift away for a while, and then repent and return. Fortunately
he’s a forgiving God, a God of second chances. God loves us all through our
life’s journey, with no expectation that if he does THIS for us, we in return will
do THAT for him. Now we SHOULD do what God is asking, but his love for us isn’t
dependent upon our response. God’s agape love for us is unconditional. That’s
what the Bible says.
In
fairness to David, if you’re closer to God, you’re farther from sin, and life
will always go better. But love the Lord because he’s the Almighty God, not
because you’re expecting something in return.
Do
the right things for the right reasons.
Norton
Lawellin
Jesus
in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, March 26, 2017, at the Akina
Church, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael
Pilla preaches from Luke 19:1-10 – Zacchaeus up a tree!
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