What’s Love Got to Do With It?
October 31, 2007
Do you remember learning about plants in elementary school? One of our class projects involved leaving a stalk of celery in a vase of colored water. As the celery soaked up water, we were able to see the color run up the stalk and into the leaves.
1 John 4:10 tells us that we are not changed because of ourselves, but because God has first loved us. Just as dyed water makes a plant change color, God’s love transforms us to be more like Himself.
God’s demonstration of love is present in every day grace, but His ultimate sacrifice of His Son’s life for our souls showed His willingness to love to the extreme. John says we also must love others in this sacrificial way; if we do not, then we have not experienced God’s love.
Sometimes we avoid showing love because we are afraid of the outcome. Will the person shy away? What if our classmates ridicule us? While fear may tempt us, we need to remember that God extended mercy to us as sinners, regardless of our response.
Our Lord has called us to love others in the same manner He has loved us—with service and sacrifice. Let us soak up His transforming love and display His splendor in our actions and attitudes today.
Real Choices
What were you like before God changed your life? Tell an unbeliever about your life-changing experience and about Christ’s love for them.
Digging Deeper
Read Ephesians 2:1-10. Is there any reason why God should love sinful man based on verses 1-3? Note man’s condition after Christ changes him. How does this affect your understanding of how much God loves us and how we should demonstrate love to others?
Pray
Father, please forgive me for taking Your love for granted. Help me to love others more than myself.
Posted by Leigh Carter (lcarter@sebts.edu). Leigh is from Roanoke, VA, and graduated from Roanoke College with a Physical Education/Education degree. She enjoys playing sports of all kinds (especially softball and volleyball), music, photography, and being outside in God’s creation. Most of all, she enjoys spending time with women of all ages and teaching them God’s Word and equipping them for ministry.
Simply Intimacy
October 28, 2007
It’s amazing to me how God can speak one word and bring life to areas that have caused years of trouble and pain. As much as we strive to figure it out, we can’t bring ourselves healing. But as soon as we come and ask Jesus to speak His truth, all He has to say is one thing, and we have peace.
“One thing I ask of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to seek Him in His temple.”
Psalm 27:4
Posted by Heather Dillard. Heather is a junior at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, TX. She is from Lubbock and has 2 sisters. She loves cooking, crocheting, singing, playing guitar, and drinking tea.
Simplicity Is Coming to a Town Near You!
October 3, 2007
SAGE is going on the road with “Simplicity!” And we’d love the opportunity to meet you in person. Check out the schedule below to find out when we’ll be in your neighborhood:
SIMPLICITY PREVIEW EVENT: September 22, 2007 (Lake Pointe Church, Rockwall, TX)
GEORGIA EVENT : November 9-10, 2007 (First Baptist Church, Alpharetta, GA)
NORTH TEXAS: February 15-16, 2008 (Travis Ave. Baptist Church, Fort Worth, TX)
WEST TEXAS/NEW MEXICO: March 28-29, 2008 (Calvary Bapt. Church, Lubbock, TX)
EAST TEXAS/LOUISIANA : April 4-5, 2008 (Green Acres Bapt. Church, Tyler, TX)
SOUTHEAST U.S. EVENT: May 2-3, 2008 (First Baptist Church, Jackson, MS)
Click here for details.
