God’s Love
Our Bible verse of the month for February is 1 Corinthians 1:18
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.
Do you remember the first time you heard the story of Jesus and His love for us? Maybe that first time you heard the stories of the Bible they made no sense to you. But when you stop to think about it, maybe you can remember how amazing it was when God opened your heart to believe and repent and follow Jesus as Lord!
God’s grace is amazing, but part of what makes it so amazing is His enduring perseverance in seeking the lost. A research project once studied people successful in sales. They expected to find some trait, like friendliness or being handsome or beautiful, that made the difference between success and failure. What they found was fascinating - the only difference in outcome was perseverance. Those who failed in sales gave up after the 3rd person told them “No” while the successful did not give up until after the 7th person told them “No”.
With President’s Day coming up, I am reminded of the father who urged his young son, “Never quit, son, never quit! Do you remember George Washington? Thomas Jefferson? Abraham Lincoln?” “Of course, I remember our great presidents!” said the boy. “What’s your point?” The father said, “My point is that they had one thing in common - they never quit!” Then he went on, “Son, do you remember Henry Hackensack?” “Well, no, “the boy replied. “Who was he?” “Of course, you don’t remember him! He quit!”
As long as God gives us days on earth, He will never quit pursuing us with His love. Because God never quit on us, we know Hi love and His amazing grace, which is “the power of God to us who are being saved.” God is still doing this great work of seeking and saving the lost! (Luke 19:10) Each of us has friends and family members who still see the message of the cross as foolishness. But let us never stop praying for them and telling them about how Jesus died to save them from sin. Even when we feel like no hope is left, God may still open their eyes, and what was once foolishness to them may save them in the end!
Jamie McElrath
Senior Pastor
