Well, Mississippi weather is staying true to its nature – ever changing and unpredictable. Sometimes in February we have warm or at the very least cool, but we seem to be heading toward single digit temperatures.
Within a few days time, I have been from sweater vest to sweating — from shorts and Chacos to my heaviest coat and gassing up my generator. I have heard it said that if you don’t like the weather in Mississippi, just wait a minute for it to change.
In some ways, our hearts are a lot like the weather patterns of the South. We can, sometimes, be as warm and loving as one could ever hope to be, and, a few minutes later, a cold front blows in prompting us to give others the cold shoulder. Our hearts are fickle and changing. Jeremiah 17:9 pegs it aptly: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
It is a very good thing that God’s heart is nothing like ours. Look at the way that God describes Himself to Moses on Mount Sinai:
“The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
Exodus 34:6-7
He could have described any of His attributes that He wanted. He could have expressed His anger at the Israelites for building an idol while He was giving His Law. But, no, He says He is “slow to anger”. He could have allowed Egypt to strike them once more as divine punishment. Instead, He emphasizes the fact that He chooses to be “merciful and gracious”. He would have been right and just to come down on them with justice and judgment, but He chose to show His heart for them.
This Sunday is Valentine’s Day and usually focuses on romantic love – or other feelings often confused with or traded for real love. If you research the history of “Saint Valentine”, you get a lot of legend, no shortage of confusion, and at least two origin stories. We need something more sure. We need something that will not change.
So, we are going to look at the “steadfast love” of our God because it is the opposite of all of that. It is true and abounding and never-failing and free. And that love — especially the Savior who shows us that love — is worth singing about!
Here are our songs:
- Ephesians 2:1-7 —
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
- Grace Wins —
Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: Romans 3:23, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 5:16-18, Romans 8:1, 1 Timothy 1:13-14, Ephesians 1:6-7, 2 Corinthians 9:8, John 1:16, Ephesians 2:7, Ezekiel 36:26, 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, Luke 15:11-32, John 4, Matthew 9:27-31, John 9, Luke 16:19-31
- Jude 20-21 —
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
- How Deep the Father’s Love For Us —
Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8, Matthew 27:46, Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Romans 8:17, Isaiah 53, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13, Colossians 2:14, 1 Peter 2:24, John 19:30, Galatians 2:19-20, Galatians 6:14, Psalm 8:4, 1 Timothy 1:15-16
- Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26 —
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;—
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
- How He Loves —
Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: Exodus 34:14, Romans 5:5, Hebrews 1:1-13, Romans 5:6-8, Galatians 2:20, John 3:16, Deuteronomy 32:9, 1 Peter 2:9-10, 1 Corinthians 9:23-27, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:4-6, Ephesians 5:25
- Romans 5:6-8 —
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Galatians 2:20 —
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
- You are My King (Amazing Love) —
Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: Psalm 32:1, 1 John 1:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 27:46, Romans 5:5, Psalm 51:11-12, Romans 5:8, Galatians 2:20, John 15:13, Matthew 27:37, Romans 10:9, Revelation 1:5, 1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 19:16, 1 Corinthians 10:31
- (invitation) Even Unto Death —
Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: Philippians 2:8, Matthew 5:1-12, John 14:5-7, Revelation 12:11
I hope to see you with us, whether you gather in person, in the parking lot via speaker, or on Facebook or YouTube live!
If gathering in person, please remember that masks are recommended and that we need to remain vigilant in our social distancing measures. Continue to pray for those who are sick – not just our members but all those around the world.
Just Keith Harris 