Love One Another

Introduction

Good morning. I wouldn’t normally flip my slides so early, but we’re looking to make sure this is working. And we’re going to call that a kind of. If you will open your Bibles with me to 1 Peter chapter 2. Open your Bibles with me to 1 Peter chapter 2. On Friday, about morning or afternoon, Mr. Bob called and said that he was battling laryngitis. And there was a chance that he would need me to step in and preach at the 9 o’clock hour. With your best interest in mind. He preached at the 9 o’clock a.m. hour this morning. And so I had two lessons ready, and I started liking the one I had developed second a little bit more. But I’m sticking with this one, love one another.

And there’s a reason for it. And it’s not just simply love one another. So I did happen to have a good lesson to have to put the slide on first. I’m going to add something to that in just a moment. But as we think about this week and all that happened, I want to read 1 Peter chapter 2, and I hope you’ll read with me beginning in verse 11. 1 Peter chapter 2, beginning in verse 11. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the Emperor as Supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the Brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the King. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unjust, for this is a gracious thing. When mindful of God one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it?

If when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure. But if when you do good and suffer for it, you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. I think in verse 17, we see a summary of a Christian’s responsibility, and you see it in just four quick sentences. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king, honor the emperor, as the English Standard Version renders it. In the other lesson I had planned, I had derived a lesson from a publication from over 30 years ago called Plain Talk. It originated in Texas. And it was it’s a series of blunt, straightforward Bible truths, Bible teaching. I would like, if you don’t mind, for just a moment, to make a comment or two of plain speech.

On Tuesday evening and into the morning, for those of you who made it, I made it till about 2.30, what we call Wednesday morning, which of course is 15 minutes before, the state of Pennsylvania in our election for president was called on the electoral map. We stayed up and we watched as a surprise happened, regardless of what side you were on or rooting for, whether it be the Democrats and Hillary Clinton or the Republicans of Donald Trump, or the Libertarians and Gary Johnson or the Green Party, etc., etc. We were surprised by what happened. And people’s responses were that of shock. And both people both sides, or every side, has acted in a divisive way, at least in some cases in this country. We’ve seen riots in the streets.

Some protest our American rights. We’ve seen those who are gloating and happy with victory, and to victory to the victor go the spoils. But brothers and sisters, we need to be better than the world. That doesn’t mean not to be sad or not to be upset or to not to be happy if that is the case. But on watching social media and reading, Christians argue, fight, denigrate, and name call Christians in such a public way is disgraceful. It is wrong in the sight of God. In 2 Timothy chapter 2, there’s a clear rebuke of foolish controversies, of disputing even biblical ideas such as genealogies, because they divide us. That is wrong, it is disgraceful, and not just because it’s mean, or because it looks bad, which it does, or because it’s beneath us, which it is, but because God has commanded us to be better.

That applies to the winners and the losers. That applies to those who wanted Donald Trump and those who did not want Donald Trump to be president. The fact is we are to love everyone. We are to, as verse 17 says, see it with me, honor everyone. Love in a special way. The brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the Emperor. It is unfathomable that we would let our lights be so darkened and dimmed by a political election that we would cause harm to the to the nature and the goal of all of us, which is to be in heaven and to teach others to glorify God as well. Let us be better. Let us be like God. Let us be holy, as He is holy, seeking His ways. One of those functions is to love the brotherhood and to honor one another.

And if you read the scriptures, there is a lot about loving one another. God spends a lot of time about it, both in the Old Testament and the New, and there’s such a fixation on loving one another. It begs the question, one of my favorites and probably every adult’s least favorite. Why? Why does God fixate so strongly on loving one another? I understand fearing God. I understand submitting to rules of authority. That is the goal of honor the emperor, honor the king at the end of the verse we’ve made mention of several times already. But why is it so important to love one another? Why is the old law and the new testament so littered with passages that we’re going to look at about loving one another?

1. Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

So before we can answer that question, let’s look at what is in the law of Moses. What was God’s expectation for his people? Look with me in the book of Leviticus first. In Leviticus chapter 19, and the giving of law, and the giving of expectation for God’s people, we see an entire section of Scripture here dedicated to loving and treating your neighbor as yourself, as might be best summarized by verse 18. But in Leviticus chapter 19, read with me beginning in verse 11. Leviticus chapter 19 and verse 11, you shall not steal, you shall not deal falsely, you shall not lie to one another. You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God, I am the Lord. You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him.

The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind. But you shall fear your God. I am the Lord. You shall do no injustice in court, you shall not be partial to the poor, or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor. I am the Lord. You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. And of course, please notice with me verse 18, you shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

I am the Lord. What was the problem with stealing? What was the problem with lying? What was the problem with oppressing your neighbor or robbing or doing injustice? It was mistreatment of others. It was the wrong treatment of God’s chosen people. In Amos chapter eight, as you fast forward there in your Bibles to Amos chapter eight, we find a prophet who would have prophesied hundreds of years later after the giving of the law, and you check in with the people, and it’s of course no surprise that they were failing. But note one of the harshest critiques that Amos, who is who wrote a book full of harsh critique, had to offer in Amos chapter eight, beginning in verse four. Amos chapter eight, beginning in verse four.

Hear this, you who trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end, saying, When will the new moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the epha small, and the shekel great, and deal deceitfully with false balances, that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and sell the chafe of the wheat. What was the problem in verse four? You trample on the needy. What did we just read was part of the Israelite law? Deal fairly with your brother, give to whom to what is owed. Do not steal, do not bear false witness. Love your neighbor as yourself. In verse 5, they were excited to go out and sell.

And in verse 6, what were they doing? Buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals. There was an injustice among God’s people. They were mistreating the poor, they were stepping on them rather than lifting them up as is God’s decree. In the New Testament, even we see this idea that perhaps more strongly and more fitting. Look with me in Matthew chapter 7, a passage we may know but may not know, it’s here. In Matthew chapter 7 and verse 12. You’ve heard this before. It has a golden hit tint to it. Matthew chapter 7 and verse 12. So whatever you wish the others would do to you, do also to them. Why? Do you see this with me at the end of verse 12?

This is one of the reasons I want to look at it. Not only do unto others what you want them to do to you, but why? For this is the law and the prophets. In what way? We just saw from the law and an example of a prophet chastising the people of Israel for their lack of justice, their lack of treating others the way they would want to be treated if the situations were reversed. In Matthew chapter 22, even, as we move in, beginning in verse 34. I hope you’ll turn there with me. Matthew chapter 22 and verse 34. Note the great teaching of Jesus. In Matthew chapter 22 and verse 34, but when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

And in verse 35 here, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. Teacher, which is the greatest commandment of the law, and see it with me in verse 37. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. Verse 39 and 40. And a second is like it. You shall love your neighbor. Do you see this with me? As yourself. On these two commandments, depend all the law and the prophets. Again, we’re back to that question of I understand why the first commandment will be clear. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind. I understand that. God is my creator.

He has expectations for me. I want to have fellowship, a relationship with him, and so I will submit to him. I will love him, dedicate myself entirely to his causes. But I understand the second commandment to love my neighbor as myself. I get that that takes sacrifice and an elevating of others in my own view. But why is this such an important part of God’s law? Why is it that this is on par? This is the second commandment with loving God, with all that we have, that on these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets. In John chapter 13, a passage that if you want to drop a marker, we’ll be in later. In John chapter 13, beginning in verse 34, what was Jesus’ new commandment?

A new commandment I give to you, verse 34 of John chapter 13, just as I that you love one another, just as I have loved you. You are also to love one another. Verse 35. But I by this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. Now we’re starting to see the how are we to love? Just as Christ loved us. We’re seeing some of the answer to the why should we love. Why? Verse 35. Do you see this? By this all people will know that you are my disciples. Why are we to shine as lights in the world? Matthew 5 and verse 16? Because God wants us to show off, because God just wants to say, hey, look at how good those Christians are.

Look how different they are. No, that they may see our good works and glorify our God who’s in heaven. When we shine our lights, people say, There’s something different about you. There’s something different about that man, that woman. Where is their happiness, their joy? Why are they different? And you see that answer to the Christian is clear. Our joy, our hope, our all is in God. And if people see that, they may glorify God just as we are striving to do with our lives. But you see, that applies in verse 35 by Jesus. The amount of sacrifice that it takes to love your neighbor as yourself is defined by Jesus as in verse 34, just as I have loved you. At the end of the lesson this morning, we’re going to look at some ways that Jesus loved others and see, am I showing that type of love?

2. God Made Us Special in His Image

And if not, how do I show that? How do I learn? How do I grow to that great standard that Jesus and his perfection showed? But consider with me that it is undeniable that God’s expectations for people are that we not only love Him, but that we love our neighbor as ourself. We’re starting to see some of the answer to the question why, but look, think about it with me a little bit. Why is it such a big part of the Bible message? It’s a big part of the Bible message. First of all, we can do it because God told us so. But let’s look at why. In Genesis chapter 1, note with me in verse 26. In Genesis chapter 1 and verse 26, you might ask yourself, why is it so important to love?

Because God just wants us to be happy. He just wants us to be loving. Maybe you could say that. But there’s more to it. I think we can look at just a couple reasons this morning and see there’s something different about us. There is a reason we should do this. There’s a reason God has commanded this of us. In Genesis chapter 1 and verse 26 and 27, then God said, Let us make man in our own image after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. Verse 27. So God created man in his own image.

In the image of God he created him, male and female, he created them. What impact does God creating us in his image have on how we treat our fellow man? Well, let’s note first and foremost that if God has made us, that is special. If God has made us in his image, that is beyond special, that is unique, that is powerful, that is great love. And if God has loved us so much to create us and to create us in his own image. Does that not mean that we are special in the eyes of God? And if we are special in the eyes of God, what does that mean for each other? In Psalm 100 in verse 3. In Psalm 100 and verse 3, note what the psalmist writes.

Beginning in verse 1. Psalm 100, it’s just five verses. Read them with me, please. Psalm 100, verse 1. Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come into his presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God. It is He who made us, and we are His. We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him. Bless His name, for the Lord is good. His steadfast love endures forever. Verse 3, know that the Lord is our God. It is he who made us, and we are his. We are God’s creation. We are God’s people, the sheep of his pasture. Isaiah chapter 44 and verse 24, there’s a reference to God knowing his people Israel.

He had formed them from the womb. And we see certainly that God values life. And if you want to look at a list of passages that teach us that lives matter to God, that God cares for his creation, these are three to just give a starting point. But let’s realize that God made us special. And if we are special in the eyes of God, if he made us with a unique and special opportunity to serve, that means when I look around this morning, that I see other people besides just myself made by God, made in his image. And that makes them special. Just as I need to realize that I am special in the eyes of God. What a blessing to be able to be God’s people.

3. Jesus Died for the Whole World

What a blessing to have a God who makes his ways known to us. But see, secondly, not only has God made us special, but this was proven, underlined, and cemented by the fact that Jesus was sent to the cross for our sins. We know John 3.16, but look with me in 1 John chapter 2. No, who did Jesus die for? There’s a faction out there that says Jesus only died for some. He died for the word often given as the elect. But note with me, 1 John chapter 2, how that how John disagrees with that understanding. In 1 John chapter 2, beginning in verse 1. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of who? The whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him if we keep his commandments. Now I remember one of those commandments was loving your neighbor as yourself. That was that new commandment that Jesus gave to us. That was the second commandment upon two of which Jesus said, hang all the law and the prophets. But note with me in verse 1. I think in verse 2 it’s clear, Jesus died on the cross for the whole world. He died for mankind because of our sin. But in verse 1, note this special, unique fact that God offers only human beings and all of his creation.

But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. What a blessing that is. To know God’s ways, to know God made us special, but to know that if we violate God’s will on purpose, if we have turned our back on him or never come to him, that we can have an advocate with the Father if we submit to his will. God not only made us special, he made provisions for us that are beyond special. He made provisions for us which are extraordinary. That is only Jesus could die on the cross for our sins, and God sent his Son, Jesus the Christ, to be our Savior. Really, nothing else needs to be said to prove and show than the eyes of God, man is special, man is unique.

And that applies to the whole world. If there is a human being, God created them in his image. If there’s a human being, Jesus died on the cross for their sins, if we will by faith seek the Father’s will. That is a tremendous blessing. And that shows us that God not only valued us to make us in such a special, unique way, but he sent Jesus to die for us, that our worth to him is immense. And so when I have to think about why is loving your neighbor such a big part of the Bible, I see it’s clearly in the eyes of God, because we are special to him. If we are special enough for Jesus to die for, we’re special enough to treat each other with respect, dignity, and sacrifice.

4. Jesus Served and Loved Others Humbly

Jesus did that. Look with me at three passages as we move towards concluding the lesson this morning. How do we love one another? The simple answer is as ourselves. The best example is as Jesus did. Note three examples of Jesus and his service. I told you we’d come back to John chapter 13. Jesus served and loved others humbly. I think it’s clear that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but look with me also in his life. In John chapter 13, the thing about loving one another, the thing about not being caught up in disputes and in these arguments and being selfish both in terms of our service and our words, is I think sometimes what gets out of whack is I feel that I’m I know more.

Or I’m right about a topic. Is that not the heart of our political divides that my way of understanding this is better? At least this candidate’s better than that candidate, and I know that because of these reasons. And then someone else says, Well, no, that’s not right because I know that this candidate’s better than that candidate because of this list of reasons. And when it denigrates, it’s our selfish lusts to allow ourselves to become spotted in this world. In John chapter 13, Jesus shows he was different. Jesus was different in his humble service to others. Note with me beginning in verse one. Now, before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that this hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who are in the world, he loved them to the end.

During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. That was Jesus. That was the Son of God, who was with God at creation, in whom’s image man was made, who is now down washing the disciples’ feet. Peter reacts predictably like we might think we’d like to. In verse six, Lord, do you wash my feet?

Jesus answered him, What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterwards you will understand. Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. And Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me. And Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said to him, The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, that’s completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you. For he knew who was to betray him. That was why he said, Not all of you are clean. When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you?

You call me teacher and lord, and you are right, for so I am. If then your Lord and teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Jesus says, Follow my example. Jesus came to serve. Jesus showed his service by getting down and washing feet. Jesus did not consider his elevation with God something that should put him on the pedestal to where they fall down and serve him and they carry him through the streets. Jesus was a humble servant of God.

And he was going to teach that humility, that servant’s heart to his closest disciples. When we think about John chapter 13, to be honest, we think what a degrading task. Washing the feet. Jesus, the one who was one with God, who was with God, would come to this earth and wash his disciples’ feet. Who would interact with Peter, who denied Jesus and would deny him three times, and Jesus knew. That Jesus would do this in the presence and the understanding of Judas going to betray him is remarkable. Jesus was a humble servant. In verse 14, if I then your Lord and teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash another’s feet. Why? The master is greater than his servants. The master washes feet, the servant should.

If I think about my loving one another, I have to ask myself, am I doing this? And if not, how do I get here? How do we get so divisive? How do we get so problematic? How do we get so selfish? Because we’re concerned with me. I’m concerned about my well-being, what I deserve, what I think is right. I wonder what a difference the perspective would make if rather than trying to prove how right I am, and how my politician was right and your politician was wrong, I wonder what it would be like if we all worked and said, How can I help you? How can I help you, not only in this country, but more importantly, in my fulfillment of 1 Peter chapter 2, how can I love my brotherhood?

If I’m going to love my neighbor as myself, what can I do for you that makes you a better servant of God? What need do you have that I can fill? Galatians chapter 6 and verse 10, let us do good to who, especially? To all who have need, but especially those of the household of faith. We should have a special connection. That’s why love the brotherhood is separate in 1 Peter chapter 2, because we should have a unique bond, not one that we tear apart at or we take for granted, but one that we humbly serve, saying, I am no better than anyone else. We are both special in the eyes of God. Jesus viewed us so of so much value that he not only washed feet, but he died on the cross for our sins.

5. Jesus Loved Sacrificially

How dare I? How dare anyone look at another human and say, I’m better than you. God made us all special in his image and sent Jesus to die for each and every one of us. We need to have a humble spirit and mind about not just ourselves and our place, but also elevating others to a unique place in God’s service. I’m not asking for too much. I’m asking that we see what God says and view others the way our Heavenly Father does. If God, far above us, can look upon us with favor, certainly we can at a minimum look at our equals the same. Second point, Jesus loved sacrificially. In John chapter 13, we noted this, but look with me in verse 31. In John chapter 13 and verse 31.

When he had gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you.

A new commandment I give to you that you love one another just as I have loved you, you’re also to love one another. How was it that Jesus loved? Well, in Luke chapter 10, the parable of the Good Samaritan, who was our neighbor? Everyone. Anyone who has a need that we can fill. But in John chapter 13, Jesus said to love as I have loved, Jesus loved sacrificially, not just with his pride, but with his life. Jesus came for the purpose of saving lost souls. And while he was here, he served man rather than being served. If anyone had a claim to fame, if anyone was right about everything and deserved to be worshipped 24 7, it was Jesus. And yet it was that same Jesus who was crucified on the cross for our sins.

Jesus loved sacrificially.

That may be unlike the good Samaritan, I’m kind of like the Levite who walks by and says, You know what, I just don’t have time right now. Or that’s a little too messy for me, or you name the reason. The point was the man was stuck and left for dead. And two, who should have known better, walked right past him. There was no sacrifice involved. David knew that he shouldn’t sacrifice to God that which cost him nothing. I wonder how much does our service to God cost us? There’s a lot of discussion in the political realm about religious freedoms and rights, but the truth is, right now, regardless of who had won the presidency, at this moment, the Lord has blessed us in this country with religious freedom.

We can stand up and teach about Christ. We can show others the good news. We can be lights both in terms of our actions and in our teachings, revealing the revealed word of God to others. That’s a blessing. But am I willing to sacrifice? Am I willing to help others, to love others to a point which costs me something? Or will I only do it if I happen to have the spare time? I don’t know about everyone here, but I know my schedule generally fills up pretty fast. If I wait to serve God or to serve others when I have a hole in my schedule, I’m going to find that I don’t have that time. But if I search and I put God first, the time won’t only be there, it will be there in plenty.

6. Jesus Loved One Another in Every Circumstance

Because if we’re pleasing God and we’re not going to fail, we’re going to make time for God. And that includes loving him with all of our soul, heart, and mind, but loving our neighbor as ourself. We’ve got to humbly view our life here as a chance to serve others. And that’s not unfair. It’s not too much. It’s following what Jesus did. If Jesus can do it, I can move myself to do it for others. Let me look at one final point, and it’s the undercurrent of this whole lesson. Jesus loved one another in every circumstance. They’re with me in Romans chapter 5, and I hope you’ll turn there with me as it’s a final scripture we’re going to look at this morning. In Romans chapter 5, we read the great passage on how Jesus died for our sins.

But note what the timing was of his sacrifice. In what circumstance did Jesus die for us? Well, in verse 1, we have the good news. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we also have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame. Because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. We’re going to have to read about Jesus dying for us, but note the three different markers of where we were, how we were in our relation to God when Jesus died for us.

Romans 5 and verse 6. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Verse 7, for one will scarcely die for a righteous person, though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die. But God shows his love for us, and that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. So far we’re weak and ungodly, we were sinners in verse 8. In verse 9, since therefore we have been now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son. Much more now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Do you see that count in verse 6? Weak and ungodly. Verse 8, we were sinners, verse 10, we were enemies, and it was at this time Jesus died on the cross for our sins. And I have a problem talking with my neighbor about politics. May it never be. May it never be that I get so caught up in this world that I neglect not only loving God, but in so doing, loving my neighbor as myself. God has been consistent on the issue throughout time. In the book of Leviticus, we saw very clearly Jesus expected us to love our neighbor as ourselves. That was God’s expectation for his chosen nation, Israel. In the New Testament, we see Jesus is clear to his disciples and to us today.

There is a commandment that we love one another just as Christ even loved us. Jesus loved us to the amount of giving his life on the cross. Yes, Romans 5 says, for a righteous person, one might even dare to die. But what about for our enemies? We are to love them. I can’t help but think when in 1 Peter chapter 2, Peter writes, we need to honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the King. It’s a succinct example of not only what God expects of us, but why do we love one another? Because we are special in God’s sight, and we can be more than just organisms that exist. We were made by God for a purpose, and that purpose is to submit to him.

Conclusion

Do you trust God today? The question might be that I haven’t been loving one another, and what do I do about that? Well, if you’ve never been a Christian, know that you can be forgiven of your sins. We do have an advocate in the Father. We have an advocate in Jesus Christ the righteous. You can have your sins forgiven by believing in God, submitting to him in faith, being baptized for the forgiveness of your sins, committing to a life of righteousness. Or maybe you’ve been a Christian, but you’ve slacked. You’ve not sacrificed, you’ve not been humbled. Realize that you can make it right. Every minute that God blesses us with is another time we can serve God. Make things right with God tonight. Today. Don’t leave him.

Don’t leave it for tonight. Don’t leave it for tomorrow. Make things right with God right now. If we can help you in any way, come forward now as we stand and sing the invitation song.