Romans 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
In order to have Father’s Day you have to have sons and daughters. There are always certain identifying factors when we talk about sons and daughters, be they genetic, (physical,) moral, (behavioral,) or inclination, (spiritual.) These identifying factors tie the sons and daughters to the father, making their relationship apparent.
Have you ever seen two grown men who look physically almost identical, save for their years? And, every now and then you see fathers with their very young sons following after them, with the same walk, the same sort of bearing, the same hair color, and so on. The family resemblance is unmistakable, the boy looking for all-the-world like a scale-model of the father.
This was what Paul was speaking of so often in the Book of Romans, and especially in his introductory paragraph. He was saying to the Romans, “You’ve never seen me - but here’s what I look like: I look just like my Father.”
It strikes me one of the greatest honors we can do for our fathers is to look like them. I’m not talking physically so much as representationally. I am grateful to my son when he represents me well, and when his behavior is mature and a blessing to all who come in contact with him. I am blessed when people look at my son and say, “You can see his father in him.”
Sons learn resemblance of their fathers by close observation.
John 5:19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
Again, this is what Paul is telling the Romans about himself, by way of introduction. “We’ve never met, but you know my Father so well, it is as if you know me too.” Paul writes, “I am a bondservant, called, and separated to such a great extent to the Gospel of Jesus Christ it is as if I no longer exist. I only live for and through my Father, who is in heaven.” In this he makes his Father’s day!
- Pastor Bill
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
What If You Knew?
Esther 6:1 That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 Then the king said, "What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" And the king's servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him."
4 So the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 The king's servants said to him, "Haman is there, standing in the court." And the king said, "Let him come in." 6 So Haman came in, and the king asked him, "What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?" Now Haman thought in his heart, "Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?"
Knowing God is behind the scenes should be very comforting to the believer. The hard part is knowing…and how knowing is so often tested by waiting. Waiting is the hardest part about knowing. Waiting tests knowing to the extreme. It is in waiting that knowing becomes doubting, and doubting leads to doing, and doing without knowing leads to failure.
Suppose you were, as was Mordecai in the Book of Esther, waiting to be killed in a holocaust-like operation sponsored by an evil man named Haman. (The text teaches us the Jews were all to be killed by written decree of the king, in 12 months.) A year of waiting to ensue…and what is to be done?
Does this sound like any time to wait on the Lord? Well, there IS time – but so much is at stake. And, since the king has already written an edict which by law cannot be over-turned, what can God really do anyway? Surely, this must be a time to flee the scene for self-preservation. But how can all the Jews be organized to move? It all seems so perplexing…(see Esther 3:15.)
When you are in a perplexed place – as all the Jews were, not just Mordecai – it is a place of waiting. No matter what, a time when you find yourself confounded is a time when waiting is appropriate. We are only to move out and take action in a time when we are as certain of God’s direction as we can be. And waiting is what we are to do when we are as uncertain as we can be about what to do.
We become certain of what to do when we see what God has done while we were waiting and watching. To trust that God is working while you are waiting is the part the Bible shows us over and over again, and it is the part that is imperative to remember. What if you knew God was working while you were waiting? Wouldn’t that settle your heart? What if Mordecai hadn’t waited?
- Pastor Bill
4 So the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 The king's servants said to him, "Haman is there, standing in the court." And the king said, "Let him come in." 6 So Haman came in, and the king asked him, "What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?" Now Haman thought in his heart, "Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?"
Knowing God is behind the scenes should be very comforting to the believer. The hard part is knowing…and how knowing is so often tested by waiting. Waiting is the hardest part about knowing. Waiting tests knowing to the extreme. It is in waiting that knowing becomes doubting, and doubting leads to doing, and doing without knowing leads to failure.
Suppose you were, as was Mordecai in the Book of Esther, waiting to be killed in a holocaust-like operation sponsored by an evil man named Haman. (The text teaches us the Jews were all to be killed by written decree of the king, in 12 months.) A year of waiting to ensue…and what is to be done?
Does this sound like any time to wait on the Lord? Well, there IS time – but so much is at stake. And, since the king has already written an edict which by law cannot be over-turned, what can God really do anyway? Surely, this must be a time to flee the scene for self-preservation. But how can all the Jews be organized to move? It all seems so perplexing…(see Esther 3:15.)
When you are in a perplexed place – as all the Jews were, not just Mordecai – it is a place of waiting. No matter what, a time when you find yourself confounded is a time when waiting is appropriate. We are only to move out and take action in a time when we are as certain of God’s direction as we can be. And waiting is what we are to do when we are as uncertain as we can be about what to do.
We become certain of what to do when we see what God has done while we were waiting and watching. To trust that God is working while you are waiting is the part the Bible shows us over and over again, and it is the part that is imperative to remember. What if you knew God was working while you were waiting? Wouldn’t that settle your heart? What if Mordecai hadn’t waited?
- Pastor Bill
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Right Now
Esther 4:13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!" 17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.
We spend so much of our life looking back to the past or looking forward to the future it is sometimes shocking to be faced with doing something right now. Right away. No time to waste.
The diagnosis has been provided by Esther’s adoptive father Mordecai, the one who raised her as his own. She knows she can trust what he says. There is no hyperbole or overstatement involved. The truth from Mordecai: “Unless you do something we will all die.”
Esther’s response is one of bravery and wisdom beyond her age, which is a wonderful representation of Mordecai’s influence upon her young life. Notice Mordecai doesn’t instruct Esther about what to do, he simply informs her of the problem, (ALL the Jews are about to be killed, under the evil direction of the prideful Haman.) Note: How important we as parents build the Word of God into our children’s lives – as it may one day save ours.
Esther, when fully apprised of the problem begs for prayer and fasting on her behalf, that the Lord may give her opportunity and wisdom. I am fascinated by this. I think in her place I may have asked Mordecai what to say to the king. She didn’t. She asked for Mordecai to have all the Jews pray and fast, that God may tell her what to say.
Jesus said, Luke 12:11 Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."
Jesus has told us we will one day find ourselves in Esther’s place. Speak or forever hold your peace. Life or death. Right now. You’re on. This is the way of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We, as believers, will periodically be provided eternal life-saving moments for those we come in contact with. It was just such a life-saving moment that saved my eternal life – as it was yours. The question before us now is will we continue this lineage, or does it stop with us? Will we, right now, speak forth – even at great risk to our own position or reputation – even our life?
- Pastor Bill
We spend so much of our life looking back to the past or looking forward to the future it is sometimes shocking to be faced with doing something right now. Right away. No time to waste.
The diagnosis has been provided by Esther’s adoptive father Mordecai, the one who raised her as his own. She knows she can trust what he says. There is no hyperbole or overstatement involved. The truth from Mordecai: “Unless you do something we will all die.”
Esther’s response is one of bravery and wisdom beyond her age, which is a wonderful representation of Mordecai’s influence upon her young life. Notice Mordecai doesn’t instruct Esther about what to do, he simply informs her of the problem, (ALL the Jews are about to be killed, under the evil direction of the prideful Haman.) Note: How important we as parents build the Word of God into our children’s lives – as it may one day save ours.
Esther, when fully apprised of the problem begs for prayer and fasting on her behalf, that the Lord may give her opportunity and wisdom. I am fascinated by this. I think in her place I may have asked Mordecai what to say to the king. She didn’t. She asked for Mordecai to have all the Jews pray and fast, that God may tell her what to say.
Jesus said, Luke 12:11 Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."
Jesus has told us we will one day find ourselves in Esther’s place. Speak or forever hold your peace. Life or death. Right now. You’re on. This is the way of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We, as believers, will periodically be provided eternal life-saving moments for those we come in contact with. It was just such a life-saving moment that saved my eternal life – as it was yours. The question before us now is will we continue this lineage, or does it stop with us? Will we, right now, speak forth – even at great risk to our own position or reputation – even our life?
- Pastor Bill
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Practically Speaking
Acts 27:9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives." 11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there. 13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon.
At what point does the Spiritual intersect with the practical?
As we go through life trying to balance our Spiritual lives with our physical lives, this is often the question we are left to deal with. How do we get through our day-to-day mundane experiences while keeping a Spiritual perspective? Does God really care about the details of our lives? Does God really have the time to invest His will in all of our decisions?
Now, most Christians would in all probability respond, “Yes! God does care about the details and the routine aspects of our lives.” But how does that work? What does that look like?
In part, it looks like the great divide we see here, as the centurion seeks advice, first from Paul, then from the ship’s helmsman and owner, about whether to sail further before winter arrives. Can trouble be avoided?
If we put ourselves in the centurion’s place, who would we trust? Would we trust the professional sailor and the boat-owner, or would we trust a man who has invested himself in knowing God’s will? Who would appear to know more and have more experience dealing with the specifics of the decision to be made?
Hmmm…Who would you trust with a decision about car repair? Who would you trust with a decision about whether to have surgery or not? Who would you trust with a decision about whether to change jobs, or churches? Who would you trust with a decision to buy a house? Do you see the difficulty here?
We are surrounded by ‘experts’ about every subject under the sun. (Especially in these Google-happy days.) But the truth is we also have the option of seeking the wisdom of the Creator of the sun. Given the choice, who would you trust?
- Pastor Bill
At what point does the Spiritual intersect with the practical?
As we go through life trying to balance our Spiritual lives with our physical lives, this is often the question we are left to deal with. How do we get through our day-to-day mundane experiences while keeping a Spiritual perspective? Does God really care about the details of our lives? Does God really have the time to invest His will in all of our decisions?
Now, most Christians would in all probability respond, “Yes! God does care about the details and the routine aspects of our lives.” But how does that work? What does that look like?
In part, it looks like the great divide we see here, as the centurion seeks advice, first from Paul, then from the ship’s helmsman and owner, about whether to sail further before winter arrives. Can trouble be avoided?
If we put ourselves in the centurion’s place, who would we trust? Would we trust the professional sailor and the boat-owner, or would we trust a man who has invested himself in knowing God’s will? Who would appear to know more and have more experience dealing with the specifics of the decision to be made?
Hmmm…Who would you trust with a decision about car repair? Who would you trust with a decision about whether to have surgery or not? Who would you trust with a decision about whether to change jobs, or churches? Who would you trust with a decision to buy a house? Do you see the difficulty here?
We are surrounded by ‘experts’ about every subject under the sun. (Especially in these Google-happy days.) But the truth is we also have the option of seeking the wisdom of the Creator of the sun. Given the choice, who would you trust?
- Pastor Bill
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Speak for Yourself
Acts 26:1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You are permitted to speak for yourself." So Paul stretched out his hand and answered for himself: 2 "I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because today I shall answer for myself before you concerning all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, 3 especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently.
If you were asked to speak for yourself, what might you say?
Now, imagine being asked to speak for yourself before the king – at risk of your life – and…
Trying to put ourselves in Paul’s place has only been made easy by the passage of time. We sometimes read the Bible dispassionately, dully, without the proper flame of emotion. After all, when we’ve read the Bible through once, we know the end of the story – and knowing the end of the story removes the tension of the story. When we’ve read the Bible through many times, it sometimes gets even worse, especially when it comes to feeling the moment – or making ourselves part of the action.
Here we have Paul in the grand hall, standing in his rags or prison uniform before King Herod Agrippa II, a wicked despot currently ruling the land while married to his sister Bernice. (Her brother is her third husband, and she married Agrippa II prior to divorcing her previous husband.)
The governor, (Festus,) who is your judge, is over here, staring at you with mild contempt – at least of class, or perhaps of religion - listening to hear what you might say, and watching your every move. You’ve appealed to Caesar, but does that remove his ability to have you beheaded upon his spontaneous command? Do you really believe your speech is protected, should it be deemed offensive?
And then, there is Bernice, who may well be in contempt of your “self-righteous religious loathing” as she may understand of all the “Jews” who have knowledge of her incestuous relationship with her brother. How would she react? Is she sitting perched on the throne next to her husband with a sneer – looking for the opportunity to have you hang yourself by your words? Will she hold sway over Agrippa?
And Agrippa wants to hear what you have to say for yourself - as a curiosity - not as a legal defense. He simply wants to know: Who is this man? Again, what would you say? How would you edit yourself? All of this grandeur, all of these assembled people, all of this power – and every bit of it is focused on the response you are about to make…
Welcome to the world of Christian testimony. You may now speak for yourself. What will you say?
- Pastor Bill
If you were asked to speak for yourself, what might you say?
Now, imagine being asked to speak for yourself before the king – at risk of your life – and…
Trying to put ourselves in Paul’s place has only been made easy by the passage of time. We sometimes read the Bible dispassionately, dully, without the proper flame of emotion. After all, when we’ve read the Bible through once, we know the end of the story – and knowing the end of the story removes the tension of the story. When we’ve read the Bible through many times, it sometimes gets even worse, especially when it comes to feeling the moment – or making ourselves part of the action.
Here we have Paul in the grand hall, standing in his rags or prison uniform before King Herod Agrippa II, a wicked despot currently ruling the land while married to his sister Bernice. (Her brother is her third husband, and she married Agrippa II prior to divorcing her previous husband.)
The governor, (Festus,) who is your judge, is over here, staring at you with mild contempt – at least of class, or perhaps of religion - listening to hear what you might say, and watching your every move. You’ve appealed to Caesar, but does that remove his ability to have you beheaded upon his spontaneous command? Do you really believe your speech is protected, should it be deemed offensive?
And then, there is Bernice, who may well be in contempt of your “self-righteous religious loathing” as she may understand of all the “Jews” who have knowledge of her incestuous relationship with her brother. How would she react? Is she sitting perched on the throne next to her husband with a sneer – looking for the opportunity to have you hang yourself by your words? Will she hold sway over Agrippa?
And Agrippa wants to hear what you have to say for yourself - as a curiosity - not as a legal defense. He simply wants to know: Who is this man? Again, what would you say? How would you edit yourself? All of this grandeur, all of these assembled people, all of this power – and every bit of it is focused on the response you are about to make…
Welcome to the world of Christian testimony. You may now speak for yourself. What will you say?
- Pastor Bill
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Falsely Accused
Acts 24:1 Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul. 2 And when he was called upon, Tertullus began his accusation, saying: "Seeing that through you we enjoy great peace, and prosperity is being brought to this nation by your foresight, 3 we accept it always and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us. 5 For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we seized him, and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7 But the commander Lysias came by and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8 commanding his accusers to come to you. By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him." 9 And the Jews also assented, maintaining that these things were so.
One of the things we might as well get used to as Christians is being falsely accused. I can think of any number of reasons Satan engages in this practice. And – oh, by the way – it IS Satan, as the Bible declares, Rev 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
It has been well-said, “A lying accusation can travel around the world three times before truth can even get up and put its pants on.”
Is it any wonder Satan would employ lying accusation in order to bring about the downfall of fruitful Christians, AND, to tempt Christians into the sin of LISTENING TO – or worse – CONSIDERING the falsehoods Satan spews?
Paul himself had left instruction to the young pastor Timothy to not even listen to an accusation made against an elder of the church unless it was lodged by two or three witnesses. (1 Tim 5:19) The same instruction is valuable toward anyone in the body of Christ, but is especially important for leaders. Why? Because Paul rightly anticipates false accusations will be made against church leaders as it is the simplest way to destroy any ministry work. Jesus called Satan “a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44)
Anytime anyone tells a lie, or shares in a falsehood, (which can be any variation or shading of the truth,) they are in league with Satan. This does not mean the person is possessed by Satan or anything of the sort. It simply means they are helping - in that instance - the enemy to achieve his goals. Need it be said Satan’s goals are in complete opposition to Jesus’ goals?
In our text we have a prime example of this, and it is easy to see this for what it is. The lies Tertullus speaks against Paul are useful to help us see something else, however. (More than the simple fact Satan is a liar.) Tertullus was just a spokesman. He was only repeating the lies he had heard about Paul. How important it is for us to be certain of the truth before we speak.
- Pastor Bill
One of the things we might as well get used to as Christians is being falsely accused. I can think of any number of reasons Satan engages in this practice. And – oh, by the way – it IS Satan, as the Bible declares, Rev 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
It has been well-said, “A lying accusation can travel around the world three times before truth can even get up and put its pants on.”
Is it any wonder Satan would employ lying accusation in order to bring about the downfall of fruitful Christians, AND, to tempt Christians into the sin of LISTENING TO – or worse – CONSIDERING the falsehoods Satan spews?
Paul himself had left instruction to the young pastor Timothy to not even listen to an accusation made against an elder of the church unless it was lodged by two or three witnesses. (1 Tim 5:19) The same instruction is valuable toward anyone in the body of Christ, but is especially important for leaders. Why? Because Paul rightly anticipates false accusations will be made against church leaders as it is the simplest way to destroy any ministry work. Jesus called Satan “a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44)
Anytime anyone tells a lie, or shares in a falsehood, (which can be any variation or shading of the truth,) they are in league with Satan. This does not mean the person is possessed by Satan or anything of the sort. It simply means they are helping - in that instance - the enemy to achieve his goals. Need it be said Satan’s goals are in complete opposition to Jesus’ goals?
In our text we have a prime example of this, and it is easy to see this for what it is. The lies Tertullus speaks against Paul are useful to help us see something else, however. (More than the simple fact Satan is a liar.) Tertullus was just a spokesman. He was only repeating the lies he had heard about Paul. How important it is for us to be certain of the truth before we speak.
- Pastor Bill
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Mother Love
Gen 2:21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man."
Gen 3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
As Genesis is the book of beginnings, it is not surprising we find the beginning of creation described, of all things and all creatures. One of the things seen in these early chapters of God’s Word is that He has ordained His creatures to participate in the creation process. How amazing!
And yet, all these many thousands of years later – how ordinary?
What has happened to our lives when we see the awesome privilege of participating with God in His creation as ordinary, or run-of-the-mill? After all, thousands of babies are born every day – what’s the big deal?
We suffer from mass-miracle syndrome. If we see a miracle often enough, we cease to see it as miraculous, and instead it becomes routine. We watch the belly grow, we see the baby born, we watch the child grow up, over and over again. Millions upon millions of times, the same story repeated.
Unless it is your story. Your story only happens once. Your story is clearly miraculous. You are one in a million; maybe even million-millions. And you have come through - as far as you are concerned – the mother of ALL living, your ‘Eve,’ your mother, your mommy.
I praise God for how He has, in His wisdom, distributed this wonderful and awesome privilege. I try to imagine all He thinks of each one of these conceptions and each one of these births. His miraculous love poured out on all creation, that we might see what He sees, and feel what He feels about life and creation - but more specifically – about the lives we have participated in creating.
There is no love so awesome as the love we see when a newborn is lain on its mother’s breast. The bond is so great it is as if the flesh does not even exist as a barrier between the two lives. There is nothing we have to compare with that kind of love, nor would we dare. This love, this unconditional love, between mother and child, is – I think – the closest we come to approximating God’s love for us. I believe it is His desire for us to see this, in just this way.
- Pastor Bill
Gen 3:20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
As Genesis is the book of beginnings, it is not surprising we find the beginning of creation described, of all things and all creatures. One of the things seen in these early chapters of God’s Word is that He has ordained His creatures to participate in the creation process. How amazing!
And yet, all these many thousands of years later – how ordinary?
What has happened to our lives when we see the awesome privilege of participating with God in His creation as ordinary, or run-of-the-mill? After all, thousands of babies are born every day – what’s the big deal?
We suffer from mass-miracle syndrome. If we see a miracle often enough, we cease to see it as miraculous, and instead it becomes routine. We watch the belly grow, we see the baby born, we watch the child grow up, over and over again. Millions upon millions of times, the same story repeated.
Unless it is your story. Your story only happens once. Your story is clearly miraculous. You are one in a million; maybe even million-millions. And you have come through - as far as you are concerned – the mother of ALL living, your ‘Eve,’ your mother, your mommy.
I praise God for how He has, in His wisdom, distributed this wonderful and awesome privilege. I try to imagine all He thinks of each one of these conceptions and each one of these births. His miraculous love poured out on all creation, that we might see what He sees, and feel what He feels about life and creation - but more specifically – about the lives we have participated in creating.
There is no love so awesome as the love we see when a newborn is lain on its mother’s breast. The bond is so great it is as if the flesh does not even exist as a barrier between the two lives. There is nothing we have to compare with that kind of love, nor would we dare. This love, this unconditional love, between mother and child, is – I think – the closest we come to approximating God’s love for us. I believe it is His desire for us to see this, in just this way.
- Pastor Bill
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