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Friday, August 14 - Devotional from Pastor John

August 14, 2020 by Rev. John Hartman

“Love for a Lifetime”

A minister decided to try something a little different one Sunday morning at church. He said to the congregation, “Today I’m going to say a single word and you’re going help me preach. Whatever word I say, I want you to sing the first hymn that comes to mind.” And with that, the pastor shouted out the word, “Cross.” Immediately folks started singing, “The Old Rugged Cross.” Then, the pastor hollered out, “Grace.” And, everybody began to sing, “Amazing Grace.” He shouted out, “Power!” The congregation started singing, “There is Power in the Blood.” Then the pastor said, “Sex!” And, there was dead silence. You could hear a pin drop. Everyone was in shock. Nobody said a word, – and they all began looking around at each other wondering what to do. Suddenly, from the back of the church, a frail little 88-year old grandmother stood up. And, in a tiny quivering voice began to sing, “Precious Memories.”

I think it’s important for the church to be the right place to talk about physical intimacy, where we can separate fact from fiction and understand what God has to say about it from a biblical viewpoint. You see, it is in the Bible that we get the true view of human sexuality. And, we discover how the gift of physical intimacy, within marriage, -- reveals to us something about the nature of God. For one, the biblical view acknowledges that our sexuality is a gift from God. It’s part of what cements a relationship together. What is not only clear, but commanded is that human sexuality is reserved exclusively for one man and one woman in a faithful, committed, life-long covenant of marriage. God calls us to be absolutely faithful to each other, -- as a sign of His faithfulness to us! And that is why the seventh commandment is so important.

Maybe the best way to understand this commandment is by reframing it from a negative, “Thou shall not commit adultery” – to its positive application and asking “why” God cares so much about husbands and wives remaining faithful to each other. Why does God care?

Friends, faithfulness and commitment within marriage is supposed to imitate and illustrate God’s faithfulness, commitment and love to us! That’s why it’s so beautiful when it’s lived out, and why it is so devastating when it’s not. Marriage is supposed to paint a portrait of God, -- and remind us that God is always faithful!

Please join us for worship this Sunday, August 16, at either 8:00 am or 10:00 am, as we look more closely at the seventh commandment, and the lives that God desires for us live with each other.

Pastor John Hartman

Quote of the Week

“If I expose myself utterly and discover that my wife has seen all that I am – spiritually – emotionally and physically – and understands who I am – and still loves me . . . Then I experience at the human level something of the most deep and profound love of all. God has seen all of me. In Christ He accepts me – and gives Himself to me.” R.C. Sproul

Robert Charles Sproul was an American theologian and ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America. He was the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries (named for the Ligonier Valley just outside Pittsburgh, where the ministry started as a study center for college and seminary students) and could be heard daily on the Renewing Your Mind radio broadcast in the United States and internationally.