They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love
In with the new! This weekend marks a new chapter for the Fairfax Church of Christ as we welcome Diondre Hensley, our new preacher. Come and join us on Sunday morning for Bible study at 10:00 a.m. and services at 11:00 a.m. 2475 Boonesboro Rd. We’d love to have you! Dana Kate will save you a seat.
I’ve written about Natasha Bedingfield’s song, “Unwritten” before–I love that line where it says, “I’m just beginning, the pen’s in my hand, ending unplanned.” And, “Staring at the blank page before you…” That’s exactly what this new chapter feels like. A blank page, a fresh start, and a chance to redefine ourselves as members of the Lord’s church.
We’ve spent weeks sprucing up the building–new paint, new floors, and new office furniture. And, with the new comes excitement. It seems like all our members have a new attitude. During our transition, we’ve grown in love.
In 2016, our goal has been to focus on becoming a more family-oriented church, rich in fellowship and encouragement. We want to be a place with sound Biblical teaching, sure, but we also want to be a place where broken people who need His healing can feel like they belong. We all have our challenges, but together, we can hold each other accountable and help each other walk in a more direct path toward Heaven.
Many quote Proverbs 3:5-6, but I particularly love this entire chapter, especially verses 1-6.
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
How interesting that prior to advising to trust the Lord with our entire heart, we’re told to bind steadfast love and faithfulness close to us. Yes, if we step out of our comfort zones and commit to offering love to everyone who crosses the threshold of our building–no holds barred and no questions asked–we might get burned. But God’s asked us to trust him. We’ve been told to not lean on our own understanding, which tells us that we’d be foolish to offer unconditional love to all sinners.
In a world where so many yield to the temptation of righteous indignance and a judgmental, holier than thou attitude, may we all strive to remember how Jesus answered the scribe in Mark 12:29-30:
“The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Posted on March 31, 2016, in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. 1 Comment.
Monica Mynk 
Love your comments, Monica. Starting over with a blank page and filling it as you go. Happy Fairfax has a new minister!