Shots Fired! With Love

BIBLE READING: 1 Tim. 3: 1 - 5 1 This is a trustworthy saying: "If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position." 2 So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. 3 He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. 4 He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. 5 For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church?

BLOG: I listened to a vlog this morning that talked about how we have to train our brain not to be afraid. I know, seems like an impossible task. But when you think about the military, how the military takes a young teenager and in a few weeks mold them into warriors, you have to reconsider that thought. Before basic training, they would run away from bombs and bullets. A few weeks later, they would run towards them. 

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

What does the military and love have to do with each other? Everything. 

First of all, military personal is trained to support the survival of their team, unit, or squad. They are trained to make personal sacrifices, ultimate ones if necessary. Why? Because they will protect their fellow soldiers. 

Soldiers have a bond of brotherly love for each other that can transcend their time of service. How many times have you seen retired personal reunite decades after-service? How many stories have you heard about friendships that started in the military that lasted a lifetime? 

Their love is perfect, not in a flawless kind of way, but in a complete, whole kind of way. Why? Love is the reason why you want every member of your team to return alive. 

Look at King David. He cheated with Bathsheba and then recalled her husband home to cover up the pregnancy. When that fails, he orders his army to abandon him at the front so that he would be killed. Did King David love this solider? No. He was selfish. 

Love, in the church, works the same way. Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Love isn't about what we can get; it's all about what we can give. What can you give to someone today? 

PRAY: Dear Jesus, help me to love someone today with purpose and value. AMEN