RESCUE BAPTIST CHURCH

THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD SAYS: "Above all things have fervent love among yourselves. " Brethren, the flesh is so weak that each one of us, if we're honest, will admit that our daily walk before God is filled with miserable, sinful failures. Even when we've done all that we should, we're still unprofitable servants. Yet, in spite of our sinful weaknesses, God's love for us never changes. God does not wink at sin and He will chasten those whom He loves. But when His chastening hand moves us to turn from our wicked ways, He receives us back into a warm relationship with Him and we're gratefully assured of His immutable love and forgiving grace. Beloved, the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit and this love will manifest itself in our love for each other. We'll be kind one to another, tenderhearted, FORGIVING one another, even as God FOR CHRIST'S SAKE has forgiven us. When one of our loved ones is overtaken in a fault, it does grieve us. When a brother or sister sins against God, it brings shame and disgrace on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and His church. But those who are spiritual should have enough discernment to recognize a heart that is broken and remorseful, and be willing to receive the wounded, blood-bought child of God back into the fellowship of the saints with forgiving love. This sincere love 'shall cover the multitude of sins'.

A wise father, who rules his own house well, RULES WITH LOVE. He will correct his rebellious child with loving discipline. But when that child gives evidence of genuine remorse, the incident is forgotten as soon as possible. The forgiven child is never made to feel like he is an outcast and not welcome in his own home. To the contrary! A wise father will welcome that child back into a warm relationship with him and assure him that he is loved and forgiven. Consider how the prodigal son was received back into his family (Luke 15:11- 24).

Brethren, this is the spirit that God gives the leaders in His church. Those who don't have a spirit of loving forgiveness have never experiended the love of God and should never be allowed a position in the church of the Living God. God help us to have fervent love for each other and to realize that love 'SHALL COVER THE MULTITUDE OF SINS'.