WORDS OF VICTORY
Not Just Words
February 2, 2014

From the Pastor's Keyboard:
      By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35
     Jesus said that the hallmark of being one of his disciples would be love. If there is a trait missing in many of the churches across our land, it is genuine love. The love that Jesus speaks of here is not just a sentimental, mushy type of love; rather it is like his love - one that is sacrificial, that thinks of others before self. Often we hear the words "I love you." We even say them. But do we really mean them? We read in 1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. True love is more than an expression. It is a choice, and it is put into action. We choose to love people when we go beyong the expression and put in shoeleather. Christians ought to be the "showingest" people in the world when it comes to their expression of love.
     Here at Victory, I can honestly say that we have folks who love us. You see (for those who may not know) we are originally from Tennessee and are pulling up stakes to move to Greenfield, Indiana to be part of this church. In many ways it hasn't been easy. We are leaving behind a good church, family, and everything familiar to us; however, in another way it has much easier than I thought. How has it been easy? Let me tell you: L-O-V-E. I prayed before coming here that God would knit the hearts of the church members with our family, and He certainly has done that. In the past few months we have been showered, not with expressions only, but with love put into action. We have had the privilege to fellowship over meals, both here at the church and at people's homes. Church members have not forgotten our family on birthdays or Christmas. We've even had folks buy us groceries while we've been staying at the church. When the final move to Indiana comes, some of our men have volunteered to to haul our stuff from Tennessee; until then we have the opportunity to store our belongings at the homes of our church family. Now I'm certain I have left something out, but here is the point All of these go beyond a mere expression of love and place it into something tangible. Each of these displays have involved some type of sacrifice on the part of the giver, and we have not taken their sacrifice lightly! May I say, I am blessed to be part of such a loving church. As pastor, I am thankful our folks are loving, and I want to encourage you as the Apostle Paul did the church as Thessalonica: But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10. Thank you for the love that you have shown to our family and for the opportunity to love you back. Let's increase more and more in our love toward one another, that Christ may be glorified and the community will know that we are truly his disciples.

     With love and gratitude,
     Brother John

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