Scripture: 1st 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 reached perfection in love.
Thought for the Day: In tomorrow’s worship services, I will reference these words from 1st John. The word perfection is one of those words that can be intimidating. It can leave people feeling stuck. When it appears that perfection is the expectation, too many of us drop out because we know perfection is not in the cards. In the movie, Remember the Titans, there is a moment toward the end of the movie – it takes place in the locker room during the halftime of the championship football game. Coach Boone is talking to his team:
Coach: It’s all right. We’re in a fight. You boys are doing all that you can do. Anybody can see that. Win or lose… We gonna walk out of this stadium tonight with our heads held high. Do your best. That’s all anybody can ask for.
Player: No, it ain’t Coach. With all due respect, uh, you demanded more of us. You demanded perfection. Now, I ain’t saying that I’m perfect, ’cause I’m not. And I ain’t gonna never be. None of us are. But we have won every single game we have played till now. So this team is perfect. We stepped out on that field that way tonight. And, uh, if it’s all the same to you, Coach Boone, that’s how we want to leave it.
There were no individual performances that were perfect, but collectively the football team had a perfect season. As Christians, I don’t believe any of us will have a perfect performance when it comes to our faith, but there are these perfect moments where the community of faith comes together in a faithful response to God’s perfect love. Those moments become a window through which the world is able to glimpse the Kingdom of God.
Prayer: Through your perfect and magnificent love, O Source of All Good Gifts, we desire to join you in revealing your Kingdom for all to see and experience. Amen.
SUNDAY
Blood Drive
8:30am – 12:30pm
Consider The Gift
Of Life This Lent
