Sterling Brown

We are taking the next week to vacation a little in Orlando, Florida.  We got an unbelievable deal with room arrangements, and then my father in-law offered to come down and go with us to Disneyworld and Sea World.  I definitely feel the love…

In fact, it’s amazing how often God has used him and my other family members to bring encouragement to me and Mys in different seasons of our lives.  We were talking in the car on the way down about how Jesus said “If you, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more does your Heavenly Father know how to give good gifts to them that ask.” Of course he’s a Hebrew idiom stating that our “goodness” looks like evil in light of God’s holiness.  However, the point is this really is yet another good gift in a long string of great ones given from our Heavenly Father through our natural family. Thanks Papa Jack!

We are in a series at City Life called “City.”  In it we are looking at how the culture of heaven is meant to redefine living for us down here.  And in doing so, set a light ablaze for all to see. This morning Daniel Gilland spoke on the subject of purity.  It was truly one of the best messages I’ve ever heard spoken on the subject.  That’s no hyperbole. Well thought out.  Incredibly fluid thought.  It opened my heart up even more to God’s heart for our lost city.  From the college campuses to the strip clubs, the ghettos to the mansions, our city is in desperate need of a standard of purity to be raised high and unashamedly.

One of the key thoughts I will take with me was (quoting, I believe, Tim Keller) – “Stop acting like you aren’t loved.” That impurity is the fruit of not realizing just how much Jesus really loves us and has done for us in the gospel.  How often do we run around looking for love in all the wrong places” (just because I quote it doesn’t mean country music is not of the devil…) when in fact many of our ill fated decisions might be avoided if we simply got a glimpse of just how much the Father loves us.

I’m reminded of a deeply moving and profoundly simple song by John Mark McMillan called “How He Love Us.”  That’s the place purity is born.  Way to go Daniel!