February 10, 2022 - Good Morning! It's Thursday, February 10. We continue with a series of devotions leading to Valentine's Day on the topic of love.
Colossians 3:14 - Above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
In 1772, John Fawcett was a young pastor in Yorkshire, England. His little church was made up of working-class people who dearly loved their pastor. And he had grown to love them, too. But, as often happens, young pastors, especially the ones who are gifted preachers, receive offers to move to larger churches. A prestigious congregation in London offered Fawcett a position and, after much prayer, he accepted.
The day dawned on his last Sunday in Yorkshire and, after preaching a heartfelt sermon, the entire town joined John Fawcett, his wife Mary, and their children in front of the little church, as they loaded their meager possessions onto a wagon. Suddenly Mary exclaimed, "I do not think that I can go!". John quickly agreed, to the joy of his congregation, who gladly helped him unload the wagon. John Fawcett remained there as pastor for 54 years. And from that experience he wrote this hymn -
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above
In 1941, Lamar Mathis, my father, was a young pastor of a working class church in Houston, Texas. He was a gifted preacher, and received many offers over the years to go to larger, more prestigious churches. After much prayer, he declined all of these offers, and remained as pastor of Faith Memorial Baptist Church for 54 years. He loved the people of his church, even during times when they were distinctly unlovable. He was connected to them, bound to them by God's calling on his ministry, and by this commandment, given by Jesus on the last night of His life -
Love one another. As I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are My disciples... if you love one another.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
