There is a passage of Scripture that says the following: "O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee, but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them." John 17:25, 26 KJV
Jesus declared the name of God, the love of God, and the righteousness of God. That declaration means the world to those who receive it! Like, when I declared my love to Hannah for the first time. Not wanting to be hasty using the phrase, "I love you . . .", I waited until I was sure that Hannah was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
If you think about it . . . it's a major decision! When the time came, I propose to Hannah on the night I told her that I loved her! Yeah, I know . . . I waited! Even though in my heart I had declared my love to her and in my actions toward her I had declared my love, I hadn't said it with my words. They say, actions speak louder than words, but words spoken have a transformative effect on the heart of people.
This Sabbath is Communion. My most favorite Christian practice that we do in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. During this time, we get to hear the story again of Jesus' declared love to you . . . to me . . . to everyone. During this time, we get a front row seat to the story that has altered history. Communion is a time where we are reminded of the declared active love of God.
May you, this Sabbath, find that if the door to your heart is closed . . . as you hear of His declared love for you . . . may you open that door of your heart wide and let Him in! Great are the many blessings that will accompany those that allow God into their hearts! May you this Sabbath do so!
So, until the next time, this is Pastor Tello reminding you that thoughts do change lives!
Pastor Howard Tello