"Providing Cover"

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" ~ 1 John 3:16-17

There are a lot of opinions in the world about what love is and how it can be defined, but the Bible says plainly that the best example of love is laying down one's life for another. This is what Jesus did for us to free us from sin, and we remember this coming weekend that so many others have done it for us to keep us free as a nation. But we also understand that "laying down our lives" doesn't only mean dying for someone. John tells us in the above Scripture that it's also about how we live. Do you live a life of "laying down" what belongs to you to bless others? If you ignore the needs that people have which you can meet, knowing that God has never taken that stance toward you, can you really say you love Him? If we don't love those made in His image, then we can't say we love Him. This week at Friendship, we'll talk about "Providing Cover", which relates to the Biblical command to give clothes to those who are in need. Just as God covered our shame by the sacrifice of Jesus, we too can help cover others with needed clothes and urge them to know the One who covers their shame permanently. Don't miss this message and the mandate from the Lord!