FADS

Do you remember fads like bellbottoms, parachute pants, hairbands, high tops and more?

These invoke good memories and stories yet fads touch all genres including the Church. Things come and go like music styles, presentations, style of dress, service order and more. Yet, Jesus remains the same through it all. In fact, He challenges us to keep the main thing, the main thing.

In Matthew 22:37, 39 Jesus says,

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 22:37, 39

This means to love God and love people!

This is easier said than done as fads are opportunities to be distracted, thus what lasts forever suffers. Our faith, family and friends go into eternity; therefore, what we do with them is huge.

It is so easy to get caught up with the latest fad, style of music, style of preaching and more that we forget to love God and love people daily. By doing these two things, we fulfill the Word of God in our lives. It’s simple yet complex when we purpose to do this.

How do we navigate these fads? I believe these two things will help us stay focused.

First, be honest with ourselves. This means facing our fears, our struggles and our weaknesses. Our faith helps us face our reality, not ignore it. By acknowledging these things, we are empowered to open our hearts to Christ so that we love Him with all our heart, soul and mind!

Honesty helps us overcome the good days and the bad days. It helps us stay balanced when things work out and when things go wrong. It keeps us progressing in our love for Him throughout our life.

Second, be honest with others. This means facing our pain and being in touch with how we feel. Acknowledging where we are disappointed and that we have hurt others. All of this empowers us to open our hearts to others so that we love them as we love ourselves.

Honesty helps us stay clean with people so that our love grows and we become more like Christ. There is plenty we deal with, so it’s paramount that our hearts stay open to love others as we move forward in faith.

Will you receive the challenge to love God and love people? Will we strive to keep the main thing, the main thing?

Please don’t let fads distract you away from what lasts forever: faith, family and friends.

Embrace the challenge and see what happens! The best is ahead as we love God and love people!

Have a great week!