Can't buy me love.... February 11, 2013

As we approach Valentine’s Day we are often forced to think of love.  There is a commoditized or commercialized feel to this day where love seems to be repackaged and sold to us.  Even though this may be the way it is, we are still able to remove ourselves from this hustle and bustle and digger a little deeper into love.  The theme verses this year, Colossians 3:12-14, urges us to clothe ourselves with the characteristics of Christ.  As we are being transformed by the Spirit we show visible signs of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Love is to bind all of these virtues to create a unity.  This is much more than a commodity to be purchased in February.  Love, in this instance, is the adhesive of the Christian community.  This bond or adhesive creates a perfect one piece garment that fits all of these segments together into a cohesive whole.  Radical love is manifested in these virtues and, conversely, each of these virtues is nothing if it is not bound in love.  1 Corinthians 13 paints a vivid word picture of the importance and power of this supernatural love.  We pray that our students will exhibit this love in the development of their gifts.  We long for our graduates to live out this love in Christian service so that others may be transformed by the love of Christ through them.  What’s love got to do with it?  Absolutely everything!  May you grow in and share God’s love with others this week and throughout the year.    ~Mr. Bouwers