Skywatch Friday

This image was captured last Friday.  There was an amazing sunset going on just prior to the kick-off of the local high school football game.  I was standing near the endzone preparing to photograph the game from field level, for the first time.  When I looked behind me and to my left I saw the band director on his podium silhouetted against the colorful sky.  I couldn't pass up the opportunity.  It's interesting how many things are going on at the same time during a high school football game and each person is focused on their responsibility.  While both teams are finishing their warm-up drills this director is focused on getting the band ready to play the Star Spangled Banner, followed by the school fight song.  This director is focused on his responsibilities and nothing is going to distract him from completing his tasks.
As Christians we have been given certain responsibilities by our Savior and we have been placed in a world filled with distractions that can prevent us from completing our tasks.  Among our responsibilities, we are told to abide by the laws of the Ten Commandments.  In fact, many of the laws of this country and other civilized nations are based in these statutes.  There are other responsibilities mentioned throughout God's Word and they are all written for our benefit.  The one responsibility that humans seem to understand the least and have the most difficulty expressing correctly, is love.  Time and space do not permit me to adequately discuss this topic, but rest assured, most of us are confused about love.  Most of us spend a lot of time "Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places."  The Bible tells us to "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev. 19:18).  We are told, "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all man." (Rom. 12:18).  Husbands are told to "love your wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her." (Ephesians 5:26) God even tells us the characteristics of love..."Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly, it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with truth;..." (1 Cor. 13:4-7).  Unfortunately, as Christians, we are guilty of the charge laid against the Ephesian church in the book of Revelation, "Never the less, I have this against you, that you have left your first love." (Rev. 2:4) We are commanded to, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." (Deut. 6:4).  The problem is that we have replaced God with things.  We have placed any number of things in our lives ahead of loving the God who created us and breathed life into us.  Like the band director above, we need to shut out the distractions of the world around us and focus on our primary responsibility, loving God with all of our heart.  Have a blessed weekend.