Currently, our church sanctuary is getting ready for a new coat of paint. Thanks to the hard work of several of our members, wallpaper and baseboards have been removed, and the painters can begin their work on Monday. While there may be a few things that will not look as neat and tidy as we would like this weekend, the end result will be well worth it.

We just finished an election cycle in which we saw maps of our country painted red, blue, or purple. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to give our country a whole new coat of paint that is not based on partisan politics, but which reflects a love for working for the common good by embracing life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? While some may argue that if only one party were in charge, everything would be perfect, we all know that wouldn’t be the case. Parties are made up of humans, and all of us are sinners. Rather, what would be much better is for all to know the joy of being washed by the blood of the Lamb and reflecting His love in our love for Him and our neighbor. For us as citizens, this gives us a reason to care about policies that affect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Scriptures may not lay out what those specific policies should be, and there can be healthy debate about the best way to solve problems, but what can’t be debated for us as followers of Jesus is the mandate to care for and love our neighbor. Our verse for the week says it well: “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

You may wish to prepare for this weekend’s worship by reading Micah 6:6-8, Philippians 1:3-11, Matthew 18:21-35, and Acts 27:13-28:10.