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Happy February, reader! ❤️
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If you are still persevering in any New Year's Resolutions and/or daily time in God's Word & prayer, we're rooting for you! And if you happen to still be looking for a Bible Reading plan, we invite you to explore Riverwood's website or discover one via the YouVersion Bible app.
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This week, Erin continues our One Thought series in Romans 12:9 by warning us about the subtle progression of becoming more and more comfortable with the evil in our own lives. We hope you feel challenged to examine your attitudes and to genuinely love like Jesus while confronting the evils that impact our communities and loved ones.
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Abhor What Is Evil
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In Psalm 1, there is a famous "progression": walk > stand > sit. But the psalmist isn't like an exercise smartwatch urging you to reverse that progression. He is sounding a warning about becoming more and more comfortable with sin.
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If you are unfamiliar with this passage, the psalmist begins in verse 1 by announcing that "blessed" people won't "walk in the counsel of the wicked," nor will they "stand in the way of sinners," and they definitely won't "sit in the seat of scoffers." Each phrase shows how easily people can become more and more comfortable with sin and evil, which eventually leads us further and further from God and His blessing. That which was once shocking and offensive can become fine and normal over time and repeated exposure.
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But God uses the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 12 to tell us to "abhor what is evil."
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Yet, I fear that we oftentimes don't simply "walk" near evil things. We may also find ourselves beginning to stand near them and even taking our seat among them. While I am hopefully the least likely pastor to beckon you to legalism, I wonder if at times I am unknowingly the opposite of the Psalm 1 man. Rather than being blessed because I am a tree that stands firm in God's grace (Psalm 1:3), I end up following that progression without realizing how comfortable I have become with certain forms of evil.
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But if we are going to follow last week's opening words to let love be genuine, then we have to abhor evil. We have to despise how substance abuse has destroyed lives. We need to detest things like human trafficking. We should be disgusted by racism. We should be mortified by sin and its effects that ravage the lives of our loved ones and community.
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However, I find myself at times merely thinking "that's too bad" or "that's not good," and then just going back to my regularly scheduled life. I don't abhor. I just sort of dislike it at best and ignore it at worst.
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But I want my love to be genuine, to love like Jesus loved. And Jesus abhorred evil so much, He died on a rugged cross to defeat sin's eternal impact upon those who put their faith in Him.
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So if we're following Jesus, we need to ask ourselves: What kinds of evil might we be too comfortable with? And how can we abhor it while simultaneously loving people who bear God's image?
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Riverwood's Annual Report
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“Open FISTs” in February
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Join us on Sunday as we kickoff our 4-week sermon series: Open FISTs! During the month of February, we will be discovering what it looks like to open up our lives to God in the giving of our Finances, Influence, Skills, and Time. See you then!
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Volunteer Appreciation
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Mark your calendars! Because we love our volunteers, we're throwing a party to celebrate them and their hard work at the Riverwood Building on Friday, February 9th! Doors will be open at 5:30pm, followed by dinner at 6:00pm. No childcare will be provided, so be sure to plan ahead. Please RSVP via email ([email protected]) by TODAY, February 1st!
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Just For Fun
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For those of us who may find ourselves battling seasonal depression and loneliness, we want to encourage one another to connect with folks outside of our regular Sunday morning Worship Gatherings. 😄 Reach out to someone from the Riverwood family and make plans to go grab coffee together!
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