Sadness of Heart

Dear Church Family,

Is it ever good to have a sad heart? Do we care about anything enough to have a truly sad heart? As we’ll see in our study of Nehemiah 2 this Sunday, a sad heart can sometimes be just what the doctor ordered.

Most of what we do is motivated either by law or by love. Forcing ourselves to do the work of God out of duty can lead to burnout and complaining. But working—whether to provide for your family or to serve others—out of love is inspiring. When our attitude is right, God stirs hope in our hearts, opens doors of opportunity, and joy abounds.

When the king noticed Nehemiah’s sad heart, he asked about the cause. Perhaps to the king’s surprise, Nehemiah was not sad because of personal injustices, but because of the condition of the Jewish land and its people. Oh, that our hearts would break over the things that sadden our Lord.

Today, on this 4th of July, I am extremely grateful for our country. Let’s thank God for His boundless blessings upon an undeserving nation. May He continue to raise up courageous leaders who are not afraid to stand against evil. And may we care enough about the United States of America to pray that the roots of endurance will deepen and our Judeo-Christian values will return. May we care enough to engage in our culture and make a difference for God.

Happy Independence Day!

Pastor Marv