Loving, Not Limiting | Pastor Rick Wright | The Church at CW

On March 4, 1865, Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address to a nation that was nearing the end of the great Civil War. As he spoke, he passionately and deliberately called a divided nation toward reconciliation. He spoke “Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray…”, saying “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous, altogether.” Even amid conflict, he sought restoration and relief from a Holy God, rather than revenge and destruction. In Genesis 18, Abraham shows us that friendship with God creates a burden for others. He welcomed God’s presence, honestly conversed with Him, and persistently pleaded for mercy on behalf of Sodom. Abraham understood the seriousness of judgment and the value of intercession. Yet in Genesis 19, Lot’s family hesitated, reminding us that delaying obedience can have devastating consequences. The gospel compassionately reveals an even greater love: Jesus Christ stepped into our judgment, bearing the punishment for our sin so that we might be rescued. As friends of God, we must love enough to intercede, warn others of judgment, and point them to the mercy found in Jesus before it is too late. Join us this week as we continue our series on Friends of God.

Friends of God