There are many churches in our area that truly stress and walk in the love of God in Christ. That is so major and so important--paramount! What is sad to me is to see those churches that demonstrate that love, but drop the standard. Our God is Love, absolutely. Our God is Holy, absolutely. He wants us to love, but He also expects us to aspire to holiness and to teach that as well:

"You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal for them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you" (Titus 2).

There is a standard for life that begins and ends with love, and that demands the courage and strength to say "no" to ungodliness and to choose joy over grief, peace over anger, patience over restlessness, kindness over unkindness, goodness over wickedness, faithfulness over unfaithfulness, gentleness over brutality and self-control over worldliness and addiction. I believe it was Tommy Tenny who wrote "God loves you just the way you are, and He loves you too much to leave you that way." "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written, 'Be holy, because I am holy" (I Peter 1:14-16). God has a standard.

Lord, help me daily to die to myself and to become more like You. Amen