February 12, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Thursday, February 12. Here’s a devotion from our archives, one of my favorites, and the next feature in our series on the theme of love - as the calendar winds toward Valentine’s Day.
In 1772, John Fawcett was a young pastor in Yorkshire, England. His church was made up of working class people who dearly loved their preacher. And he had grown to love them too. But, as often happens, young pastors receive offers to move to bigger churches. A prestigious congregation in London offered Fawcett a position, and after much prayer, he accepted.
The day dawned on his final Sunday in Yorkshire, and after the service, the entire town joined Fawcett and his family in front of the church, and helped them load their possessions onto a wagon. Suddenly his wife exclaimed, “I do not think that I can go!”. John quickly agreed, to the joy of the congregation, who gladly helped unload that wagon. Fawcett remained there as pastor for 54 years, and from that experience he was inspired to write this hymn.
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above
In 1941, Lamar Mathis was a young pastor in Houston, Texas. His church was made up of working class people who dearly loved their preacher. He received many offers over the years to move to bigger, more prestigious churches. But, after much prayer, my father declined all those offers, and remained at Faith Memorial Baptist for 54 years. He loved the people of his church, even when they were sometimes distinctly unlovable. He was connected to them, bound to them, by God’s calling on his life, and by this commandment that Jesus gave on the night before the Cross.
Love one another. As I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
