One of my best friends is moving tomorrow.  I’ve known Andy for 5 years and he has been a faithful friend during the hardest and happiest moments of that time.  I’m not sad about his departure – he’ll be taking an assistant pastorate in a church and following the Lord’s leading into the vocation for which he’s prepared.

Andy’s parting words to me (on this and on other occasions) were these: “Stay right.”  That’s good advice – and good to hear frequently!  Normal human nature forgets spiritual lessons and turns self-ward instead of God-ward.  We all need the reminder to stay right.

The Old Testament provides the foundation for this exhortation.  Deuteronomy 6.5 starts the ball rolling: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”  This is echoed in Deut. 10.12; 11.13; 13.3; and 30.6.  Joshua continues the repetition: Josh. 22.5.  The theme comes up again throughout the historical books: II Kings 23.3, 25; II Chron. 15.12; 34.31.  And as you well know, Christ points out that this is the greatest commandment: Mt. 22.37; Mk. 12.30; Lk. 10.27.

Thank you, Andy.  By God’s grace, I will stay right.