love

September 29, 2014

PHONE HOME

Since August of this year, Patti and I are learning to live in an empty nest. While thankful our youngest daughter Kimberlyn began her time at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Patti shed quite a few tears as we drove back to Alabama. Okay, my eyes were wetter than normal.

I miss Kimberlyn. I miss her presence in our house. I miss her smiling/frowning face every morning. I particularly miss the sound of Kimmie’s voice, guitar, and piano filling our living room.

Before we left Kimberlyn in Tulsa, Patti reminded Kimberlyn to phone home – EVERY day. In fact, Patti gave Kimberlyn a small sign for her dorm room. The message? Call Your Mom!

Patti and I really do enjoy when our daughters phone home. I love them and I want to regularly chat with my daughters. Even when there is no good or bad news, we like hearing from our girls. Patti and I are bothered if we skip a day talking to our daughters. Neither girl called us on Saturday (last weekend); I know my girls were busy but I wasn’t too happy about it. I think Patti was a little mad.

Heavenly Father awaits your call, as surely as Patti anticipates Kimberlyn’s phone call. “And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you . . .” (Isaiah 30:18a AMP) Your Heavenly Father wants you to phone home. No, you don’t need to grab your smart phone, but you do need to open your heart and communicate with Heavenly Father. Pray daily, frequently, continually. God is waiting to hear from you.

When Kimberlyn or Rozy are out of the country on a mission trip, I will organize by schedule and change my evening plans in order to be available for a phone call. A few summers ago, Rozy joined a mission team in Togo, West Africa. Rozy was out-of-connection for most of the time she was gone. Guess what? I was unhappy for several weeks. Every day, I hoped that she would phone home.

No matter what time of the day or night, a call from my child is appreciated and welcomed. Your call through prayer or worship is never an unwanted interruption for Heavenly Father. He awaits and welcomes your call. He enjoys communicating with you. He enjoys your presence. Heavenly Father truly cares for you.

Give attention to God’s Word: “He will CALL ON ME, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”(Psalm 91:14–16 NIV)

Have you called home today? It’s time. Phone home.

September 6, 2013

God-Followers Follow His Example

Lift up your foot and look at the bottom of your shoe. Is there a visible pattern? A Nike swoosh? A checkered-design? As you walk in those shoes, the pattern of your sole leaves a mark. You don’t have to be be walking down a sandy beach to leave an impression. I hope you aren’t “walking on” the people in your life, but your walk of life does impact those around you. What impression are you making upon the people in your life?

Scripture calls us to follow God’s example, to be imitators of the Lord. In two verses in Ephesians, Paul mentions three aspects of genuine God-followers.

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV)

#1 Followers of God’s example are dearly loved children.

God loves me – what-a-concept! “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” God-followers find security in relationship with Him. God changes lives. Even if you are from dysfunctional families or have experienced horrible abuse, God’s love within you can transform the way you view yourself and the way you live your life.

#2 Followers of God’s example are loving people.

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The only way we will ever be able to follow the Lord’s example is by allowing God’s love to fill our hearts. God does flood the hearts of His children. Paul stated, “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5b NASB). D.L. Moody (19th-century evangelist and pastor) commented on this verse: “If we have got the true love of God shed abroad in our hearts, we will show it in our lives. We will not have to go up and down the earth proclaiming it. We will show it in everything we say or do.”

#3 Followers of God’s example are generous givers.

Christ gave Himself as a fragrant offering – a scent pleasing to the Father’s nostrils. God is a giver, a generous giver, and we are to imitate His character. As Jesus willingly gave His life for this world, we must be willing to surrender our own self-interests and give. Are you prepared to sacrifice your comfort, your time, your agenda, and your expectations? Only by giving our time, talent, and treasure will we really be followers of God’s example.

What imprint are you making on the life of someone else? What do the footsteps of your life communicate? What impression is left as you walk away from a person? Are you following God’s example – living as a dearly loved child, walking in love, and practicing generosity?

“In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5 NCV)

May 13, 2013

Stop Nitpicking; Start Overlooking

My Grandma Martin told me the story of a woman longingly reminiscing the days before her wedding. “Before we were married you called me an angel,” the wife complained. “And now you don’t call me anything!”

Her husband fist-bumped his chest and said, “You ought to be glad I possess such self-control.”

I think my Dad’s greatest premarital tip was: “Go into marriage eyes wide open, half shut afterward.” Get all the facts before you get married. Make sure you know all you can about the person you are considering marrying. There will be plenty that you need to overlook after the ceremony.

In fact, some of the very things you think are cute before marriage, become irritating over the years.

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (Colossians 3:13 NLT)

“Put up with each other” (Colossians 3:13a CEV & GW)

You will destroy your marriage if you cannot learn to “put up with each other”. It sounds easy enough, but the walking out of it is harder than a two-year-old biscuit. Arguing over ever little issue erodes the foundation of martial life. Always pointing out the thing you don’t like, kills love.

I regularly have to remind myself of this. My wife is an excellent cook and I enjoy eating whatever she makes, but I have never liked the name she picked for one particular dish – “Mexican Goulash”. For some reason, that name doesn’t seem appetizing. Let me reiterate, I like Patti’s cooking! But, please, can we please call this dish by a new name. How about “Texas Stir-fry” or “Chili on a bed of rice and lettuce” or something else.

Okay, please drop those stones you are gathering to throw, I do appreciate my wife’s cooking. For whatever reason, I don’t like the name; don’t call it “Mexican Goulash”. After more than twenty-five years of marriage, you would probably think I would be “over” this already, but Patti rarely calls the dish by any other name. I think her mother coined the term. (Mema, what were you thinking?!?) About five years ago, Patti adopted “Texas Stir-Fry” for a few months, but when I keep complaining about the old name – she went back to the original.

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Honestly, does the name really matter? No, I tell myself. So why then, do I find myself still nitpicking about the name of that dish? Why haven’t I let it go? Apparently, I haven’t yet learned the lesson I am trying to communicate to you today. But, I am acknowledging that I have a problem. Nitpicking, nagging over trivial details, kills love. I have got to start overlooking!

“One word can start a war.” (Jewish Proverb)

“Quarrels are the weapons of the weak.” (Jewish Proverb)

A pastor in Texas introduced a sermon with an excellent story of how one woman handled the irritations of marriage:

There was once a couple who had been married for 60 years. Throughout their life they had shared everything. They loved each other deeply. They had not kept any secrets from one another, except for a small shoebox that the wife kept in the top shelf of her closet. When they got married, she put the box there and asked her husband never to look inside of it and never to ask questions about its contents.

For 60 years the man honored his wife’s request. In fact, he forgot about the box until a day when his wife grew gravely ill, and the doctors were sure she had no way of recovering. So the man, putting his wife’s affairs into order, remembered that box in the top of her closet, got it down, and brought it to her at the hospital. He asked her if perhaps now they might be able to open it. She agreed. They opened the box, and inside were two crocheted dolls and a roll of money that totaled $95,000. The man was astonished.

The woman told her husband that the day before they were married, her grandmother told her that if she and her husband were ever to get into an argument with one another, they should work hard to reconcile, and if they were unable to reconcile, she should simply keep her mouth shut and crochet a doll.

The man was touched by this, because there were only two crocheted dolls in the box. He was amazed that over 60 years of marriage, they apparently had had only two conversations that they were unable to reconcile. Tears came to his eyes, and he grew even more deeply in love with this woman. Then he asked about the roll of money. “What’s with this?” he asked.

His wife said, “Well, every time I crocheted a doll, I sold it to a local craft fair for five dollars.” (David Daniels, from sermon titled “Meditation”)

Stop nitpicking; start overlooking.

April 15, 2013

Love seeks outlets, not limits.

Are you living out the Christ’s command? “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34 NIV) Don’t let the pressures and hurts of this fallen world steal your heart of love. Extend love to those closest to you. In paintball, lack of mercy may be be excused, but in relationships, love is commanded. It’s not okay to mistreat your wife, your kids, or your family.

“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it.” (Romans 12:9a MSB)
“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.” (Hebrews 13:1 NIV)
“Let us have real warm affection for one another as between brothers, and a willingness to let the other man have the credit.” (Romans 12:10 PHILLIPS)
“Regarding life together and getting along with each other, you don’t need me to tell you what to do. You’re God-taught in these matters. Just love one another!” (1 Thessalonians 4:9 MSG)

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In his classic work written about 600 years ago, Thomas a? Kempis challenges Christ-followers to look earnestly at the example of Jesus Christ and imitate His example. Kempis extols the value of the Christ-kind-of-love:

Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger or higher or wider; nothing is more pleasant, nothing fuller, and nothing better in heaven or on earth, for love is born of God and cannot rest except in God, Who is above all created things.

One who is in love flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free, not bound. He gives all for all and possesses all in all, because he rests in the one sovereign Good, Who is above all things, and from Whom every good flows and proceeds. He does not look to the gift but turns himself above all gifts to the Giver.

Love often knows no limits but overflows all bounds. Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of troubles, attempts more than it is able, and does not plead impossibility, because it believes that it may and can do all things. For this reason, it is able to do all, performing and effecting much where he who does not love fails and falls.

Love is watchful. Sleeping, it does not slumber. Wearied, it is not tired. Pressed, it is not straitened. Alarmed, it is not confused, but like a living flame, a burning torch, it forces its way upward and passes unharmed through every obstacle. (The Imitation of Christ (Logos Research Systems, 1996, p. 105).

Love people, not things. God greatly loves and dearly prizes people. (John 3:16a AMP) “Go and do the same.” (Luke 10:37b HCSB) Don’t look for limits; look for outlets for your love!

“So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others.” (2 Peter 1:5-7 MSG)

March 30, 2013

Extravagant Love

The Lord Jesus Christ manifested His superior power in creation, His extravagant love in the cross.

“This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1 John 4:10 NLT)
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8 NLT)
Heavenly Father’s love for us is so great that “He did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all.” (Romans 8:32 NLT)

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His love surpasses comprehension, a love stronger, higher, deeper, wider, greater, bigger, finer than any other. The chorus of “Your Love Is Deep” (Dan Collins, Jami Smith, and Susanna Bussey © 2001 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music) expresses my heart today:

Your love is deeper than my view of grace

Higher than this worldly place

Longer than this road I travel

Wider than the gap You filled

Deeper than my view of grace

Higher than this worldly place

Longer than this road I travel

Wider than the gap You filled

What is our response to this amazing love? We love one another.

“We love, because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 NASB)
“No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us.” (1 John 4:12 NLT)

Our love for God is displayed to the degree we show God’s love to other people. “God’s love is perfected not through our perception of it or our experience of it, but through our expression of it. God’s love reaches completion by the degree to which it is shared among us.” (Gary Burge, The NIV Application Commentary: Letters of John, p. 190)

“When we love one another, His love is perfected in us. This means that God’s love to us has achieved its goal. We are never intended to be terminals of God’s blessings, but channels only. God’s love is given to us, not that we might hoard it for ourselves, but that it might be poured out through us to others.” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, 1 John 4:1-21)

God’s extravagant love is still on display as we love one another. What a challenge! But Christ died that we might live for Him, through Him, and in His love.

March 26, 2013

4 REASONS TO RESPECT EVERYONE

A hallmark of Jesus’ teaching is His command that the respectful behavior of His followers must transcend that of non-believers. Our respect is first and foremost directed to the Lord, as John Chrysostom reminds, “We must not mind insulting men, if by respecting them we offend God.” (Archbishop of Constantinople who lived 349–407 AD) Love and respect the Lord FIRST, but the second of the great commandments is “love your neighbor” (Mark 12:29-31).

I want to fulfill His command, loving God and people, but I have figured out that some people are easier to love than others. Honestly, isn’t it that way for you? God blessed me with a great wife and great daughters, so it’s not hard to love and to respect them. Both of my daughters are awesome! What’s not to love and respect? For example, Rozy is completing masters classes during her junior year, representing the ORU School of Education, serving as a chaplain this year – head chaplain next year, leading worship, loving missions. Yes, it’s easy to respect her.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls us to go far beyond what common people would expect. Jesus commands, “Love your family.” Okay, a little effort, I can do that. “Love your neighbors.” Hmm, a little harder, but I don’t have to see them everyday. “Love those who treat you well.” Alright, now You’re talking, Jesus – I will do that! “Love your enemies.” Do what? Are you serious, Jesus? I mean . . . come on!

You have heard people say, “Love your neighbors and hate your enemies.” But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong. If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for that? Even tax collectors love their friends. If you greet only your friends, what’s so great about that? Don’t even unbelievers do that? But you must always act like your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:43-48 CEV)

If anyone should show proper respect in our modern society, it should be Christ-followers. The scope of a disciple’s respect is quite large. We must respect EVERYONE! That’s exactly what God’s Word commands.

“Show proper respect to everyone.” (1 Peter 2:17 NIV)

Unfortunately, rude behavior by church-going folk is too often exhibited on Sunday afternoons at local restaurants. Several restaurant servers have expressed to me their displeasure of working Sunday after church because the church crowd tips so poorly. “Christians” can be loud, demanding, disrespectful, impatient, and stingy with tips. Could the stinginess be a carry-over attitude from the morning offering?

To live in fear of God means that we live before God and the rest of reality in such a way that there is never contempt within us. We take nothing for granted, everything as a gift. We have respect. We are always poised for surprise before the mystery of God, others, and ourselves. All boredom and contempt is an infallible sign that we have fallen out of a healthy fear of God. (Ronald Rolheiser, The Shattered Lantern, 2004, p. 117)

Why should you show respect? I bet you could identify thousands of reasons, but here are four excellent reasons for showing respect to every person.

#1 God created people.

Humans beings are created by God. The Book of Genesis is clear that out of all of creation only humanity is made in the image of God. The psalmist praised the Lord, “You (God) made man inferior only to yourself; you crowned him with glory and honor.” (Psalm 8:5)

Sometimes it’s hard for us to look beyond the fallen part of humanity – carnal, sinful, selfish, rude individuals – to see the image of God in people. There are people who do worthless things, but there are no worthless people. There are people who do wrong actions but they are all of value to God. Even the most unlovable person is loved by God.

#2 Jesus Christ died for people.
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The cross shows how much people matter to God. God made them, Christ died for them. No matter what you think; whether you like them or not; that individual is someone for whom Christ died. John 3:16 expresses God’s heart, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (NIV).” With His precious blood Christ paid the price to save humans. You may not think much about somebody, but God does. He considers people worth the price of His sacrifice. “Yet the proof of God’s amazing love is this: that it was while we were sinners that Christ died for us.”(Romans 5:8 PHILLIPS)

He thinks you were worth the effort. “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7b NIV) Jesus Christ died for you, but He also rose again. His resurrected life is now available to empower you to live in Him. Everyday, we can celebrate the Festival (Passover) when we live Christlike lives (1 Corinthians 5:8).

#3 Respect shows you really know God.

Respect for people is proof that you know God. “God is love, and anyone who doesn’t love others has never known him.” (1 John 4:8 CEV) God is love and if you know God then you’re going to fill your life with love. “It isn’t rude.” (1 Corinthians 13:5a GW) Love treats people with respect.

If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both. (1 John 4:20-21 MSG)

#4 You get back what you give out.

Seedtime and harvest, the law of reciprocity, seedfaith living – you reap what you plant. “A man’s harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows.” (Galatians 6:7 PHILLIPS) The old proverb is true: “Whatever goes around comes around.” For every kick there is a kick back.

Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8 MSG)

The Bible clearly sets you up – whatever you want in life, you give out and you’ll get back. If you want people to smile at you, you smile at them. If you want to be respected, treat other people with respect. If you want to be treated and valued with dignity, treat other people with value and dignity.

“You do yourself a favor when you are kind.” (Proverbs 11:17a GNT) Rudeness is expensive. “Cruel people will be rewarded with trouble.” (Proverbs 11:17b ERV) Do want respect? Give respect. Show respect and receive respect. Respect the people around you, the people over you, EVERYONE!

March 10, 2013

Looking For Love

Have you ever gone looking for love, or for acceptance, or to have your needs met outside of God’s plan for your life?

Do any of you remember Johnny Lee’s 1980 chart-topping-single “Looking for Love”? I didn’t see Urban Cowboy (the movie that introduced the song), but the song got LOTS of radio airplay on my school bus. I wasn’t a country music fan, but I can still recall the lyrics, “Looking for love in all the wrong places. Looking for love in too many faces, searching their eyes, looking for traces of what I’m dreaming of . . .”

The Old Testament offers a great example of someone who went looking in the wrong place. David had no business living in the land of the Philistines (1 Samuel 27, 29). Here are two big reasons for NOT living in Philistia:

David was already anointed to be king (1 Samuel 16). He couldn’t be killed and fulfill God’s plan.
God warned the Israelis of the dangers of close relations with sinful outsiders.

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David and his loyal band of misfits become pirates and liars while living in Philistia. Could the bad influence of the people around whom David chose to live be the reason nothing is said about God for the 16 months David lives in Ziklag?

I know that Saul repeatedly tried to kill David, but God delivered David every time. Why did David no longer trust God’s protection in Israel? I think David suffered from three common worries.

#1 “I’m not sure my needs will be met.”

#2 “I don’t want to get rejected by my peer group.”

#3 “I want to feel accepted or loved.”

David suffered from that internal need for acceptance – to the extreme he was willing to seek it from a Philistine king. David tried in vain to meet his own needs. David certainly got no sense of peace from King Saul but King Achish of Gath was the wrong place to go looking.

Too often people seek out the wrong folks for security. God hasn’t called you to live life outside the community of faith. David’s decision to seek acceptance outside of Israel ended horribly. Ultimately David and his men get rejected by the Philistines who refuse to fight alongside of them. David even gets rejected by his own men when they return from being rejected by the Philistines. Finally, David recognizes his mistake.

Even after his experience in Ziklag, David struggled with this same kind of concerns, but David takes his emotions to the right place. Instead of looking for love in the wrong place, David goes to the Lord directly. I appreciate David’s willingness to bare his unprocessed sentiments in open worship.

“O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 NLT)
“Quick, God, I need your helping hand! The last decent person just went down, All the friends I depended on gone. Everyone talks in lie language; Lies slide off their oily lips. They doubletalk with forked tongues.” (Psalm 12:1-2 MSG)
“My God, my God, why have you deserted me? Why do you seem to be so far away when I need you to save me? Why do you seem to be so far away that you can’t hear my groans?” (Psalm 22:1 NIRV) Every human knows this concern. Jesus used the words from this Psalm while hanging on the cross.

Your circumstances may be quite different than David’s, yet you feel those same pressure points of worry and concern. What will you do with them? Take time today to read all of Psalm 10, 12, and 22. See how the Psalmist David learned to handle those raw emotions.

God is never threatened by your honesty in prayer and worship. He knows everything about you and still invites you to come to Him. Get God’s perspective on your life. Don’t look for love in the wrong place. You are called to respond in faith to trials and difficulties in life.

For more insight into David’s Ziklag experience, check out http://www.pastorgreg.org/distressed-3-sources-to-encourage-yourself/.

February 13, 2013

7 Ways to Wrap the Gift of Encouragement

“The right word at the right time—beautiful!” (Proverbs 15:23b MSG) The gift of encouragement is a beautiful thing.

A pastor was once asked to give an impromptu message to elementary students. The pastor selected and read: “Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.”(Ephesians 4:29 GNT)

Then he asked the children, “How can we make our words help others?”

Several kids shouted out suggestions: “Tell the truth! Say nice things. Laugh! Don’t say, ‘stupid’! Don’t lie. Say, ‘I’m sorry’. Give compliments. Smile when you talk. Say, ‘I love you’!”

Pointing to a little girl waving her hand high in the air, the pastor asked, “How do you think we can make our words good for other people?”

Her thoughtfully articulated answer surprised the pastor, “Our words should be wrapped like pretty birthday presents with ribbons and bows.”

I have been the recipient of such gifts of encouragement. Over the last twenty-five years, Elmer and Reba Hollingsworth encouraged me – with words, gifts, compliments, prayer, and love – far beyond my ability to count. Moments after Brother Elmer departed this earth to join his wife in heaven, I was talking with his daughter. Gail spoke of the praise he directed toward me. She repeated a phrase that I had heard Brother Elmer say to me many times: “You are one of the good ones!” His words were a gift to me.

I hope God adds more people like him into my life – people who understand the power of encouragement and who make their words a beautiful present.

“An encouraging word cheers a person up.” (Proverbs 12:25b NLT)

There are so many ways to encourage the people around you and God’s Word offers plenty of practical advice for how to give encouragement. Experiment with these seven ways to wrap exquisitely the gift of encouragement.

#1 Do it today; don’t wait for tomorrow.

The right time to give encouragement is NOW! We are to “encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today.’” (Hebrews 3:13a NASB) “Encourage each other every day while you have the opportunity. If you do this, none of you will be deceived by sin and become stubborn.” (Hebrews 3:13 GW)

#2 Practice loving accountability.

Spur one another NOT to sin. “If you do this [encouragement], none of you will be deceived by sin and become stubborn.” (Hebrews 3:13b GW) “Say these things, and encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” (Titus 2:15 HCSB)

#3 Be sensitive to those around you.

“Encourage anyone who feels left out, help all who are weak, and be patient with everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14b CEV)

#4 Be honest about what is going on in your own life.

Paul’s didn’t hide his imprisonment but used it as a public platform. “Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” (Philippians 1:14 NIV84)

#5 Exercise your spiritual gifting.

“If it is to encourage, then give encouragement!” (Romans 12:8a NIV)

#6 Show appreciation for people who minister or serve well.

The enemy loves to discourage God’s servants, especially after success or victory. Learn from Hezekiah’s example: “Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good insight in the things of the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 30:22a NASB)

#7 Connect suggestions with unconditional love.

Wise parents know great patience is required in order for children to perceive and to receive advice. The old adage is right, “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” Paul modeled this type of compassion, “We were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 NASB)

For another message spurred by Elmer Hollingsworth, check out 5 Principles from Jesus’ Prayer Life.

January 20, 2013

You Can Give Without Loving, But You Can Never Love Without Giving.

What is love? God didn’t just TELL us He loved us- He showed us by giving His Son! If we are God’s kids – we can’t help but love. Love means giving personally and preciously. You don’t express love with a clinched fist. Love is practical – actions and words. Works, not words are the proof of love.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18 NIV

You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 NLT

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other because he loved us first. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters. 1 John 4:16-21 NLT

The Results of Knowing & Relying & Living in God’s Love:

#1 God’s love gives confidence. (1 John 4:17)

#2 God’s love eliminates fear and insecurity. (1 John 4:18)

#3 God’s love was GIVEN First – seed faith. (1 John 4:19)

#4 God’s love is a proof we really love God. (1 John 4:20)

#5 God’s love carries the responsibility to live it out. (1 John 4:21)