Love is ...

Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

If you love someone, you will put up with a lot. I have seen the mothers of special children show the greatest patience with their children, even far after a spouse has long ago pulled away because he “just can’t deal with it.” 

Love doesn’t give up on somebody after the first and second offense. It is capable of forgiving seventy times seven.[i]

God’s kind of Agape love is about loving for what you can contribute to another’s life regardless of what they do for you. The only one who has ever successfully loved this way is the Lord Jesus Christ, but with the Holy Spirit within us and filling us, we can grow more into this kind of lover.

What kind of person would we observe who loved like this? How would we recognize an Agape kind of lover?

It is the man who forgoes his career to stay at home with his invalid wife. It is the farmer who goes and harvests his injured neighbor’s crop for him. It is the prominent citizen who goes out of his way to speak to the boy with an intellectual disability. It is the policeman who responds to an emergency call from a well known criminal.

Agape love is giving credit to someone else when you know that you also contributed heavily to the success of a project. It is downplaying the flaws of others, knowing that you have plenty of your own.

Love thinks well of others, speaks well of others and treats others as you would have them treat you.

Love will never be jealous of the success of others even if you have competed for the same prize. It will never wish any less blessing or more trouble upon another. It will never say, “They don’t deserve that” when something good happens to another; and it will never say, “They deserved that” when something bad happens to someone else.

The person who loves will not push one’s self up to the front of the line. It will not bully people but it will confront those who do bully others. Love will not allow us to grab the spotlight while shoving others out. Love focuses first on the Lord Jesus and then upon the indivuals around us. It never says "What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?" and "Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?" [ii]

Love will not “think of himself more highly than he ought to think,”[iii] but will also look out “for the interest of others.”[iv] Love is not like the pufferfish, blowing yourself up thrice your own size to impress but will think soberly – realistically. It is not making yourself look smaller than you really are but neither is it making yourself look bigger.

We could use a few more good manners these days. It seems like we’ve lost so much of what we once had attained as a civilized society. Love will help us do that.

Love looks out for others as well as it looks out for one’s self. It doesn’t become easily provoked nor does it think the worst of others but gives a fellow human being the benefit of the doubt whenever possible.

Love is full of joy. There is joy when another succeeds as much as when you succeed. There is joy in the blessing of others as well as when you are blessed. There is joy when truth is spoken – the full truth. It rejoices in the truth that “the wages of sin is death,” but also in the truth that “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

This is just a start, but that’s what love is. And, if you really want to see true love, don’t look at all of us flawed humans around you; look at God – and the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ who loved you so much he came to a lousy sin cursed world to be one of us and die for our sins. This is love.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 

1 Corinthians 13.4-6

---

I  Jesus, Matthew 18.22

[ii] Esther 6.6

[iii] Romans 12.3

[iv] Philippians 2.4

Without Love ...

If there is love in someone's heart, somehow it will come flowing through. Love is hard to disguise as is self centeredness. Either will exude and manifest itself in some way. The only way anybody can go unaffected by love is if he or she throws a shield up in resistance.

A Christian without love is like a car without an engine. It may look impressive, but it’s not going anywhere.

A Christian without love is like a piñata without any candy. You can beat it and whack it, but you’re not going to get anything out of it.

A Christian without love is like a river with no water. It may be a testimony to what once was, but it has no substance for today. Nothing can flow from it, for it only lies stale, dry, and lifeless.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.[i]

Without love, you may have linguistic fluency, but it will only sound like disorderly noise to those you are trying to reach. It is better to stutter and stammer with love in your heart than to speak with the eloquence of Cicero without it. You may mesmerize people for a while with your style of speech, but that will not endure nor endear people to yourself or God.

Without love, your pronouncements of great wisdom, though they may be true, will ring hollow in the ears of those who hear it.

Without love, your deep knowledge that you want to display for all to admire will be rejected for something far shallower that comes from someone who seems to care.

Without love, your gift of faith may move mountains but it will not move a hungry soul who longs for something genuine, someone real.

Without love, all the “charitable deeds” you’ve done will be barrenly squandered away into the wastelands of every great but unloving deed done for all the wrong reasons.

According to an article in USA Today, there is a mass in the ocean known as the “world's largest collection of ocean garbage” which:

…is twice the size of Texas. ... The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a collection of plastic, floating trash halfway between Hawaii and California, has grown to more than 600,000 square miles.[ii]

That’s a big pile of floating garbage that some are hoping to remedy but most are trying their best to ignore. Yet it’s not as big as the collection of good deeds that have been done without love.

Without love, “I am nothing.” That means everything I’m accomplishing is actually doing others no good.

Without love, “it profits me nothing,” which means all my deeds are actually doing me no good. It’s not helping you and it’s not helping me either.

Years ago, I heard a lady talk about one aunt who was a blessing to everyone she knew, then she mentioned another aunt. Her words were “Aunt Cindy[iii] never did do nothing for nobody.”

Someone has said:[iv]“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

But let me add this:

Do it in love.

---

[i]   1 Corinthians 13.1-3

[ii]  https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/science/2018/03/22/great-pacific-garbage-patch-grows/446405002/

[iii] Made up name

[iv] Attributed to John Wesley but others dispute he said it.

Be Sure You Find an Equal Yoke

Image from goodfreephotos.com

On a video we saw recently, a couple was getting married. The minister stood before the couple to help them go through the typical vows.  

Minister:         “I make this covenant with you,”
Groom:           “I make this covenant with you,”
Minister:         “In the name of the Father...”
Groom:           “Whose Father … hers or mine?”

Come to think of it, I guess that's a valid question.

Now days, when people marry, there is often confusion as to whom we are making our vows. 

We vow to our spouse before those present but we are also vowing before our Father God in heaven. He is the Father in whose name we make our vow.

One problem with marriages nowadays is the unequal yoke. We read in 2 Corinthians 6.14:

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

You may say, “What is an unequal yoke?”

People around the world used to plow with various types of animals. Some still do. The Lord had told Israel not to plow with an ox or donkey together, not because he cared so much about how they farmed but to present a more important picture: Don’t create a bond with those who don’t believe in the LORD.

This does not prohibit us from all associations with unbelievers. “Then,” says Paul, “you would need to go out of the world.” [i] We can have good relationships with many non-Christians, and love them, but there should be no binding connection.

Examples of close associations Christians should avoid with unbelievers would be partnership in a business, investments, alliance in political endeavors, but most of all, marriage.

There is no closer bond than the bond of marriage. Husband and wife are not just tied together, they are welded. Whenever God brought him his wife, Adam said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” [ii] 

God’s commentary on this was, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

Breaking that bond will cause serious problems. It causes severe repercussions on the individual, the couple, the family (children, grandchildren, parents, extended family) and the society.

Jesus said; “'Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female,'" and then said, “'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."[iii] (Notice that Jesus did not say men were to marry men nor women marry women. And, Jesus said God made everyong male and female, not something gender fluid or something we can decide for ourselves. Such an idea is a Satanic perversion.)

Most children of divorced parents will end up in a fatherless home which creates many problems for those kids. [iv] Many will live with a step parent to which some will never adjust.

Christians, as well as the rest of society, fall victim to divorce way too often as well. Although a man or woman may say they know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, many  do not live up to their profession. There is no obvious love for the Lord Jesus in their lives. Many of these love sin more than the Savior, gambling more than God, lust more than love, fun more than family, and money more than meekness.

I'm not writing these things to chastise anyone or bring any unnecessary guilt upon them. We're about grace, not guilt. There is forgiveness and redemption. There is hope and healing, and many who enter into a second or subsequent marriage will find true love and companionship. Many children of divorce will find strength to go on and will often find a new father figure or mother figure in their lives that will bring them great blessing. We all pray that they will.

We are striving to help people make the right choice before entering into an “unequal yoke.” It is not bi-racial marriage that God prohibited his people from entering into, rather it was the marrying of those from the nations of idolaters and wicked people.

Here are some good questions to ask about your prospective mate before you marry:

• Does he/she claim to know Jesus Christ?
• Does he/she love to pray and read God’s word?
• Does he/she love to hang out with God’s people (the church)?
• Does he treat his Momma right?
  (If he doesn’t, he probably won’t treat you right either!)
• Does he/she live a life consistent with what they say they believe?
• Do you, yourself, live according to all the above?

Don’t think you are going to change someone whose heart is not right with God. If anything, they are putting their best foot forward right now. I have seen many make abundant promises only to revert back to old ways after gaining someone’s confidence. We know anyone can be changed by God, but don’t test him! He has placed his principles in his word for us to live by, not for us to presume upon his mercy.

Those were the don’ts. Here are the do’s:

• Do pray for God to direct you to that one person.
• Do search the scriptures for understanding.
• Do seek godly counsel and listen to those who love you and don’t mind speaking the truth.
• Do give yourself time to get to know this person you feel you love. Don’t commit too soon.
• Do let the peace of God be your guide.
• Do be willing to go through life unmarried rather than to marry an unbeliever.
• Do trust God when he gives you the green light.
• Do everything you can to hold your marriage together with the Spiritual soul mate that God has given you – through thick and thin.

---

[i]   1 Corinthians 5.10

[ii]  Genesis 2.23

[iii] Matthew 19.3-6

[iv] If you have the guts to read about the effect on kids without Dads, read:
   https://thefatherlessgeneration.wordpress.com/statistics/

Is There Not a Cause?

What is your purpose? What is your cause?

Photo by Clint McCoy on unsplash

When David was just a young man, too young to go to war, his Father sent him out to take food to the troops of Israel who were engaging the Philistines in battle. All of David’s brothers were out on the battlefield. While there, he saw the Philistine champion, the gargantuan Goliath – all nine feet of him – arrayed in massive armor.

David heard Goliath blaspheme his God, Jehovah, and belittle the army of Israel. He said to his oldest brother, Eliab, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" [i]

Eliab rebuked David for even being out there, implying that he should be with the sheep, although it was David’s father who had sent him out.

David’s answer to Eliab was this: “Is there not a cause?”

Many times I have thought of that question. It is one we should ponder when disparaged, discouraged or distracted.

When Disparaged:

David had been castigated by his brother and others who thought they understood David’s motives but did not.

If others scorn you or question your motives just remind yourself that there really is a cause.             

     

When Discouraged:

When you have pursued that which you believed in and you knew was right, people may oppose you. It can become quite disheartening. Don’t let them cause you to falter.

You may have grown weary in your pursuit but the word of God says: “let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” [ii] Don’t lose heart; God will give you a second wind and allow you to fight the fight and finish the course. Many great people of God have been discouraged; Paul, Elijah, we might could even say Jesus, but the Father gave each one the strength to go on.

When Distracted:

Sometimes we can get diverted from the great cause of God. God’s work may not be fun and flashy. As you continue your walk with him there will be those who will try to drag you down with the trivial dainties of life. We must not allow ourselves to become detoured from the call which God has placed upon us.

If your work in the Lord comes to a standstill, it is not time to resign. It is only an opportunity to reload.

If the winds are not blowing satisfactorily upon your sails, allowing you to go forward, don’t abandon the cause – just reset your sails and pray that the wind of God’s Spirit will blow upon you again. You must be ready to move.

What is the Cause of which all of us should be involved?

Be careful here. The Cause is not a little soapbox on which we stand or a big drum that we must keep beating. It is not some small matter of which we have chosen to preoccupy ourselves. It must be The Cause – not a cause.

We are all gifted in some way. None of us are gifted equally by God. Some are gifted to preach or teach; others to give, serve, show mercy or a number of other things.

Some of us have certain natural talents that others don’t have and then visa versa.

We have all been through certain life circumstances that have led us to the place where are now. The place we occupy is unique. No one else on earth is exactly where you are right now with your gifts, natural talents and life circumstances. This is your distinctive situation for which God has placed you.

Because of this, there will be certain subcauses that will capture your attention. This might include academics, apologetics, athletic ministry, care for the elderly, children’s advocacy, compassion toward the homeless and outcasts, cult education, financial expertise, governmental influence, international missions, marital counseling, men’s ministry, music ministry, occult education and deliverance, prison ministry, the right to life, strengthening the family, teaching children, work with orphans, youth ministry, and etc.

Each of these is a good endeavor. One of them may be where God has chosen to bring you to operate and there is nothing wrong with any of them. This is finding your niche. May you not only find it but also flourish in it.

BUT … none of these is really the great cause in which a Christian is to be committed to.

I remember hearing Dr. James Dobson, who founded Focus on the Family and Family Talk, once say something to this effect: He said that if anyone thought his ministry was about family, they had missed it. He said it was not really about the cause of family but about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We were made for the glory of God. The scriptures say, “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him." [iii] You were made for the glory of God. If you don’t accomplish that, you come short of what you were created for.

He is our cause.

Evangelism is our call, [iv] but Jesus Christ is our cause.

So whether you are out in the neighborhood passing out tracts, distributing food for the hungry, advocating for the poor and powerless or studying your bible, do it for Christ who is our cause.

---

[i]   1 Samuel 17.26

[ii]  2 Thessalonians 3.13

[iii]  Isaiah 43.7 While this verse refers specifically to Israel, I believe it applies equally to his people today.

[iv] And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16.15)

Are We Embracing the Light?

Photo by Lucie Dawson on unsplash

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you ever tried to pick a paint color? You go to the store where paint is sold and pick up a swatch of a color that looks great! When you get it home, perhaps it doesn’t look so great.

What is the difference? Usually, the difference has to do with light. All color is a reflection of light. All the other light frequencies will be absorbed except the color which is reflected. That’s the color you see whether red, yellow, blue, purple or taupe.

The strength and quality of the light will have a bearing upon the appearance of the color you choose.

It is the light which makes manifest.

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:21)

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)

But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.  (Ephesians 5:13)

The light, as spoken of in these bible passages, represents truth. Truth is not only something you possess or something you know, it is something you do. If we come to the truth (light) our true color will be exposed. Evildoers don’t want that so they run from the light of God and his word. Truth doers receive the revelation which the light brings. If evil is present, truth doers want to know it so they can repent of it.

When Jesus returns, he will shine the bright light of his righteousness upon all of the Christian’s deeds. He will throw out all of the trash[i] (thank you Jesus) and reward the good deeds of the true believer.

It is possible for Christians to allow God’s Spirit to shine his word upon us now in order to make our deeds apparent before God so that we might be brought to repentance – before we stand before the Lord.

Hundreds of years ago, I guess most containers were made of clay pottery. Some pots were of excellent consistency without flaw. Of course the potter would get a much better price for those kinds of vessels.

For a vessel with a crack, I heard that some potters or sellers would attempt to fill the crack with wax. They could usually do a sufficient job of concealing the cracks this way.

The buyers soon got wise to this and learned that if they held such a vessel up to the sun, the line of wax would be exposed. After spotting the wax in the jar or pot, a buyer might refuse it for its lack of integrity.

Integrity is what God is asking for in us. He asks us to be real, genuine – living in simplicity. (See 1 Corinthians 1.12). If it is what it is – and it is, then it also ain't what it ain't. Let's not try to be what we ain't and let's not say it ain't if it is. If we have flaws, we should admit them, particularly to God who knows all things. [ii]

The Lord God asks that we function without pretense or false intentions; that we conduct ourselves with pure motives in our service to him. For, “all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light.”

---

[i] 1 Corinthians 3.13-15
[iI] 1 John 3.20

Being Sanctified without being Sanctimonious

You know, God has called every Christian believer to sanctification.[i]

You might be saying; “I automatically reject any word that has more than four syllables.” This is not true because the word “automatically” contains six syllables.

Yes, I know, the words “sanctification” and “sanctimonious” are long words, but if you’ll take the time to get to know some of these terms, you’ll be better equipped.

Here’s the main difference: “Sanctimonious” is to act holy. “Sanctified” is to be holy.

Does the Lord want all of us to act holy? No, not if it doesn’t come from hearts of purity. That is Phariseeism which Jesus hates. That is to be sanctimonious.

The word “sanctimonious,” according to the dictionary means to be self-righteous or holier-than-thou. God doesn’t want us to be hypocritical about our Spiritual condition. If we have flaws, and we do, we should acknowledge them. We should recognize that, in ourselves, we are really no better than anyone else out there. To my shame, I often see unbelievers (as best as I can tell) who demonstrate qualities that I don’t always live out. They are often kinder, more patient, more courteous, gentler, nobler, more optimistic, less volatile and purer in thought than I am.

Now don’t get all pious on me here. I’ve seen the same lack of virtue in many other Christians too, so it could be true of you as well. Don’t you recognize it too? One thing we Christians should know is that we are not saved because we’re good. We have been saved because God is good.

But, hopefully, being saved will begin a process of having a good heart and practicing good conduct. This is sanctification. Jesus said “No one is good but One, that is, God.” (Mark 10.18) The scripture also says; “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3.23) This means that we have all missed the mark. So if we’re going to do good, we’re going to have to get this goodness from God. It doesn’t come naturally – only supernaturally.

When we’re justified, born again, we are made righteous in God’s eyes. This is positional righteousness. We are pronounced right or righteous by God based on the merits of his good and holy Son, Jesus Christ. His righteousness is imputed to our account just as our sin was imputed to him on the cross.

At the same time, he sanctifies us – sets us apart unto him or makes us holy. So if we’re going to be holy, we have to get it from him as well. That is sanctification.

From the time that we’re saved, we enter into a process of sanctification. This is practical righteousness. Because of our love for Jesus and because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, now we have the opportunity and the responsibility to live in a holy manner. The word of God says:

…but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1.15-16)

Now, while we are in the process of becoming more like our Lord, growing in holiness, let us lay aside all pretense. If it ain’t there, it ain’t there. Let’s not feign that it is.

I like these words which have been attributed to John Newton the former slave trader who was saved by the grace of Jesus and then later helped abolish slavery in England:

I'm not what I ought to be.
I'm not what I want to be.
I'm not what I hope to be.
But thank God,
I'm not what I used to be.

Recently I preached from 1 Corinthians 1.2. In this verse, we read these words:

…to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus,
    called to be saints…

Children of God, you HAVE BEEN sanctified (past tense), Jesus has set you apart unto himself as holy ones but he has also called you to BE saints. This is the process of appropriating what you know to be true –  that you have been sanctified.

Now, go into the land and possess your possession.[ii]

---

[i] John 17.17; Acts 20.32

[ii] Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: "How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you? (Joshua 18.3)

Have You Been Accepted?

A little boy stands on the playground. He doesn’t think he’s a very good ball player but he wants to play. Two young fellows are responsible for choosing teammates. It’s a big deal because every boy wants to be chosen – hopefully, not last.

Not long after the choosing up begins, he hears those important words. “I choose Ricky.” Ricky doesn’t know if he deserves this but he knows that he has been accepted.

_________________________

One of the best Thanksgiving Holidays I ever had was a few years ago. [i] Our family got together at my son’s house. We had the usual wonderful traditional Thanksgiving meal together, but that’s not what made it so great. My son asked everyone there to say something kind about each person present. There were eight or ten of us there that day.

It wasn’t hard to find something nice to say about everyone there and it was all genuine. I did wonder, though, if anyone might have trouble finding something positive to say about me.

I’ll never forget what my daughter-in-law said to me that day. She remembered back when she and my son first began dating. She said, “I am grateful that you accepted me into your family. You have always made me feel welcomed and at home.”

I remember that because it made me feel warm and glad. I was glad she had come to be a part of our family, but also because she knew that I had accepted her.

_________________________

A precious little girl sits looking out the window as cars roll up to the facility where she lives. She has seen many couples come and go through those doors. Sometimes when they leave, they go out hand in hand with one of the other children. She wonders, “Will anyone ever take me?” “Will I ever go to live with some nice family for more than just weeks or months?” “Is it possible that I would no longer be bypassed and be selected by a nice family I could call my own?”

One day a well dressed couple walks through the door of the children’s home. The girl wonders if some privileged kid will be chosen to go and live with this man and woman. When they look her way she feels blood rush to her face. “Surely they are looking at someone else,” she thinks as she turns to look behind her.

Then the Director of the children’s home turns unexpectedly to her and says; “This couple is looking for a little girl just like you. Would you be willing to be their daughter?”

She has finally been accepted!

_________________________

A young lady is completing her high school requirements. Now her desire is to go to college. She is applying to four or five schools, but there is one highly reputable University she where wants to study.

The month of June goes by, and then much of July until she receives that important letter. Not able to open it quickly enough, she unfolds the letter and reads, “We are happy to inform you that you have been accepted into our University.” She rejoices that she has been accepted.

_________________________

A boy joins his friend and his family at Six Flags over Texas. He’s never been there before but he’s heard many exciting things about the place. He has been waiting with anticipation to be able to get a ride on the New Texas Giant. When it comes time to get on, he wonders if he has enough money to pay.

“I may have to sit this one out, he tells his friend.”

“Don’t you want to ride the ride?” the father of his friend says tenderly.

“Sure, but since I’m not your kid, you guys can go ahead. I don’t have any money and I know you’ll want to take your family.”

The man stoops down to look at the boy in the eye. “You came here with my son, and I accept you just as I would him.” “Besides,” he said, “All your rides have already been paid for.”

_________________________

What do all the stories above have in common? They are all about being accepted. Acceptance is something every human being longs for.

It is also normal for all of us to long for God's acceptance. Some people may think he would never accept them. Some feel they have to earn his acceptance. Others understand they can never earn it. 

I want you to know that in Jesus Christ, the beloved of the Father, we have been freely and undeservatively accepted and made acceptable because of his grace. [ii] My prayer is that you have been received “in Christ” through faith. If not, believe in him today; he will receive you with open arms. 

By the way, everything has already been paid for.

_________________________

                                         

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace,
wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. [iii] 

(Ephesians 1.3-6)

---

[i] True story.

[ii] "giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." (Colossians 1.12) 
[iii] emphasis mine.