Love and law

Love and law – our lives in following Christ would not be complete without both of them.  Why?

Love needs law for guidance.  1 Corinthians 13 demonstrates to us that love involves action.  Our love for God should lead us to action, but what action?  How could we demonstrate our love for God without knowing how He desires us to demonstrate it?  His law guides us in our manifestation of our love for Him.

Law needs love as motivation.  Since the beginning of time God has always issued laws to man, but what good would it do Him to issue laws if we have no motivation to follow them?  While there may be several factors involved in our motivation to obey God’s laws, the greatest is love.  “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

Law will always be there.  Will your love?

Have a great day in His service!

 

A father’s love

(With Father’s Day being yesterday, I would like to share this message sent to me several years ago by a dear brother, Gary Copeland.  Thanks, Gary!)

At the 1992 Olympics held in Barcelona, Spain, spectators saw a living picture of God’s love for His children. That year Derek Redman of Great Britain was reaching for his life-long dream of winning a gold medal in the 400-meter run. As the gun sounded for the semi-finals, Derek knew without a doubt that he was running the race of his life. Then tragically a torn right hamstring sent him sprawling face down on the hard surface of the track. By a shear act of will, he struggled to his feet and began crazily hopping towards the finish line.

Suddenly, a large man in a t-shirt bounded out of the stands flinging security guards aside, making his way towards the wounded runner. Jim Redman threw his arms around his son. He said, “Son, you don’t have to do this.” Derek replied, “Yes, dad, I do.” Jim then said to his son, “Alright then, let’s finish this thing together.” That’s exactly what they did, staying in Derek’s lane the whole way, the son’s head frequently buried in his father’s shoulder. They made it to the end of the race as the crowd rose to their feet and cheered.

Derek Redman did not win the gold medal that day, but he walked away from that race with a memory of a father who loved him too much to stay in the stands watching him. Jim Redman was a father who came down out of the stands and entered his race.

This is the kind of heavenly Father we have, one who loves us too much to look down from heaven watching us fall and fail. He is willing to come into our race, running it beside us and within us every step of the way until we are safely home.  “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God” (1 John 3:1).

Have a great week in His service!

Q – Thankful for the Thessalonians

Q.  Why did Paul say he and those with him should always give thanks for the Thessalonians?

Q – Love in the New Testament

Q.  What book in the New Testament mentions love the most?

Q – “the Beloved”

Q.  To whom did Paul describe Jesus as “the Beloved”?

1 Corinthians 13 – Christmas Version

 

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,
strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls;
but do not show love to my family,
I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen,
baking dozens of Christmas cookies,
preparing gourmet meals
and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime;
but do not show love to my family,
I’m just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen,
carol in the nursing home,
and give all that I have to charity;
but do not show love to my family,
it profits me nothing.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love does not envy another’s home
that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way,
but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return,
but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.

Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things, and
endures all things.
Love never fails.

Video games will break,
pearl necklaces will be lost,
golf clubs will rust;
but giving the gift of love will endure.

In this and every season, may love remain the greatest thing (:13).

Have a great week in His service!

“I hate the price. I love the prize.”

Tom Black, sales trainer, wrote,  “When I interview successful salespeople and salespeople who have had breakthroughs in their careers, they all tell a similar story. They say to get a ‘trick of thought’ that helps you push through. Mine is a mantra I repeat over and over again. When I face myself and know I must do something uncomfortable to achieve what I’ve set out to accomplish, I repeat ‘I hate the price. I love the prize. I hate the price. I love the prize.’ This seems to get me over the hump.” (www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013305210006).

Do you have any “humps” in your life?  Surely you do.  Jesus did.  He faced the hump of going to the cross and enduring all the agony and shame that would be associated with it – and He hated the price.  He prayed, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” (Matthew 26:39).  It wasn’t, so He submitted to the Father’s will (:42).  Why?  The prize: “…who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2).  While He hated the price, He was willing to pay it to obtain the prize.

You may hate the price you are currently having to pay, but love the prize enough to be willing to pay it.  Say with Paul, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14).

Have a great week in His service!

Q – Peter’s virtues

Q.  Peter lists what some people call the “Christian virtues,” beginning with faith.  What are they?