Theme: First things first.
C.S. Lewis wrote, "When I have learned to LOVE God better than my earthly dearest, I shall LOVE my earthly dearest better than I do now. Insofar as I learn to LOVE my earthly dearest at the expense of God, and instead of God, I shall be moving towards the state in which I shall not LOVE my earthly dearest at all." He added, "When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased."
Jesus gave the disciples and us a new command, as written in John 13:34. “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” This morning, I thought about how to reconcile Jesus’ command with the words of C.S Lewis and what I know about the love I now feel for others because of Christ in me. The answer is that there is no reconciliation, and both are in complete synergy.
When Jesus gave this new command to His Disciples, I believe He was almost saying, “Fake it till you make it,” a phrase I used as a coach to tell my players to act the way they should before their actions become a reality. If they acted out a way of life long enough, they would ultimately become the act. Jesus knew that the “helper” would soon come, and the changes would take place in the hearts of His disciples. Actual changes from within. So, this command was for the interim but also an ongoing reminder of who they and we are in Christ. His other purpose was to distill His ministry and the Law into one act that fulfilled all, but that is for another lesson.
I know we often wonder how we can be loving like we do. Doesn't it feel like our hearts will explode with our love for everyone? The truth is that the love of God in us, who know Jesus Christ as our Lord, is almost too much for our earthly vessels to handle. We cannot hold it in, or we may burst. And it almost seems strange at times that we feel this way. What do I do with this? I must quit telling everyone that I love them! Why do I want to hug everyone? Am I odd? Yes, we are odd, and isn't it wonderful?
We are filled with the Holy Spirit of God, which means we have all God's love in us—all of it. Wow! As we allow ourselves to be odd, we will tap into more and more of this love in our daily lives. So Jesus' command in John could read, “As I was willing to seem strange to the world in how I loved, you too be willing to do the same.” And we have all we need to do it well.
This becomes easier when we also learn the lesson of Paul when he wrote, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Mother Theresa once wrote, “No one thinks of the pen while reading the letter. They only want to know the mind of the person who wrote the letter. That's exactly what I am in God's hand--a little pencil."
I am reverting to the quote of C.S. Lewis and thinking of the Scripture verse from Luke, chapter ten. Jesus said, “ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus used many words to tell us how to love Our Lord and God with all our strength, hearts, souls, and minds. And then He adds, “Oh, and love your neighbor as yourself.” The message Pastor Dan was telling us lies in this verse. When we love our God, our Lord, our Father, with all we have, loving others as Jesus loved will happen as an outflow of that love.
Pastor Dan implored us to love boldly and to live the Gospel of Jesus. How can we not, without bursting? We are God’s love letters to the world. How much will we allow the world to read?
Scripture: Mark 12:28-31 (NIV)
“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Prayer:
Father God, I thank you that in Jesus you have made my life so uncomplicated. In Jesus, I no longer have to earn my salvation and no longer must think of countless things I must accomplish so that you will love me. You ask only one thing and that is all; all of me, all of my love. So much and oh, so little. Lord, knowing what I now know of how you changed my heart and exchanged the guilt and anger for your love and joy, losing my life is such a small price, and thank you for this one-sided trade. Lord allow me to seek you more strongly, long for you more eagerly, and love you with all I possess. Give me more to love you with, and let all else be second. Amen.
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