Love Not Like
By, Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to love people than to like them? I mean c’mon, people are nasty, annoying, pushy, greedy, egotisitcal. So, if people are that bad why should we love them? Because He first loved us! I’ll never understand until the Lord brings me home and tells me why He loves us, but He does and I am humbly and gratefully thankful. Thus, we should be compelled by His love to reach out to all those nasty, annoying people. (especially seeing we are one of them) We should even be able to love our enemies and those that curse us because we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. We can share love because we are secure in knowing that nothing in this world can ever separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus our Lord. How can we not be obedient to the One who created us, died for us, and made us an eternal home with Him? He has shown His love time and time again to uruly, stiff necked people. He has shown us how much He cares. If we want to win the world, it won’t be by preaching gloom and doom, but by showing the world how much we care! It isn’t easy, the hypocrisy and perversion of truth in the world does get one riled up, but think how God feels! Yet He still loves! Individually we may not change the world, but together we can show the world love, and remember, love changes things, love changes everything!
Love changes things. It can warm a frozen heart. It can mend a torn relationship. It can lift a soul out of the pit of despair. It can change things. Love changes others, but loving others can change us. Soon after I accepted Jesus, circumstances led me to take a job as an orderly in a level one nursing home, something totally foriegn to my nature. After getting through the first day without running out the back door screaming, I truly started loving in a way I never knew. In a week, I found myself walking home singing, so happy from giving love in a special way. Love changes things, love changes us! Loving one another is a commandment that definitely should be followed in the church and Ephesians 5:19-21 is a good example of a Spirit filled church, yet a tough thing for many people to do is verse 21, “submitting to one another … ” Submitting doesn’t mean being a doormat but out of reverence for God and love for one another, we are to be thinking of the interests of others before our own. Love changes the church! Nobody is perfect, we all get our backs up now and then, and tempers may flair. We’re human, it happens, but that doesn’t give us an excuse to stop lovng! It calls on it all the more. As Paul instucts in Ephesians 4:26,27, “don’t let the sun go down on your anger!” Very wise councel that should be followed in all situations. Love restores relationships! So, go out tomorrow, go out the rest of your life, full of confidence, because you are undeservedly, unconditionally, loved by God, and graciously show His love to others and watch as love changes things!
By: Tim Irving – Evangelism Team
Author: Tim Irving
The world is a mess and it doesn’t look like the clean up crew is coming anytime soon. The incredible idiocy can get to you, it can give you angst. Feeling a little bit angsty? Didn’t you hear Pastor Curt’s great advice yesterday? “If you want to worry less, pray more!” So simple, but let’s take it up another notch. What did the Apostle Paul say to the Philippians? “Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests made known to God, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Chist Jesus.” Still got a little heartburn? Okay, lets take it to the top. What did Jesus say in the middle of His sermon on the mount in Matthew 6:25-34? “Therefore, I say to you do not worry … Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature … why do you worry … therefore, do not worry … do not worry about tomorrow …!” You’ll have to read the whole passage yourself to fill in the dots. So why does Jesus tell us not to worry? Because He’s got us covered! He knows what we need, when we need it, and He promises to provide it, and He does! He doesn’t want us caght up worrying about earthly things but to be concerned with Heavenly things. He knows the world is a mess and He’ll take care of it on His timetable not ours. (personally, I’d be mounting up my warrior angels and preparing to clean house tomorrow) So, listen to the Lord, don’t worry about what He already promised He’ll take care of, spend more time in prayer, let Him replace your angst with peace, keep seeking His kingdom first, and let Him take care of the small stuff!
If you ever have any questions on how God expects a Christian to behave, read Matthew 5-7. Jesus pretty much laid it all out in His sermon on the mount, and there is a prevailing theme. When you give, do you do it privately or make sure everyone knows what a philanthropist you are? When you pray, do you spend time alone in heartfelt soul bearing or do youl love to give mini prayer sermons in public? When you fast, do you go about your daily routine normally or do you flounder about like you’re lost in the desert? Basically, whatever you do, do you do it to God or to be seen by men? Do you want the praise of man or of God? Do you want the rewards of the Lord or of man? It is so sad but many people, including some religious leaders, seem to be choosing man. Man’s acceptance is fleeting, fickle, and momentery but God’s acceptance is eternal! As Christians, all we do should be for the honor of God, whether small or large, private or public, He is our motivation. He knows our hearts, He knows our true intentions, and He will bless us for them. So, be aware of the needs of others, pray without ceasing for yourself and others, if physically possible, spend a designated time fasting, seeking a deeper relationship with Him, and as Jesus taught us in His prayer, in all things pray, “Thy will be done (not mine) on earth as it is in Heaven.”