With this story, I am reminded of our own mothers and their sacrificial love. A mother’s love gives without wanting anything back. A mom will not get jealous because her child is famous or prosperous. A mom will not get hurt because her child is becoming a "somebody." In fact that is her prayer, that her child will be respected and loved by many. If something is good for her child, she’ll give up her life a hundred times over without a blink of an eye. A mother's joy is to see her child prosper. A mom’s regret is not that she has given, but that she hasn't given enough! Who can resist respecting and bowing to an aging mom?
I guess a question can be asked at this point. Will a mom give up her life for her neighbor’s child? How about her enemy’s child? How about her enemy? Will she give up her child to save her enemy? The answer is obvious. Human love has its limitations.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 | If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
The Bible says that God gave us His Son for us while we were His enemies. While we were sinners, Christ died for us! This is the ultimate demonstration of God’s love for us. What an amazing God we worship. God, indeed, is love!
The Bible says that the world will know that we are Jesus’ disciples by our love! Not by might, power, nor elegant speeches, but by love! Our love for God is expressed through loving our neighbors. Someone who says, “I love God, but I hate Christians” does not know what love is. Someone who says, “I love Jesus, but not the church” does not know what he or she is talking about. Jesus says that ultimately His followers will be known by the way they love! Are you a disciple of Jesus? Then let us love!
Let us love one another friends. May our neighbors know that the Disciple Church loves God, loves each other and loves them. Our prayer is that all who come to our church will feel the love of God through us! Do you see someone today who is new? The way to show love is to introduce yourself and make that person feel like a VIP! Show her around. Let her feel at home. She is not here by accident. God led her here! Do you see anyone who left our church but has come back? The way we show love is by embracing him back to the community by expressing our joy of having him back in our fellowship. Do you see anyone who should be here but is not? The way we show love is to call her to see if she is okay and invite her to the fellowship!
Friends, love is not taught as much as it is caught. Love is a verb, shown through life.
May the love of Jesus that was declared so loudly upon the cross, ring loudly and clearly through you as we lay the foundation of Disciple Church! Let us love one another, and by this love, show the world that we are Jesus’ disciples! Jesus loved us to death and He died for us. May we love His church to death, and give up our time for her!
Matthew 25:40 | ...‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
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