Love Is…

What is love? Is love an emotional feeling? Is it unconditional? Is it committed? Do you describe it as brotherly or sisterly? Does it include your friends and neighbors? Does love include your enemy? Is it only for close relationships? Do you love as Jesus commanded you to love?

Our culture too often only refers to love as a feeling. We typically use it to describe a couple who are in love with one another or the love we have for our family. We may, on occasion, mention brotherly or sisterly love in a specific situation. But rarely will it be mentioned for others.

Jesus has just shared the Last Supper with His disciples. Judas has just left them to go lead the Jewish leadership and Roman soldiers to capture Him. Jesus knows what is about to happen. Yet, He commands His disciples to love one another. The Greek word He uses for love can be and was used to address the love Jesus commanded in all the facets mentioned above.

Because Jesus loves and cares for every person, I believe His heart was broken when Judas got up to leave the room. I believe He was implying multiple forms of love with His command. He was implying the disciples should still love Judas, despite what he was about to do. He was implying they should love and care for one another, knowing He was about to leave them. He was implying they were to be committed to one another, knowing the trials they were going to face. He was implying they were to love and care for their families.

Jesus did not randomly command His disciples to love one another. He does not randomly command us to love one another. Jesus knows what we are facing, what trials lie ahead of us, and how much we will need to rely on both Him and one another. He also knows that through the love we demonstrate for one another that others will know we are His disciples. It is by demonstrating this love that we attract others to Jesus and carry out His mission of bringing them into the kingdom of God.

I pray we all understand the many facets of love. I pray we love as Jesus loved. I pray each one of us commit to loving one another, or at least commit to learning to love one another. Love is a feeling. Love is unconditional. Love is committed. Love includes all people. Love as Jesus loved. Love one another.

John 13:34-35 “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Listening for God

Have you had a feeling that you knew what was going to happen before it happened? Have you experienced the feeling of deja vu? Does it make it feel more at ease knowing what is coming? Have you heard the voice of God speaking to you? Has the Holy Spirit led you on your path?

We occasionally talk about a mother’s intuition. It often occurs in the relationship with her children. There is a connection there like no other, with the possible exception of twins. However, we can have a similar connection with God.

How do we obtain this connection? It must be built. It is not that God cannot speak to us whenever he wants. We must learn to listen for him to speak. Often, God speaks to us when we are quiet. When we hear that we need to be quiet, we often interpret that to mean turning off the television, sitting quietly, and waiting for God to speak. Though that is part of the equation, it is not the entire equation.

To truly hear God speak, we must quiet our minds. My own experience is that I cannot hear God when my mind is racing and I am thinking about all the things going on in my life or my long list of things to get done. It is only when I push those things out of my mind and focus on God. I may have to spend a little time getting some things off my chest before I can truly quiet my mind. But God is a good listener. He will patiently wait for us to be quiet.

Jesus had the perfect connection with God. He knew what was ahead of Him. Jesus knew a false trial, a scourging, and a crucifixion was in His immediate future. But He also knew He was about to go back to the Father. He knew His mission was coming to completion. He had one more lesson to teach His disciples. He needed them to understand what it meant to serve one another, to show Godly love for one another.

I pray we all seek to have a close connection with God. I pray we learn to quiet our minds and spend time with God. I pray each one of us learn the lesson of serving one another in love. Build your connection with God. Quiet your mind. Spend quiet time with God. Learn to serve one another. Love one another as Jesus loves.

John 13:3-4 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

Praise the King

Do you seek out praise? Is it a motivator for you? Do you prefer to give praise to others? Is praise something you struggle with, whether for you or for others? How do you praise the King—Jesus?

Accepting praise from others can be challenging and we can feel embarrassed by it. Praising others can also be difficult for us because we simply don’t know how to do it without it feeling awkward.

Personally, I know both of the above feelings all too well. I have never felt comfortable receiving praise, especially publicly. I have often done whatever I could to avoid it. Perhaps that is why it is also challenging for me to praise others. My simplified viewpoint is that we are all doing our jobs or what we are called to do. No praise required.

Yet, I know intellectually that praise has its place. I know that we are to praise one another, especially when we have done something worthy in the service of our Lord. I also know we are to praise Him. Jesus is worthy of our praise. In fact, I believe He is far more worthy than any of us can imagine.

Jesus is not merely a person who taught good lessons, performed amazing miracles, and died for us. No…He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the conqueror of all evil. He is the ultimate judge. He is our Savior and our Lord. He deserves our praise.

I pray we all give Jesus our highest praise. I pray we honor Him with all our being. I pray each one of us will praise one another when we see one another working for the King. See Jesus as the King. Praise Jesus. Praise the King. Praise Jesus as Lord. Sing praises to Him.

John 9:35-38 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, 

“Hosanna to the Son of David! 

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 

Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Something Special

How well do you follow instructions? Do you listen for all the instructions to be given? Or do you assume you know what is going to be said and head off on a task before receiving all the instructions? Do you recognize the moment? Or does it take someone to point it out to you?

Following instructions can be a tricky at times. This is especially true if we do not wait to hear the full set of instructions. Sometimes we hear the first bit of the instruction and think we know what the full instruction will be. We may be correct sometimes, and yet there will inevitably be times when we are not.

The disciples listened to Jesus’ entire set of instructions. I’m sure they wondered how Jesus could give them such a strange command. In their case, they had been with Him long enough, seen enough of His miracles, and heard enough of His lessons to know to listen to Him. So, despite the strangeness of it, they followed His instruction just as He said. They brought the donkey and the colt to Him. They put their cloaks on them and Jesus got on board.

If we are lucky, we may have someone in our life whom we can trust implicitly. If we do, we follow their instruction, even if they sometimes seem weird, out of place, or incorrect. If the person we trust is worth our trust, the instruction will turn out perfect for the situation. However, it may take some time to see just how perfect the guidance was.

Recognizing the moment, the disciples not only put their cloaks on the donkey, but they also started putting them down on the ground. Other disciples put theirs down, and those that didn’t have a cloak put tree branches down. They recognized the moment was divine.

We, too, can recognize those divine moments. We can recognize the moments when something unique and special is happening. When we do, we may feel compelled to do something we would not otherwise do, just as the disciples did. If we find ourselves in a situation like that, go with it. God is at work.

I pray we all have someone we can fully trust. I pray we listen carefully and follow their instructions. I pray each one of us recognize those special moments as they come into our lives. Find someone you can trust. Trust in God. Trust in Jesus. Recognize the special moments.

Matthew 21:6-7 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them.

Be Willing

What are you willing to give to others? Are you willing to give something expensive to help someone else? Would you give up a prize possession if someone was in need of it? Does the situation make a difference in your decision? What are you willing to give God?

Giving to others may be easy if we are giving from our abundance. We take clothes, home furnishings, books, tools, and more to charitable organizations for those in need, but only those things we no longer plan to use. We will not typically give something that is of value to us.

God does not always present us a situation in which we are asked to give up something we treasure. However, we may be put in that situation. If we are, how will we act? We might like to think that we would give up anything for God, but we do not know that we will until we are faced with that decision.

A woman gives up something very expensive. The word translated as ointment in today’s passage can also be translated as perfume or myrrh. It has been estimated that the filled jar was worth a year’s wages. That is a costly gift. Besides the monetary value, there were other uses for the ointment.

In Mark’s account, Jesus was sitting around the table, meaning the group was likely about to eat. Yet, this woman pours this fragrant ointment over Jesus. Considering the amount of ointment, the entire house would have smelled of it. The smell may have been nearly overpowering in the room in which He sat.

We may also be put in a situation in which something very costly is asked of us. We need to remember this woman at that time. We also should remember that nothing of this world will remain when Jesus comes again. All that we currently possess will disappear. None of it will have a place in eternity. What will have a place is our willingness to serve God.

I pray we all evaluate how much we hold on to the things of this world. I pray we are willing to give to those in need. I pray each one of us are willing to serve God, especially when it means giving up possessions. Be willing. Evaluate your attitude. Give as God desires. Serve God.

Matthew 26:6-7 Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.

Thankful for Love

What does it mean to you to be loved? Is being loved something you are thankful for? Have you felt loved at one time and unloved at another? Do you want to know that you are loved at all times? What if I told you, you are? Will you be thankful for that love?

Being loved is something all human beings long for. We not only want to be loved but need to be loved. The need is so strong that, if we do not find love where we think it should be, we will look for it from other sources. Looking for love can lead to some very bad places.

Sometimes, we misinterpret being accepted as being love. This happens when we do not find real love where we should. It is a contributing reason why some young people ending up in gangs. They are accepted as long as they go along with what the gang expects. They interpret the acceptance as love.

Our drive to find love is strong enough that we may accept a bad relationship in the false belief the other person loves us. They may not love us but are really using us. We see this happen far too often. Once again, it emphasizes our need for love. But there is a place and a person who loves us at all times and forever.

God’s love does not depend on our behavior, how we look, nor our status in life. After all, he is our Creator. That does not mean God does not have some expectations, but he will never stop loving us. To know that love more intimately and feel his love for us, we need to be in a relationship with him. It is no different than knowing another person loves us. Without the relationship there is no tangible way of feeling the love God has for us. Once we feel that love, we are moved to thank God for his love.

I pray we all seek to be in relationship with God. I pray we desire to feel his love for us. I pray each one of us know that God’s love for us is forever and we give thanks to him for it. Be in relationship with God. Feel God’s love for you. Know that God’s love is forever. Give God thanks for his love.

Psalm 118:29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Rejoice with Abraham

What causes you to rejoice? Is it a promotion in your job? Is finding someone special to be your companion for life? Is it watching your child accomplish something they have been working hard for? What causes you to rejoice? Do you rejoice in Jesus Christ?

Many things in this world can provide us with momentary happiness. We rejoice in those moments but find sorrow waiting for us in the next. We celebrate accomplishments one day and mourn our losses the next. We seem to be riding a rollercoaster of emotions.

Yet, there is one thing we can rejoice every day. We can rejoice that our Savior came into this world to give Himself up for us. We can rejoice that we have been saved from ourselves and our human nature. We can rejoice that one day the sorrow of this world will never touch us again. We can rejoice alongside Abraham.

Have you ever thought about that? Have you ever noticed that Abraham rejoiced at seeing Jesus come into this world? Jesus is disputing the false accusations made against Him by the Jews in John 8 when He tells them that Abraham saw His coming and was glad. Abraham had been promised by God that his offspring would bless all the nations of the world. Now Abraham is seeing that promised blessing come to fruition.

What does this tell us about God and Abraham? It tells us a whole lot. First of all, God keeps his promises. Second, Abraham is alive and well with God. Third, Abraham can see what is happening on this earth. So, we can rejoice with Abraham when we rejoice at Jesus’ coming. A little rejoicing would do all of us good.

I pray we all choose to rejoice in Jesus. I pray we follow Abraham’s example and are glad that Jesus came into this world. I pray each one of us will rejoice each day we live, knowing Abraham and the angels are rejoicing with us. Rejoice in Jesus Christ. Be glad that He came into this world. Rejoice with Abraham. Rejoice with the angels. Above all, rejoice!

John 8:56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

Be Like a Child

Do you sometimes feel like a child? Do you act like a child? Do you experience exhilaration, surprise, and pure joy like a child? Or are you an old fuddy duddy who frowns and prefers not to be excited or surprised? What if you needed to be like a child? Would that change your attitude?

As we grow older, being surprised and jumping for joy often takes a backseat to work and keeping a level head. The world of adults can be very serious and can weigh us down. Our attitudes can be one of focus, determination, and we can experience depression.

Jesus tells us we need the attitude of little children. That attitude has many facets to it. One facet is that of pure joy and excitement. We are to be overjoyed that we have a Savior. We are to be excited to know that we have been saved from the worst possible place we can imagine and given an inheritance beyond our wildest dreams.

Second, we are to have the faith of a little child. Think of a small child who is afraid of water, but Dad is in the water and promises to catch her. She trusts Dad with all her heart, so she jumps. He catches her and she has a big smile on her face. Not only that, but she asks Dad to put her on the side of pool so she can do it again.

Third, because of the trust the child has, he will follow Mom anywhere. Mom tells him they need to go to the doctor. He is afraid of doctors and the smells of a doctors’ office. But Mom reassures him it will be alright. He follows her into the doctor’s office and discovers the doctor is there to help him. By following his Mom, he finds his faith is confirmed.

I pray we all accept Jesus like a little child. I pray we are excited to see what He will do in our lives. I pray each one of us put our faith in Him and follow wherever He leads us. Be excited. Be surprised. Experience pure joy. Have the faith of a child. Put your faith in Jesus. Follow Him.

Luke 18:16-17 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Seek Renewal

Have you ever felt like you just needed to get away for a little while? Have felt like you needed a break from the hustle and bustle of life? Has your job been very busy, causing you to feel frazzled and worn out? Were you able to find solace somewhere or were you bothered via your electronic leash?

There are times when we really need a break. We have been going at breakneck speed for a lengthy period of time and need some downtime. We may plan a week away in a quiet place. Yet, through our cell phones, people continue to reach out to us asking for guidance.

Today’s world is fast paced. We are continually connected. It wasn’t that long ago that companies would issue a cell phone to someone if they were required to be available. Today, we all use our personal cell phones. It has even become rare for a company to pay a stipend to offset the cost of our personal phone for using it to conduct business. It has become expected that we use our personal cell phones and depending on our profession, we are available virtually all the time.

Once Jesus had performed a few miracles, especially healing those who were sick or battling a disease, He was sought after nearly all the time. He, too, needed to get away from the constant demands of people. Sometimes, He would go up on a mountain to spend time with the Father. In today’s passage, He traveled to a place several miles from Galilee. Tyre was northwest of Galilee along the Mediterranean Sea. Jesus did not go into the city but went near it. However, people discovered He was there and ran out to see Him.

Most of us can sympathize with Jesus’ predicament. On the one hand, He cared deeply for people and wanted to help them. On the other hand, He needed some time of renewal and rejuvenation. Our own renewal is key to our own mental and spiritual health. We, too, need to seek a place of solace to renew ourselves and our commitment to God.

I pray we all set aside time to be renewed. I pray we find a quiet place to allow God to rejuvenate us. I pray each one of us will follow Jesus’ example of renewing our commitment to God. Seek renewal. Spend time with God. Be rejuvenated. Turn off you phone. We all need time away from the busyness of life.

Mark 7:24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.

Do You Believe?

Have you wrestled with knowing Jesus? Do you continue to learn something new about Him? Do you wonder about some of the stories you have heard about Him? Do you believe He is the Son of God? Do you believe He is who He says He is?

Belief can be a challenging thing. We may believe someone can soar above the clouds, but only when they are in an airplane. We may believe a person can heal another, but only once they have been educated or trained. We believe many things we are told without proof.

Believing the stories about Jesus can challenge our understanding of the natural world. We don’t know anyone who has opened the eyes of someone who was born blind. We have not witnessed someone being raised from the dead. We are told in Scripture that Jesus did them both.

It takes a leap of faith to believe these stories, even if we have been told them since we were children. That is what it is all about, isn’t it? It’s all about faith. Mere belief won’t allow us to believe the stories. It takes faith, faith in Jesus, to believe He did the things we are told about Him.

Jesus tells Martha, and us, that He is the resurrection and the life. As long as we live in Him, we will never die. Sounds absurd, doesn’t it? Yet, Jesus makes this promise and keeps it. We do not die, if we are in Him. We continue living, even when our mortal bodies die.

I pray we all believe in Jesus. I pray we put our faith into Him so that we believe the stories about Him. I pray each one of us trust Him and believe we never die. Believe in Jesus. Believe the stories about Him. Believe He is who He says He is. Believe Jesus is the Son of God.

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”