God’s call is clear to us to “love our neighbors as we love ourselves”. This doesn’t mean we will like everybody, it doesn’t mean we’ll all get along all the time. What it does mean is that as much as you want to matter to other people, they want to matter too.
Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house.
In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.
There are 5 sponges laying on your kitchen counter top. Each member of your family has been cleaning up different areas of your home, but all the sponges look the same. You are curious as to what was cleaned in your home, but you can’t tell by looking…they all look the same….so what do you do?
Easter – the greatest act of love! They will know we are Christians by our love. Love is always an action even when it isn’t a feeling. As Easter people we are empowered by the resurrection to love in bold ways. But do we truly understand what Easter love looks like?
A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokies built a new sanctuary on a piece of land willed to them by a church member. Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the building.
Jesus’ life was defined by love and service, and God made us to love and serve others. You will never be more like Jesus than when you are pouring out your life in love and service to others. And you will never be more richly blessed than when you pour out your life for others for the sake of the Gospel.
My Mother’s father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to orphanages in China. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone.
Christians cannot afford to be ignorant, but knowledge can never be an end unto itself. Knowing lots of stuff, even knowing lots of the Bible does not make you a disciple. For maturing disciples knowledge always leads to action.
