The Contemporary Christian Rock Band, Mercy Me, chose to name there latest album release, "The Generous Mr. Lovewell". A tribute to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who above all, knows how to love - well. What a great title.
The Apostle John was an old man, maybe in his nineties, when he wrote his first letter. And, in this first letter, he felt that it was necessary to remind his children in the faith that it was all about love. He reminded them of what Christ said, "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should love one another. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:34-35 NLT)
The Apostle Paul wrote, "Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." (Romans 12:9-10 NLT)
We need to be "doers" of love. Sincere love requires concentration and work. Sincere love can help others become better people. It shouldn't be applied sparingly, it should be poured out generously.
As a body of believers, we should have a positive effect on the people around us. We should let the world see that we have Christ's love inside us by generously showing that love, just as Christ poured it out for us. Love should come easy for us. The God of all creation is living inside of us.
He is the author of love, and after all, He is "The Generous Mr. Lovewell."
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Smile
Isaac is a man that is full of wisdom... a wise soul, as some might say. Although his delivery may be, at times, "rough around the edges", his advice is always right on. I work with Isaac a couple of days a week, and always look forward to our conversations.
I overheard him say to a young woman, as she was passing by, "Smile!" She mumbled her reply. He kindly explained to her, in a way that a favorite uncle would, that if she continues to walk around like a "mope", soon enough it would become her nature. "There goes that mopey girl!"
He continued, "No one wants to hang out with people that look like they are about to bite your head off." "Why don't you smile, and let the world know that you are a good person, you know, someone that they would want to be with?" This time, her reply came in the form of a single-digit, hand gesture.
There had to be something about Christ that made him appealing to the masses. There had to be something about the way He presented Himself that made these rough, tough fishermen, and tax collectors, drop everything and follow Him. They trusted Him before they even knew Him.
Maybe Isaac was right, maybe it was His smile. We should all smile more. Could it be that simple? That, one of the ways that we would let Christ's light shine through, would be a smile? Afterall, it is a trademark of a kind person. And, if our new nature is to include; tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love (Colossians 3:12-14 NLT) than maybe a smile is a good place to start.
It is probably the easiest thing to give to someone else.
I overheard him say to a young woman, as she was passing by, "Smile!" She mumbled her reply. He kindly explained to her, in a way that a favorite uncle would, that if she continues to walk around like a "mope", soon enough it would become her nature. "There goes that mopey girl!"
He continued, "No one wants to hang out with people that look like they are about to bite your head off." "Why don't you smile, and let the world know that you are a good person, you know, someone that they would want to be with?" This time, her reply came in the form of a single-digit, hand gesture.
There had to be something about Christ that made him appealing to the masses. There had to be something about the way He presented Himself that made these rough, tough fishermen, and tax collectors, drop everything and follow Him. They trusted Him before they even knew Him.
Maybe Isaac was right, maybe it was His smile. We should all smile more. Could it be that simple? That, one of the ways that we would let Christ's light shine through, would be a smile? Afterall, it is a trademark of a kind person. And, if our new nature is to include; tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love (Colossians 3:12-14 NLT) than maybe a smile is a good place to start.
It is probably the easiest thing to give to someone else.
He loved, so He gave.
Jesus said, speaking of Himself, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
He loved, so He gave. We think of love as an emotion. And, emotion is one of the definitions. But love, true love, is an action. It is something that we do, not just something that we feel. Love is something that must be shared. Love reaches out and draws others in. Love is self-sacrificing, not self-centered. Love is given freely, with no expectations. Love is giving.
Jesus showed us how to give by showing us how to love. He is the author of love, and He “does” love extremely well.
So, in the spirit of love, today I gave. I chose a Christian relief organization that is working with the earthquake victims in Haiti. I made a small donation, knowing that God will put it to good use according to His will.
Have you given anything today?
He loved, so He gave. We think of love as an emotion. And, emotion is one of the definitions. But love, true love, is an action. It is something that we do, not just something that we feel. Love is something that must be shared. Love reaches out and draws others in. Love is self-sacrificing, not self-centered. Love is given freely, with no expectations. Love is giving.
Jesus showed us how to give by showing us how to love. He is the author of love, and He “does” love extremely well.
So, in the spirit of love, today I gave. I chose a Christian relief organization that is working with the earthquake victims in Haiti. I made a small donation, knowing that God will put it to good use according to His will.
Have you given anything today?
Monday, January 18, 2010
New Direction
I took a couple of weeks off to really think, and pray about the direction of this blog. During this time off, I have been listening to, and observing everything around me.
As bits and pieces began to come together in my mind, I began to see a clearer picture. I began to realize that it is not so much the act that is the point, but the nature that produced the act.
Christ, being God in the flesh, had the ability to love in its perfection. It is His nature. And, He displayed this perfect love in actions that all the world could see. The bible intentionally refrains from giving any type of physical description of Christ. Why? Because it is not important. What is important is His embodiment of both His perfect human nature, and His perfect divine nature.
So where does this leave us? We don't have the luxury of a perfect nature, but, we do have the next best thing. As believers, we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God promises that, through His Spirit, we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We will take on a new nature, as we become one with Christ.
So, can we develop a nature of love as Christ loved? We'll have to see.
As bits and pieces began to come together in my mind, I began to see a clearer picture. I began to realize that it is not so much the act that is the point, but the nature that produced the act.
Christ, being God in the flesh, had the ability to love in its perfection. It is His nature. And, He displayed this perfect love in actions that all the world could see. The bible intentionally refrains from giving any type of physical description of Christ. Why? Because it is not important. What is important is His embodiment of both His perfect human nature, and His perfect divine nature.
So where does this leave us? We don't have the luxury of a perfect nature, but, we do have the next best thing. As believers, we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God promises that, through His Spirit, we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We will take on a new nature, as we become one with Christ.
So, can we develop a nature of love as Christ loved? We'll have to see.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Week Four
You would never realize how many people have flat tires in the Chicago area, until you start looking for them.
One morning, this past week, I came across a woman with a flat tire. But, this time, a guy had already stopped to help her. He was tightening the lugs on the newly installed spare, so there was no point in me stopping. I sat at the light and observed.
The man was dressed in a suit, and wearing a wool overcoat. He wore black leather dress shoes and matching gloves. He was dressed for the office, not for changing a tire. But, he stopped anyway.
Maybe he was the woman's husband, or brother, or a close friend. It would make perfect sense. Or maybe he was someone, like me, who saw a person in need and wanted to help. I suppose we'll never know.
As I observed, I looked at the faces of the people in the cars around me. We were all looking at this man. Judging by their facial expressions, I could see that they were amazed that a man so sharply dressed would stop to change a tire. The women in the cars were smiling, as if they saw the man as a modern day knight in shining armour. The men in the cars reacted differently. Some were pointing and laughing, while some were just staring. Some were shaking their heads as if to say, "Not me", and others were trying not to look at all. Everyone was moved in some way.
I don't know what motivated the man to stop, but his action left an impression on a number of people.
Jesus told His followers to let their good deeds shine for all the world to see, so that everyone will praise our Heavenly Father. The woman with the flat was the one that received the immediate benefit of the man's act of kindness, but we see that it still effected a number of people.
The Holy Spirit works constantly in the lives of believers, as well as non-believers, to draw us back to Himself. Even the men who were laughing were moved. And, just maybe, a seed was planted in their hard hearts that will begin to grow. This could very well be, the first of a thousand steps that they need to take, on their road to faith in Christ.
I would have to think that the man who stopped had no idea of the broad-reaching impact of his action. He stopped to help a woman with a flat.
We never know who is watching us, as we go through life. We could effect people without even knowing it. So, let the effect we have be positive, and let the Holy Spirit do His work through it.
One morning, this past week, I came across a woman with a flat tire. But, this time, a guy had already stopped to help her. He was tightening the lugs on the newly installed spare, so there was no point in me stopping. I sat at the light and observed.
The man was dressed in a suit, and wearing a wool overcoat. He wore black leather dress shoes and matching gloves. He was dressed for the office, not for changing a tire. But, he stopped anyway.
Maybe he was the woman's husband, or brother, or a close friend. It would make perfect sense. Or maybe he was someone, like me, who saw a person in need and wanted to help. I suppose we'll never know.
As I observed, I looked at the faces of the people in the cars around me. We were all looking at this man. Judging by their facial expressions, I could see that they were amazed that a man so sharply dressed would stop to change a tire. The women in the cars were smiling, as if they saw the man as a modern day knight in shining armour. The men in the cars reacted differently. Some were pointing and laughing, while some were just staring. Some were shaking their heads as if to say, "Not me", and others were trying not to look at all. Everyone was moved in some way.
I don't know what motivated the man to stop, but his action left an impression on a number of people.
Jesus told His followers to let their good deeds shine for all the world to see, so that everyone will praise our Heavenly Father. The woman with the flat was the one that received the immediate benefit of the man's act of kindness, but we see that it still effected a number of people.
The Holy Spirit works constantly in the lives of believers, as well as non-believers, to draw us back to Himself. Even the men who were laughing were moved. And, just maybe, a seed was planted in their hard hearts that will begin to grow. This could very well be, the first of a thousand steps that they need to take, on their road to faith in Christ.
I would have to think that the man who stopped had no idea of the broad-reaching impact of his action. He stopped to help a woman with a flat.
We never know who is watching us, as we go through life. We could effect people without even knowing it. So, let the effect we have be positive, and let the Holy Spirit do His work through it.
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