Behind The Struggle To Love Others (Lu. 7:47)

Read Luke 7:47.

Your struggle to love others is because you don't realize how much you have been forgiven by, and therefore loved by, Jesus.

Anathema Maranatha (12 Cor. 16:22) (Part 5)

Conclusion (Part 2):

• As we close, it is fitting to ask, “What does it mean to “love the Lord”?
• To love the Lord means more than believing certain things.
• If polled, every church-goer in Corinth would've responded, “Yes, of course I believe in Jesus!”
• However, Paul wasn't addressing a lack of belief but a lack of love.
• To love the Lord means . . . are you ready to hear this? . . . to love the Lord means to obey Him.
• Jn. 14:15 > “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
• Jn. 14:21a > “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me . . .”
• 1 Jn. 2:4-6 > “The one who says, “ I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” 
• What, then, is Paul's conclusion?
• “Show me a man who says that he believes in Jesus yet will not conform to His teaching through lifestyle obedience, and I will show you a man who doesn't love Jesus.”
• It's more about what you do than about what you say.
• The proof of belief is love and the outcome of love is obedience.
• Serving Jesus requires careful and serious living.
• It is healthy for each one to evaluate honestly:
• Do I love the Lord Jesus?
• Is my love for Him deeper than emotion, that is, evident by my obedience?
• Is there an area of disobedience I need to surrender to Jesus right now?
• Is the consequence of disobedience something I'm willing to stake my eternal existence upon?
• Since the consequence for a lifestyle of not loving Jesus means separation from Him and His Church, we must deal immediately with all disobedience.

Anathema Maranatha (1 Cor. 16:22) (Part 4)

Conclusion (Part 1):

• First Corinthians, although authored by Paul, was recorded by an amanuensis.
• The amanuensis was Paul's secretary, who wrote down what he said.
• In order to add seriousness, Paul wanted to write the last four verses himself.
• Of all that he could have written down, “anathema maranatha” is what he chose.
• Among other things, that meant “Hey, pay attention now, because it is critical that you hear this.”
• “Anathema maranatha” was linked to a specific kind of person.
• It was written as a consequence to “anyone” who “does not love the Lord.”
• There were those in the church who didn't love the Lord?
• Evidently, Paul allowed for this sad possibility.
• He wasn't referring to unbelievers but to those who claimed to believe in the Lord but didn't love Him.
• Paul didn't call them on their belief in the Lord but on their love for Him.

O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

     O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

     O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o'er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o'er them from the throne!

     O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
'Tis an ocean vast of blessing, 'tis a haven sweet of rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, 'tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

          -- Samuel Trevor Francis

You can listen at http://songsandhymns.org/hymns/detail/o-the-deep-deep-love-of-jesus.

Fruit (Jn. 15:1-8)

We're continuing to read through the Gospel of John. Today's reading is John 15:1-27.

Fruit is important. The word "fruit" is used 6 times in 8 verses.

Fruit is expected. "Fruit," "more fruit," "much fruit," "fruit that remains."

Fruit is defined. In general, it is Christ-likeness or Christian character (Gal. 5:22-23). In context, it is love (Jn. 15:8, 16-17; 13:35).

Fruit is possible. The key is "abiding" (remaining, staying) in Christ and His words. Don't be a tourist who checks in and checks out. That's not "abiding." Sign an eternal lease. Move in and unpack. Remain obligated.

God's Everlasting Love (Jer 31:3)

1. I can describe it, but I can't understand it. I can give you the dictionary definitions of "eternity," "everlasting" and "love." Talking about God's love isn't so difficult as understanding it. Because I am finite and limited, so is my understanding. So take anything I say about God's love as a starting point, not the end-all.
2. I can experience it, but I can't duplicate it. God loves me with an everlasting love. He loves you with an everlasting love. He had no beginning and will have no end. God is defined as love (1 Jn 4:8). What I can't do is love someone else with an everlasting love, since both my love and my existence have starting points. If I choose to start loving someone, then there was a time when I didn't love. So much for "everlasting" love.
3. I can receive it, but I can't reciprocate it. How can I, the finite creature, return everlasting love to my Creator? Because of my creature status, I cannot love everlastingly. I can only go forward in love after a starting point. God loved me before I ever knew Him or knew about Him. He loved me before I was created.
4. I can celebrate it, but I can't cancel it. I did nothing to deserve God's love and I can do nothing to earn it. This everlasting love is sent to me compliments of God. I can run from God's love or reject it, but I can't remove it.

Some Things You Have to Experience for Yourself

One of my favorite walking spots is the footpath at Erie Canal. I walk between Widewaters Marina and the Day Rd. bridge. During yesterday's walk two encounters reminded me that some things you just have to experience for yourself.

How can I describe the rarity of holding a dragonfly? (It must've been sleeping when I picked it up.) How can I describe the shade of blue on top of its narrow, two-inch-long body? How can I describe the texture of its symmetrical wings? I can't.

How can I describe the shade of green on the frog's back? I can't.

Some things you have to experience for yourself. God's love is one of those things. If you've experienced it, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't experienced it, you can. No second-hand witness can do it perfect justice.