Acts of Love Are Worth Much and Cost Little

Proverbs 25:11 tell us that “a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” This is perhaps one of the most apt descriptions of how a word of encouragement is received by someone who is depressed, discouraged, or feeling a sense of hopelessness. And I think if we are all honest with ourselves, all of us have been there at one time or another and have appreciated a word of encouragement from a friend or family member.

Jesus told us in John 13:35 that we would know His disciples by their love one toward the other. This was the only mark Jesus ever gave for a person who claims to be a Christian or a “little Christ.” And I suppose if you think about it, no other mark is needed as our love for one another demonstrates the gospel to its fullest capacity.

Many of the churches today fail to bring light to their dark communities because visitors sense no love among the members. Perhaps Marion Jacobsen put her finger on this missing component best when she said:

“If any group of Christians who claims to believe and practice all God has said in His Book will face up to their personal responsibility within the family of Christ, and to the real needs of Christians around them, their church will impress its community with the shining goodness of God’s love – to them AND among them. Such a transformation probably would do more to attract others to Jesus Christ than any house-to-house canvas, evangelistic campaign, or new church facility. People are hungry for acceptance, love, and friends, and unless they find them in the church, they may not stay there long enough to become personally related to Jesus Christ.

People are not persuaded, they are attracted. We must be able to communicate far more by what we are than by what we say.”

Mother Teresa offered a similar perspective on what ails the Western world:

“The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty -- it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There's a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.”

John C. Maxwell once said, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” The gospel message we proclaim is so much more than just quoting John 3:16 to someone. It is showing them the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus Christ. For you see, we are His representatives here and remain an example to a lost world that He truly did resurrect more than 2,000 years ago. The founding pastor of my church used to often say that you may be the only Bible anyone ever reads. I realize that it is a daunting statement but its burden in no way invalidates its reality.

Small acts done with great love are the core ingredients of the gospel. These acts provide a platform for sharing the gospel as the act itself IS the gospel in action. If you find yourself asking God to provide opportunities for you to share the gospel, start by meeting the needs of others and the door will swing wide open.
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"Biblical love is not emotions or feelings, but attitudes and actions that seek the best interests of the other person."

- Jeff Bridges in The Practice of Godliness

Christianity Characterized in a Word

During this past week I have been studying Biblical love. Most people know 1 John 4:8 “God is love” and the fact that Jesus commanded us to love our enemies. In addition, many people are familiar with portions of 1 Corinthians chapter 13, also known as the great love chapter of the Bible, as it is often quoted during marriage ceremonies.

But what does Biblical love look like in action?

I believe one of the best examples in Scripture that pictures the type of love Jesus has for His children is found in the life of the Disciple John. He is referred to as the disciple Jesus loved and it is said of him that he loved Jesus. This of course begs the question - did the other disciples not love Jesus? Or did John simply love him more?

According to John MacArthur, when we read John’s gospel account, “we enter into the most sacred holy place of all, the holy of holies and we see God in person, God in flesh. And so the fourth gospel is the gospel of all gospels. It is the holy of holies of the New Testament. It is almost as if we ought to take off our shoes for we stand on holy ground as we approach this gospel because it presents in the most magnificent glory the deity of Jesus Christ. It talks about His humanity, it talks about His servant hood, it talks about His kingship, but it presents primarily His deity. It is behold your God that John is trying to get across.”

It would seem based on John’s writings that he had an intimate knowledge of Jesus unlike anyone else. Of course, John was the only disciple at the cross. Even Peter who when told that Jesus would suffer many things and be killed, bolded declared, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” (Matthew 16:22)  We also remember that when the Lord was carrying His cross to Calvary, Peter was busy denying Him three times.

But John was there, wasn’t he? He was at the cross as Jesus told him to take care of His mother. John, unlike the other disciples, was not fearful of losing his life or ashamed to be associated with Jesus because he loved him. Because he LOVED Him. Love compelled John to follow the Savior anywhere – even to the cross. And as a result of this great love, when John was isolated on the island of Patmos for his faith, cut off from civilization on that small, deserted island. Shut off from everyone. He was shut up to God and there received the most extensive revelation of future events ever shown to any writer in the New Testament.

Unfortunately in today’s word, love is associated with a feeling or an emotion. The Greek language, which is the language of the New Testament, uses two different words to describe and define love. The most commonly used Greek word translated “love” in the New Testament is “agape.” This love is represented by God's love for us. It is a non-partial, sacrificial love probably best exemplified by God's provision for our rebellion as found, by no coincidence, in the Gospel of John chapter three, verse 16, “For God so loved (agape) the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

In contrast, our love is usually conditional and based upon how other people behave toward us. The Greek word “phileo” defines this kind of love, often translated “brotherly love.” Phileo is an emotional kind of love. It is something that can be experienced by both believers and non-believers. This is in contrast to agape, which is love extended through the Holy Spirit and requires a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This kind of love gives and sacrifices expecting nothing back in return.

As we walk with the Lord and become conformed to His image, agape love should be apparent in our life. It is this type of love that makes the world sit up and take notice because it is only possessed by believers. It is agape love in action that magnifies the message of the gospel for it is the very center of it – God loving us while we were yet sinners! It is a statement we should never get over. It is a love we should never get over. And it should compel us to follow the Savior, as it did John, all the way to the cross.

"Every Christian would agree that a man's spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God." - C. S. Lewis

A Beautiful Love Story

While I was reading the news on boston.com yesterday, I found a list of the 20 most romantic movies of all time. My first thought was how difficult it would be to just pick 20. After reading the list, I got to thinking about what makes a truly great love story and why we fall for these stories every time.

As usual, my thought pattern led me to the Bible and specifically to the Book of Ruth. At the start of this month, the Pastor of my church decided that he was going to preach through this little gem of a book that is widely considered to be the Bible’s most-loved love story. The book itself is only four chapters long and is set during the time of the Judges. In stark contrast to Judges, the book of Ruth shows us a community that did what was right in God’s eyes during a time when most people were following their own sinful desires.

A peculiar charm attaches to the story making it especially attractive to the most casual reader. It is a love story of other days in which sorrow and joy, failure and devotedness, life and death, are intermingled, all leading to the much anticipated wedding day and the birth of an heir who ultimately ends up within the genealogy of Jesus Christ. The very setting of the story is restful to the spirit as we are carried away into pastoral scenes to find ourselves in company with harvesters and gleaners. Throughout the story we see God’s providential hand brining Ruth (the main character of the story) and Boaz (a field owner) together and blessing Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi in the process.

I have often wondered why Hollywood has never tried to capture this unbelievably moving story on the big screen. If they can take something as dark and sinister as vampires and create an epic love story that has teenagers flocking by the thousands, I have to believe they could create a modernized version of the Book of Ruth and have similar success.

Please comment and let me know your favorite Bible love story. You know mine. :-)