Pastoral Perspective: Finding time to live and love through God's love for us
Think about all the love songs ever written. There’s a song about how God’s love is deeper than the ocean and if the ocean was the ink in my pen it would run dry telling of Gods love. I’ve scuba dived down 100 feet in a lake, but in an ocean you have a vast two miles to go! Like the ocean's endless depths, thats how deep God’s love is for us.
This week a lady was remembering how her mom gave her good advice when she was dying from cancer, to mourn or grieve for her only three days. Her mom loved everybody well, especially helping out those in the community with all kinds of needs. She was a worker and a giver and the daughter knows her mom is enjoying heaven.
John tells us, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him shall never perish but have eternal life.”
God himself came down to earth in the form of a baby Jesus so he could die to take away our sins and renew our relationship with Him. God is love. He poured himself out, taking on our sins.
Don’t hold onto who you are, but become less, lower yourself. Think of how you can pour yourself out in order to win others to Christ.
At age two I started Sunday school and my first memories were how big and loving God was to me — I felt his love.
God loves us and cares about every detail of our life. Think of God’s characteristics and attributes: A God of Hope, Powerful, Righteous, He is a God of Justice, Mercy and Truth, Our Good Shepherd, Savior, Changeless, Faithful, Restorer, Comforter, Counselor, Healer and Deliverer! What’s not to love about this list?
Faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is love are discussed in 1 Corinthians 13. If we don’t have love, whatever we do is worthless.
On the professional nanny show where the nanny goes in to rescue the family — a mother who was a former policeman was screaming at her kids like a drill sergeant. First, she was to clean up her language and quit belittling them. And second, right away the nanny saw there was something seriously wrong because the mom was showing no affection to the kids. And they were revolting against her. What a difference love makes.
What if everyone in the world loved like Jesus. What a world we would have.
It says in 1 Peter 4:8, “Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” If you find you can’t love your enemies — ask God to funnel his love into you so you can pour out love to others.
When you pray for your enemies it changes your whole attitude towards them. Kill them with kindness — the Bible says turn the other cheek.
When we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God loves us and will guide you how to show His love to others.
A manager at Wendy’s was looking for a grill cook for just three hours over noon hour. He only found one application at the bottom of the pile that would work. Nick came in and had Down syndrome.
This was back in the late 1970s when there were no computer screens to work from. Every order was called out from the cashier.
While Nick was training during his first shift, the sandwich maker next to him asked the grill man/trainer what was on the next sandwich. Nicky replied, "single, no pickle, no onion, lettuce and mayo."
He memorized everything he heard! Photographic hearing! What a skill set! Everyone wanted to work with Nicky! His mom said, “Nicky has never been accepted anywhere like he has been here.”
This Christmas, I hope we all understand what we are celebrating.
We are all like Nick. We each have our shortcomings. We each have our strong points. But we are all of value. God made us that way and God doesn't make mistakes.
We are celebrating the birth of the ONE that leveled the playing field for all of us. God doesn't care if you are rich or poor, Republican or Democrat or black or white. He doesn't care if your chromosome structure is perfect. He doesn't care what level of education you have attained.
He cares about your heart. He wants us all to love and appreciate the gift He gave us on Christmas — His son, the Savior, our salvation. His Son that was born to die for our sins. To pay our debt. To provide us a path for eternity. So this Christmas, let’s check our hearts. I suspect there is a Nick coming your way that is looking for the chance to be embraced.
God cares about us so much he gave us a love letter — the Bible. He used 40 different authors to pen it. They were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
God is crazy about you. He loves us deeper than any parent or grandparent could ever love us.
God gives us unique talents because he loves us dearly. God created everything in this beautiful world including you and gave us five senses to enjoy every morsel of it. You are one in a million. I can confidently say that there will never be another one like you.
So don’t meditate on the mess you’re in, but focus on your great, all-powerful and loving God!
When Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel it must have been overwhelming, but she kept her focus on God. Her response was yes, that she would have the baby — she didn’t hesitate or question God. She knew it wouldn’t be easy and it wasn’t. Sometimes, to actually live out our love, it’s as simple as saying yes and trusting that God will lead the way. Gabriel tells Mary that “nothing will be impossible with God.”
The Father's love is what brought Jesus through his most trying situations.
Following Christ means sacrificing a comfortable, carefree life for the sake of the gospel. It means thinking of others before yourself and loving others — even your enemies. The path is hard, but God’s provisions and rewards are plentiful. God is in control.
Jesus brings Hope, Peace, Joy and Light into our darkness. We are all walking Dead Men and lost—until we meet Jesus and He brings us home!
Matt says, “In losing our lives to find him, we find true life.” Like a song says, “Embrace the great 'I Am', there’s lightning in his eyes, He’s the great 'I Am'!”
Your challenge for this week:
Pause for five minutes (set a timer if you have to) and pray for someone who really needs your prayers (and that could even include yourself!). And give the gift of service to someone else in your family. Even better, do it without being asked or told to do it.
Rev. Janeen Tronc pastors at Cornell UMC and United Church of Odell
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Finding time to live and love through God's love for us
