5 Words I Could Never Find
For quite some time I have struggled with what exactly my responsibility is as a brother in Christ. I mean, I know but really had a hard time boiling it down or how to express. I could never find a way to say it simply. I have tried to preach sermons on it, teach classes on it, but I just couldn’t come up with how to explain what I was supposed to be to my fellow brothers and sister in Christ.
Over the past few weeks I have been reading heavily in the 3 books of John toward in the end of the New Testament. Today, Brother Jeff Garrett had an amazing sermon from First John and it had me thinking all the way home from church, during lunch and even interrupted my nap time. Thanks Jeff!
One of the themes of I John is simply love. Over and over from chapter 1 throughout the book John tells us to love each other. I love how in chapter 4 he says that love comes from God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But if you don’t love, you don’t know God for God is love, so dear brothers and sisters, let us love one another.
All day the love chapter kept going through my mind. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Think about this with me please.
What is love? I think Paul defines it in I Corinthians 13 doesn’t he?
Love is patient. As your brother I need to be patient with you. Like a little sister you might get on my nerves and I might get on yours, but I am to be patient with you in all aspects, especially your spiritual growth. I am to love you.
Love is kind. I am to be kind to you in all circumstances. Even if I don’t feel like being kind, even if I am having a terrible day, as your brother, I am to show you kindness. I am to love you.
Love is not jealous. As your brother I am to be happy when good things happen in your life. Even when things are the best in my life. I am also to be happy with gifts God gave me and not wish I had yours. I am to love you.
Love is boastful or proud. As your brother I have no right to make you feel bad because of what I perceive as a being better than you, or happier than you, or better looking than you or having better kids than you. As your brother I don’t brag, I am humble and want to help you in any way I can. I am to love you.
Love is not rude. Boy, do many of us need to hear this. As your brother, I need to take time out of my day and listen to you. And I also have no right to tell you that your hair looks awful cut like that or that your combover isn’t fooling anyone. I am to love you.
Love does not demand its own way. As your brother I am to be one who will compromise. I may like the red drapes in the foyer and you may like the brown ones. I am to demand that I get the red ones or I am leaving the church. I am to love you.
Love is not irritable. I am your brother, I am not to get irritated to the measure of becoming angry. I am to be once again be patient and check my anger at the door. I am to love you.
Love keeps on record of being wronged. I am not to carry around a notebook and write down every time you do something to me that hurts me or makes me feel bad. I am not to be like Rain Man, who kept a journal of when someone hurt him. I am to forgive, forget and move on. I am to love you.
Love doesn’t delight with injustice, but rejoices when the truth wins out. I am not to believe everything I hear about you. I am not to get my only exercise from jumping to conclusions, running their mouth, pulling people down, digging up dirt and stirring up trouble. As your brother, I am to love you.
Love always protects. Not only am I to not stir up stuff about you or believe everything I hear, I am to protect you and your reputation. I am to be your big brother and not let others pick on you. I am to love you.
Love always trusts. I trust you. Always. Even if you give me cause to break that trust, as your brother, I am to forgive and trust you again. I am to love you.
Love always hopes. As your brother I am to join you in the hope we share in Christ Jesus. This is not a, “oh I hope we are going to be ok.” This is an encouragement that we both have the hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I am to love you.
Love always endures. Not matter what life throws at us, I am your brother. No matter how far away we may be from each other, I am your brother. No matter what everyone else in the crowd says, I am your brother. No matter sick you get, I am your brother. No matter how much it may cost in time, talent or treasure, I am your brother. I will see it through to the end. I am to love you.
Love never fails. As your brother, I am to keep the course with you. I am to always be in your corner. I am to be whatever I can for you. I am to love you.
Over the past few weeks I have been reading heavily in the 3 books of John toward in the end of the New Testament. Today, Brother Jeff Garrett had an amazing sermon from First John and it had me thinking all the way home from church, during lunch and even interrupted my nap time. Thanks Jeff!
One of the themes of I John is simply love. Over and over from chapter 1 throughout the book John tells us to love each other. I love how in chapter 4 he says that love comes from God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But if you don’t love, you don’t know God for God is love, so dear brothers and sisters, let us love one another.
All day the love chapter kept going through my mind. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Think about this with me please.
What is love? I think Paul defines it in I Corinthians 13 doesn’t he?
Love is patient. As your brother I need to be patient with you. Like a little sister you might get on my nerves and I might get on yours, but I am to be patient with you in all aspects, especially your spiritual growth. I am to love you.
Love is kind. I am to be kind to you in all circumstances. Even if I don’t feel like being kind, even if I am having a terrible day, as your brother, I am to show you kindness. I am to love you.
Love is not jealous. As your brother I am to be happy when good things happen in your life. Even when things are the best in my life. I am also to be happy with gifts God gave me and not wish I had yours. I am to love you.
Love is boastful or proud. As your brother I have no right to make you feel bad because of what I perceive as a being better than you, or happier than you, or better looking than you or having better kids than you. As your brother I don’t brag, I am humble and want to help you in any way I can. I am to love you.
Love is not rude. Boy, do many of us need to hear this. As your brother, I need to take time out of my day and listen to you. And I also have no right to tell you that your hair looks awful cut like that or that your combover isn’t fooling anyone. I am to love you.
Love does not demand its own way. As your brother I am to be one who will compromise. I may like the red drapes in the foyer and you may like the brown ones. I am to demand that I get the red ones or I am leaving the church. I am to love you.
Love is not irritable. I am your brother, I am not to get irritated to the measure of becoming angry. I am to be once again be patient and check my anger at the door. I am to love you.
Love keeps on record of being wronged. I am not to carry around a notebook and write down every time you do something to me that hurts me or makes me feel bad. I am not to be like Rain Man, who kept a journal of when someone hurt him. I am to forgive, forget and move on. I am to love you.
Love doesn’t delight with injustice, but rejoices when the truth wins out. I am not to believe everything I hear about you. I am not to get my only exercise from jumping to conclusions, running their mouth, pulling people down, digging up dirt and stirring up trouble. As your brother, I am to love you.
Love always protects. Not only am I to not stir up stuff about you or believe everything I hear, I am to protect you and your reputation. I am to be your big brother and not let others pick on you. I am to love you.
Love always trusts. I trust you. Always. Even if you give me cause to break that trust, as your brother, I am to forgive and trust you again. I am to love you.
Love always hopes. As your brother I am to join you in the hope we share in Christ Jesus. This is not a, “oh I hope we are going to be ok.” This is an encouragement that we both have the hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I am to love you.
Love always endures. Not matter what life throws at us, I am your brother. No matter how far away we may be from each other, I am your brother. No matter what everyone else in the crowd says, I am your brother. No matter sick you get, I am your brother. No matter how much it may cost in time, talent or treasure, I am your brother. I will see it through to the end. I am to love you.
Love never fails. As your brother, I am to keep the course with you. I am to always be in your corner. I am to be whatever I can for you. I am to love you.
Wow! If we could do this, each one of these aspects of love Paul gives us, just wow!
For years I struggled to find a way to explain what my responsibility is as your Christian brother. And all along, I only needed 5 words.
I am to love you.
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:35 (NLT)
For years I struggled to find a way to explain what my responsibility is as your Christian brother. And all along, I only needed 5 words.
I am to love you.
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:35 (NLT)
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