Tag Archives: Love

See How They Love Each Other

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Yesterday we talked about what our most important task was, to stay connected to God. He is the vine, we are the branches. And, within that, if we stay connected to the vine, stay deeply rooted in God, we will bear fruit.

The branches that come from the vine, they bear much fruit.

But, what is that fruit? What are we called to bear? What is it called to look like? What happens in our lives?

Look what Jesus tells us today in the next passage in John 15: 12-14:

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

LoveOneAnother-e1299879079356This is His command for us, this is the fruit that He wants us to bear today. Love. Love each other. Be there for each other. Care for each other.

One of the early Christian writers Tertullian once wrote this, “See how these Christians love each other.” That’s a powerful statement to me. When others, when the world, we every one sees us as Christians, they shouldn’t say,

Man, those Christians love to fuss and fight.

Man, those Christians just can’t get along.

Man, those Christians, they just are tough to deal with.

That’s not what God wants for us. What is this new commandment that Jesus has left for us? To love.

And if we stay connected to the vine, live out of Him, we will bear much fruit. We will love.

Today, may we focus on our walk with Him. And may that walk produce His love in our lives. May we bear that fruit!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Maundy Thursday 2013

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Today is a day that is called Maundy Thursday. This is a day set aside to remember the betrayal of Jesus and to remember the night when He gave us the gift of Holy Communion. It begins the darkness that is Good Friday.

Before the dawn and light of Easter Sunday, we must go through the darkness of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

And, if you happen to be in the Petal, MS area tonight, and you’ve never experienced a Maundy Thursday service, I hope you’ll be able to come out and be with us tonight at Asbury.

Before Jesus is betrayed, He left this disciples, and us, with some words to remember. Before He was handed over, He wanted them, and us, to know what was most important.  Listen to what He tells them, and us, in John today:

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

They will know you are my disciples not by your theology.  Or by your denomination.  Or by your beliefs.  Or by what you wear.  Or by what you listen to.  Or any of these things.

We try to make Christianity about so many different things that is not about.

Before Jesus was handed over, He told us what was most important.  He told us what mattered the most.  He told us what we must do to prove to the world that we are His disciples.

They will know you are my disciples by your love.

Today, do “they” – your friends, your family, your co workers, your neighbors, the people in your life – do they know you are His disciple?

Are you living a life of love in front of them?

Before He was handed over, he told us what is most important.  He told us what matters most.  Love.

They will know you are my disciples by your love. Today, may all the world know that we are His disciples.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

The Good Shepherd

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In scripture, we are compared a lot to sheep. And that sounds great.

Because sheep are cute. They are fuzzy. The are sweet little lambs. And so, in the bible when we are called sheep we think that’s a compliment.

It’s not. Being called sheep is not a good thing. We are not being complimented.

Sheep need the constant care and guidance from the shepherd. Without it, they would not make it. Without the care, voice, and help of the shepherd, they literally would not survive.

They would get lost.

So, look at what happens today in Matthew 18:12-14:

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

urlWe see a shepherd that had 100 sheep. And 99 are fine. One is lost, sure, but 99% is a pretty good success rate. I think any of us would be happy with that. But, not the Good Shepherd. Not God.

He wants all the sheep to be found. So, He goes out, searching for that sheep. Until He finds it. And there is much rejoicing when that happens.

Today, little sheep, no matter where you are in your faith, God is searching for you. He is looking for you. He is pursuing you. If you are lost and don’t know where you are. Even if you can’t find your way. Even if you want to give up.

The good shepherd is looking.

And He won’t give up on you. Come home. He is looking for you now. He loves you more than you’ll ever know. Come home.

The Good Shepherd loves all His sheep. The 99. And the 1. But, He rejoices when that little lost one comes home.

And so should we. Today, we are thankful that we serve a God that seeks us out.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

This Can Change Your Life

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There are some things, that when we know them, they change our lives. There are some things, that when the truth of them really hits home, it will change our life, our understanding, our view of ourselves, of others, of God, of well, everything.

Listen to what Paul says this morning in Romans 5:6-8:

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

urlWhile we were weak. While we were ungodly. While we were sinners. At the right time. At that time. At that moment. Then.

Jesus died for us. Jesus died for you. Jesus died for me.

When you were at your most unlovable. God loved you the most.

Not because we were good. Not because we had unearned it. Not because we were good enough. Not because we were perfect. Not because of us.

Because of Him.

Like I like to say at Asbury, at your worst moment. At your biggest failure. At the time when you fell the hardest and the worst. At the time when you were most embarrassed, most ashamed, most unworthy of love, at that exact moment, Jesus died for you.

You are loved. You are forgiven. You are redeemed.

Think about that. Seriously. Think about that big failure. How it stings. How it hurts. How it leaves a mark. How it kills your soul. Your joy. You energy. Your passion.

That thing. That failure. That moment.

That’s what Jesus died for.

And you are forgiven. Of that thing. It’s gone. Forgotten. Forgiven. Forever.

Today, you can walk away from it. Leave it. You free and clear. You are forgiven of it today.

At just the right time, Jesus died for you. And for me. Not because we had earned it. In fact, because we hadn’t.

When you were at your most unlovable. God loved you the most. Never forget that.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

We are One

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We as Christians, we are one. We may be part of different local churches. We many share the exact same view of every issue or every belief. We man not be the same mind on everything.

But we are one.

There is one body. There is one Spirit. We are part of the same body.

We are one.

Listen to what Paul says this morning in Ephesians 4:4-6:

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

TOSHIBA Exif JPEGThere is one body. One spirit. One hope. One Lord. One faith. One baptism. One God and Father.

The same Holy Spirit calls us into relationship with the Father through the Son. We share the same faith. We share the same hope. We share the same body. We all believe the gift of baptism.

Yes, there may be differences between us all. But that’s ok. For we are one.

Now, imagine if the church would live as one. Imagine if we would work together. Serve together. Make a difference together.

Glorify God together.

There is so much for the kingdom that we can do together.

So, today, let’s not “act” like we are one. Let’s realize that we “are” one. And let’s live in that reality.

Today, let’s realize that there are so many more things that unite us, instead of separate us. We really are one.

Really.

So, let’s treat each other as family. Let’s love each other. Let’s serve each other. Let’s serve with each other. We are one.

Let’s show the world that. Let’s show the world our love, our Lord, our hope, our calling.

We are one. Let’s live like it today!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

How Much God Loves Us

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I really love my kids. I mean, really. I love them so much. I want to do whatever I can for them, I want to help them, I want to protect them, I want to keep them safe.

That’s how I feel about my children.

And that’s how any parent would feel about their kids. They want to protect them, be there for them, give them what they need and, if we are going to be honest, a lot of what they want.

That’s how every parent feels.

Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew 7:9-11:

Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

A father holding childs handI love this passage. It shows us just how much God loves us. I want to do what I can for my kids. I want to take care of them, protect them, give them good things. Every parent understands.

And I love what Jesus says, if we who are sinful (or evil) know how do this, how much more does our perfect, loving, heavenly Father know how to do it.

You who are parents, you know how much you love your kids. You know how, even when you are frustrated and angry with them, how much you love them.

That love is a 1/100th of the love that our Heavenly Father has for us. It doesn’t even measure. As much as we love our kids, God loves us even more.

For our love is imperfect. His is perfect.

You are loved. More than you’ll ever know. Ever understand. More than you can imagine.

Today, as a Father loves His children, so does our God love us. Today know how much God loves us!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Do the Right Thing

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url-1You can do what you want to do. Really. You are free. No one can make you do anything. You have freedom and you have a choice.

Us that wisely. Today, as you do what you want to do, do the right thing. Do the good thing. Do thing that you want to do.

You have freedom.

Now, do the right thing. What does mean?

Listen to what Paul says in Galatians 5:13-15:

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

You are called to freedom. Jesus came to set you free. But, you are to use that freedom for what is right. What is that?

Seve one another through love. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. That’s your calling and that’s what you were set from sin for. To love.

Love God, love each other.

That’s what freedom is for.

So, what if we don’t use our freedom in that way? What if we use it for ourselves, our desires, and what we want?

Then Paul says this – if you bite and devour one another be careful you are not consumed by each other.

Today, do the right thing. Love. Love each other. Take care of each other. Look out for each other.

Today, we have freedom. We have the chance to do what we want. Make sure we choose to love God. Love each other. Take care of each other.

Be salt and light. Love as God has loved us.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Mercy, not Sacrifice

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Jesus got fussed at a lot.

He did things that caused other folks to fuss at Him, or judge Him, or condemn Him. He was always doing things that folks didn’t like, or thought He shouldn’t be.

Why? Why did He do these things? And why did folks fuss at Him?

Let’s look at a text today in Matthew 9:10-13 and see why:

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

mercy-graceJesus eats with the tax collectors and sinners here in this text. And the religious leaders didn’t like that. They fussed at Him and said, you shouldn’t do that. You don’t need to do that.

They aren’t worthy. They are unclean. They shouldn’t be accepted at a meal, they should be judged for their sin.

And Jesus said – I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

That throws folks off. That notion makes us uneasy. Not within ourselves. I like mercy for me. It’s judgement I want for them.

I want God to forgive my sins. But, they deserve judgement for their sin.

Jesus says no – I give mercy.

The “law” is easy. It’s a check list. Do these things. Don’t do these things. It’s easy.

But, actually it’s not. We find that we wind up doing the things we shouldn’t be doing, and we wind up not doing the things that we should be doing. And then we are confused. Broken. Ashamed. We beat ourselves up.

So, hear the words of Jesus. He came to bring mercy.

Take that mercy on yourself today. And here, here’s the hard part.

Give that mercy to “them.” Whoever “they” are. They need that mercy as much as we do. Jesus came to give us mercy. Jesus came to give them mercy.

Today, be a people of mercy, not a people of judgement. And in that, we are obedient the law of love that Jesus gave us to follow!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

What Does it Look Like to be Holy

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What does it mean to be holy? What does it look like to chase after God? What should that look like in the scope of our lives?

God calls us to follow Him, to become more like Him, and to live the life that He calls us to live, that He has created for us.

Ok, we all know that. That’s a given. But, once again, what should that actually look like in our lives? What should that cause to take place in our lives?

Listen to what Paul tells us today in Romans 13:9-10 for an answer.

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

He tells us to fulfil the commandments this is what we do – love. Love fulfils the law.

He said if we love, we will not murder. We will not steal, we won’t break any of the commandments.

Love fulfils the law.

That is what it means to be holy. That’s what it looks like to be holy. To love.

Loving your neighbor equals being holy. Because when we love, as it says, we will fulfill these things.

So, how do we do that? How do we love our neighbor in that way?

We love God. We let God’s love fill us. We focus on Him, and His grace will call us to love each other fully and completely.

Today, be holy. Today, fulfill the law. Today, be obedient to what God would have you to do.

Today, love your neighbor. And in that, you will be fulfilling the law.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

One Church

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There is only one church.

Now this church will have a variety of locations. And denominations. And worship styles. And theology. And opinions. And preferences. And visions.

But there is only one church.

Now this church my rural. Or urban. Or suburban.

This church may be made of older member. Or younger members.

This church may worship to “rock” music. Or the church may worship to “organ” music.

But there is only one church.

Listen to what Paul says today in 1 Corinthians 12: 4-7:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

There are many gifts. Many services. But the same Lord. There many activities. But the same God that empowers them.

The Spirit is given for the common good.

Today, there is one church. Now that church may be Baptist, or Methodist, or Catholic, or Non-Denominational, or . . . . .

These labels don’t matter. There is one God. And we are His church.

Today, no matter what church we belong to, remember, there is one church.

And may we together work for the common calling of taking Jesus Christ’s love to the world.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.