January 26, 2016

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”  He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” Luke 10:26-28

So what?

So how do I know if I really love God?

I know I should love Him.

I think I love Him.

I want to love Him.

Is there a way I can know for sure?

Yes, there is! It is clearly defined in these verses!

You know you truly love God when you actually love others in the same way you love yourself!

Your natural inclination is to love yourself first and best and better than anyone else. You will fight for what is yours and cheat to get it if you have to. You want to win and make sure the other guy loses. So, when you find yourself suddenly wanting the best for another person. You know that God’s love is at work in your heart. When you find joy in the success and good fortune of others you know God has changed your heart! When you find yourself willing to do without so another person can have what you really wanted you know God’s love is resident in your heart and mind.

When you love God with all your heart, your heart will be tender and sensitive and sincere toward other people in the very same way God is tender, sensitive and sincere in His love toward you! And you will want to express that great love God has given you to others who may not have it. When your heart is hurting rather than nursing your hurt, you reach out to another one who is hurting and extend to them the love, support and comfort you would like someone to give to you that’s evidence you love God!

You know you love God with all your soul when you are willing to make yourself vulnerable to another person even though it frightens you and your instincts prompt you to protect yourself. When comforting another or affirming someone is more important to you than guarding your soul then you know it is the love of God at work in you!

Further evidence of God’s love resident in your heart is when you devote your strength, energy and efforts to another when you feel like you’re exhausted. You know God’s love is active in your life when you are more concerned with strengthening another person than you are about becoming weakened. Using your strength to shore up another person’s weakness so they appear to be the strong one and you are perceived as weak is a sign of God’s love at work in you!

One more sign you are fortified and filled with the love of God is when your mind is under the control of your Heavenly Father. When dealing with another person you find your first thought, “How does God want me to think about this person?” and your next thought is, “How would I want to be thought of by this person?” When your mind is filled with God’s Word and your heart is filled with His Spirit He will transform and renew your mind so it is easier for you to think like God thinks in regard to other people.

So what?

So, when you actually love your neighbor the way God loves you and in the way you want to be loved that is evidence that’s God’s love is operating in and through you!

That is evidence of a love that is true flowing through your soul to the love another’s soul.

That’s what!

January 25, 2016

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”  He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” Luke 10:26-28

So what?

At FredWes we say we “Love you to LIFE”.

That has a really nice sound to it, but what does it mean?

It means you “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 

It means you must be all in as in, ““‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”

You are to “love your neighbor as yourself”. When it comes to loving yourself are you all in on that aren’t you?

Loving people to life is not for half-hearted people who can only give a half-hearted effort. Loving people to life is for those who are all in to love others as much as they love themselves.

How do you do that?

By being totally into loving God.

Your heart must be totally into loving God. That means choosing God above everything and everyone every time.

Does that describe you?

If not you are not all in.

Your soul should be totally into loving God. That means you follow and obey God when you feel like it and when you don’t.

Do you love God in that way?

If you don’t you’re not all in.

Your strength should be totally invested in loving and serving God. Loving Him means devoting the best of your strength not your left-overs.

Do you love like that?

You do if you are all in.

You are to love God with all your mind. That means you fill your mind with His Word and all your thoughts are to be guided by it.

Do you love like that?

If you are all in you will.

When you are all into loving God you will be filled with His love in your heart, your soul, your strength and your mind and loving people to life will be a way of life.

That’s what!

January 24, 2016

“He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27

“Loving you to LIFE” is the vision statement for FredWes. It is a rather catchy and looks good on our website and our bulletin cover. However, it sets a high standard. If you make a claim like that you’d better live up to it!

So how do we do that?

The answer lies within the Great Commandment quoted by the lawyer in this text.

Loving people to life means loving God passionately and then love other people like you want to be loved. Jesus told a story to show what that looks like:

“But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor? ”In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ Luke 10:29-35

The Good Samaritan literally loved this man to life by treating him the ways he would like to have been treated.

First, he saw the needy neighbor, V.33

Unlike the priest and the Levite who threw a quick glance at the badly beaten victim and passed him by, the Samaritan saw him, felt compassion for him and went to help him. He didn’t just see him with his eyes he saw him with his heart.

Compassion means to “feel with” another person’s pain or misfortune. When he saw the needy neighbor he thought that if it was him lying there dying he would want someone to see his need and help. He loved this neighbor as he loved himself!

Second, he served the needy neighbor, V. 34

Not only did the Samaritan see this poor man but he stopped and came to his aid. The verse mentioned three ways he served this seriously injured man:

·         He treated him by bandaging his wounds after cleansing them with oil and wine

·         He transported him by putting him on his donkey and taking him to an inn.

·         He took care of him once he got him to the inn – physically and financially.

The Samaritan love this needy neighbor to live by doing for him what he would have wanted done for himself.

There is a saying, “Talk is cheap”, but when you out your money into something it is a sign of sincerity. This Samaritan took two days wages out of his own wallet to pay for the needy neighbor’s room and medical care and then left a blank check out of his own check book to provide for whatever else he would need.

Why would he do that? That represented quite a sacrifice!

It’s simple, he did for this neighbor in need what he would have wanted the neighbor to do for him! He loved his neighbor as himself. He love him to life!

But there is one more thing he did for this needy neighbor, he stayed involved with him!, V. 35b

Sometimes it is easier to just write a check and get on your way. But this Good Samaritan was generous with both his money AND his time! He pledged to return and continue his involvement with his needy neighbor.

The most precious thing we can give to another person is time and this Samaritan gave his needy neighbor what we would have loved to have – his time. He loved his neighbor as his self.

Leave it to Jesus to tell a story that perfectly and simply illustrates a powerful truth, when you love people as you want to be loved you love life into them!

But as wonderful as this story is, it was just that – a story. It didn’t really happen. Jesus wanted it to happen and He challenged the lawyer, “Go and do like this Samaritan did!” Or, put another way Jesus said, “Go make this happen! Love people to life!”

As you read this well-known story I want you should take that challenge personally as well! “Go and do likewise!” “Go love people to life.”

Imagine how that could change your life!

Imagine how that could improve your marriage and your family!

Imagine how that could rock your world!

January 23, 2016

“He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27

So what?

Why should I be concerned about loving people to life?

What would happen if I don’t?

How will I know whether I do or not?

Those are significant questions aren’t they?

In answer to a question from Jesus, a Jewish lawyer quoted this great commandment and in giving this answer addressed each of these questions I posed.

Why should I be concerned about loving people to life?

Because that’s what people do who truly love God. If you love God you will love others to life.

What happens if I don’t love others to life?

If you don’t love others it’s because you don’t love God. If you don’t love God you haven’t been loved to life and you cannot love others.

Jesus said to this lawyer, “Do this (love God and others) and you will live.” Or, you can imply the opposite, “You won’t live if you don’t love God and others.”

How will I know whether I do or not?

I think I answered that didn’t I? When you love God fully you will love others faithfully. If you don’t, you won’t.

It’s clear that just knowing what we should do isn’t enough. Knowing what to do doesn’t mean we will do it. This man knew how he should love but he was only interested in trying to justify himself before Jesus.

The big “so what” in life is loving God with all your being and giving all that you know about yourself to all that you understand about Him.

Loving Him like that allows Him to love you to life.

Loving Him like that enables you to love others to life.

That’s what!

January 22, 2016

“But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.” Luke 10:29-33

In this part of the story Jesus displays His insight and understanding of the human nature. Essentially, He is revealing there are two types of people, those who want to be seen and those who are willing to see others.

Which are you?

Having the desire to be seen and the center of attention is a result of the selfish nature you inherit at birth. Three examples of this are demonstrated in this story.

The lawyer who initiated this conversation was very concerned about how people saw him. He wanted to be the smartest guy in the room. Being the smartest guy in the room is tough when Jesus is in the room. So, when he failed he tried again. If he looked bad the first time he looked foolish the second time. Needing to be noticed put him at odds with Jesus and it will do the same for you.

How about you? Do you need to be the smartest man in the room?

Secondly, there was the priest who passed by the badly beaten man. Priests were supposed to be ritually clean, exemplars of the law. There would be immediate shame and embarrassment suffered by them at the expense of the people and their peers for such defilement. Having just completed his mandatory two weeks of service, he would then need to return and stand at the Eastern Gate along with the rest of the unclean. Furthermore, in addition to the humiliation involved, the process of restoring ritual purity was time-consuming and costly. It required finding, buying, and reducing a red heifer to ashes, and the ritual took a full week. The priest is in a predicament. Clearly as he approached the battered bleeding victim this “religious” man rather than serving made a self-serving decision.

Have you recently missed an opportunity to serve because you chose instead to be self-serving?

Then there was the Levite, an assistant to the priest, another religious man who should have helped but didn’t. He clearly didn’t want to notice the needy man and if he saw the priest pass by it gave him an excuse for passing by as well. Had he bothered to stop and help the man he would have been seen as unclean and that would be humiliating. He didn’t want to be seen like that.

Has there been a time recently when your need to look good got in the way of doing something good for another?

Contrast those three to the fourth guy, the hero in the story, the despised Samaritan. While the others were worried about how they were seen by people this guy was tuned into seeing the needs of others. So, when he came upon the dying man along the road he saw him and was moved with compassion for his pitiful condition. This Samaritan proves that when you’re not consumed with your needs you will be far more tuned into the needs of others.

Loving people to life begins by seeing people in their need. It’s hard to be sensitive towards others needs if you need to be seen, acknowledged or praised by others.

Today, will you choose to be the Samaritan or the priest or the Levite?

January 21, 2016

“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live. But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’  “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”  The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:25-37

When you make a bold claim as we do at FredWes when we proclaim “We love you to LIFE” you’d better know what you’re doing!

In answer to a semi-serious question from a self-righteous lawyer Jesus told a compelling story of what it looks like to love someone to life!

Over the next few posts I want to unpack five lessons to be learned from the Samaritan who loved this dying Jew back to life!

The first thing worthy of notice is so simple you may overlook it but that gets to the heart of this truth, the Samaritan didn’t overlook the injured man. So, the first step in loving someone to life is to see them. Loving starts with a loving look!

A priest and a Levite passed by this beaten man and both saw him but overlooked his need. They didn’t see his wounds as worthy of their time or attention.

The Samaritan looked at him and SAW his need! Loving this badly beaten man to life began with a loving look. He saw with his heart not just with his eyes.

Have you ever visited a church and you felt like no one saw you? They may have stared at you or they may have looked past you but they didn’t really see you.

How did that feel? You didn’t go back did you?

When you walk into a Christian fellowship shouldn’t you expect to be noticed, acknowledged and engaged?

Loving people to life begins with seeing them! If it’s what you want then shouldn’t it be what you give to others?

Will you remember how it felt when you weren’t noticed?

Will you ask God to help you see people today?

Determine to look at them not past them.

Acknowledge them with a smile or a nod.

Loving people to life begins that simply or it could end that abruptly.

January 20, 2015

“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” Luke 10:25-28

If you were asked to define love how would you describe it?

Jesus described love as a “godly neighbor”. When asked about the key to eternal life Jesus said essentially, “Love God completely and then live out His love in your neighborhood.”

That sounds a lot like “loving people to life” doesn’t it?

Think about it! How much better would your neighborhood become if everyone on your block was passionate about God and expressed that love in practical ways every day?

How would it impact a city if enough neighborhoods within those city limits loved God completely and lived it out in their neighborhoods?

What would happen within a county that had several cities like that?

Imagine a state that contained a number of counties made up of cities with neighborhoods like that?

This past Sunday I got a first-hand glimpse of what that might look like when I attended my sister-in-law’s memorial service. Jan Gee, was Barbara’s sister and best friend. She lived in a gated community in the Ocala, Florida area until she succumbed to ovarian cancer on January 1^st. Her service was this past Sunday.

Sunday as I stood in the receiving line for an hour and a half I met neighbors (several hundred) and fellow gym members, her massage therapist, church members, golf partners, people who had worked with her over 15 years ago and fellow choral members who had been touched by her love. Nearly everyone had a story to tell of how Jan had expressed God’s love by some act of kindness, thoughtfulness, helpfulness, or just being sensitive to their needs. I saw their tears. I heard their kind words. I listened as they choked up as telling about what Jan meant to them.

There was no question that Jan’s neighborhood, Bay Tree Greens, was a much better place because Jan Gee lived there. The Oak Run community was brightened by her smile and her kind words. Royal Oaks Golf Club was a better place to be when Jan Gee was involved. Living Water Wesleyan Church was blessed by how she served and how she sang.

Jan was a walking example of what it means to “love people to life”. As Jesus promised, she inherited eternal life!

Maybe you think, “I’m just one person, what difference can I make in such a big world?”

According to what I saw Sunday as nearly 300 hundred people crowded into her memorial service to honor Jan and comfort each other, I would say one person who is willing to be a godly neighbor can make a significant difference!

What difference are you making where you live?

Are you a godly person expressing His love to your neighbors in meaningful ways on a regular basis?

Are you loving people to life in your neighborhood? 

In your workplace?

Will you do it today?