Category: love

Kinsey, Jordan, and Owen came to our house from Birmingham a couple of days before Christmas. Karlyn, Taylor, Emma, Wilkes, and Macy planned to join us Christmas Eve for a nice meal and gift exchange. On their way to church Sunday morning, Emma turned to Wilkes in the backseat and said, “We are going to Opa’s and Susu’s house this afternoon! And guess who else will be there?” With excitement, Wilkes asked, “Who?” Emma replied, “Your cousin Owen!”

Wilkes will be three years old in March; Owen is a little over a year younger. Staring out the window from his car seat, Taylor and Emma heard Wilkes say to himself, “Owen… I wuv that wittle man.”

My prayer is that my children’s children experience the same healthy relationships growing up with their cousins and extended family as our kids had. The Saturday after Christmas, we went to my parents’ house in Chattanooga. Everyone could not make it, but many of the family gathered around my parents’ table and enjoyed food and one another’s company. My brother’s son Jeremy, his wife Whitney, and their two girls were home on furlough… they are missionaries in Peru.

Jeremy is thirty-two years old and Taylor is thirty-one. They grew up spending holidays together and playing at their grandparents’ house. At the close of the day as people were leaving, I witnessed a beautiful sight as I looked out the window. Jeremy and Taylor were giving each other a big hug, knowing they probably wouldn’t meet again for a long time. I wonder if in thirty years a similar embrace might take place between Wilkes and Owen.

Many think Jesus and John the Baptist were second cousins because Gabriel connected Mary as being related to John’s mother. “Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age…” (Luke 1:36) Just six months apart, John and Jesus loved each other deeply.

John set the perfect example for all when he said, “He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30) When Jesus spoke of John who had been imprisoned by Herod, He said, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Luke 11:11)

May all cousins love one another! And may all God’s children love one another! Love is the proof that Jesus rules our lives… and it is what the world needs.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

In writing to the Romans, Paul explained that all mankind is in need. Whether Gentile or Jew, no person can stand justified before God without the saving blood of Jesus Christ. He quoted Old Testament passages that painted a dreary picture of man’s state: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.” (Romans 3:10-11)

Paul then shares the Good News of the Lord’s righteousness that rescues us: “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood – to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness…” (Romans 3:21-25)

Even to those who worshiped other gods, Paul explained that God desires all to seek Him. God is near! In Athens, Paul proclaimed: “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything. Rather, He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else… God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us…” (Acts 17:24-27)

Jeremy Riddle and Steffany Gretzinger sing a song with these lines:
“The more I seek You, the more I find You
the more I find You, the more I love You…”
The Father looks down upon a world in rebellion, yet His desire is to save. “Seek Me, all who are lost and confused. Seek Me and I will let you find My Son – He is the Way to Me!”

The Father looks down upon His sons and daughters who seem so occupied with lesser things. “Dear children, seek Me and I will reveal My heart. Do not pursue what does not matter. Draw close to Me and I will draw close to you. And as you come to know Me, you will love Me with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.”

“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all of your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

“The third time He said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ He said, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’” John 21:17

“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

School is once again underway and I am happy to be writing again. Susan and I had a wonderful summer and we are very thankful.

I’ve written often of Pastor Manuel, his family, and the brothers and sisters we visit in Ecuador. In July, a group of twelve had the privilege of working alongside those who are serving people, loving children, and proclaiming the Gospel in the mountains and valleys of the Andes Mountains. Gentleness, humility, and faithfulness are fruit we witness that inspire us to allow the Holy Spirit to have His way in our lives.

John has accompanied me five times to this part of the world. It was a great joy this year to watch Pastor Manuel reach up and hug a growing thirteen-year-old. I saw tears in his eyes as he proudly welcomed John back to his home… and of course that brought tears to mine. Pastor Manuel has always had a special love for John.

Using this reunion as a visual example, I can’t help but think that lovingkindness is what our Father in Heaven wants each human being to experience. The manner in which Pastor Manuel embraced John… or the way I hug my little grandchildren… or how a mother holds a newborn… contain the tenderness and compassion of our Lord.

It is sad that so many in this world do not know the love of the Father. The author of all lies has erected countless barriers to prevent the created from knowing the Creator. But we can tell the truth! We can show the orphan, the outcast, and the suffering lovingkindness. We can befriend the poor, the unknown, and the neglected. What if lovingkindness became the quality that best described the Church? ‘Lord, give us grace to do our part.’

“Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens. And your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast. How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You.” (NKJV) Psalm 36:5-10

“I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation. Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord; let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.” (NKJV) Psalm 40:10-11

“But while he was a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him… ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” (NIV) Luke 15:20-24

Between husband and wife:

Husband: How do you think we can best teach our children about God?

Wife: I am sure there are many ways, but it seems we all learn best by example. So, if our children can see God in the way we live, perhaps they will learn.

Husband: Hmmm… Well, the most important thing to learn about God is that “He is love.” So, are you saying that if our children see us love each other they will learn about God?

Wife: Doesn’t that make sense? That’s why I am to relate to you the way the Church is to relate to Christ… because I love you. And that’s why you are to love me the way Jesus loves the Church… enough to lay down His life.

Husband: Hmmm… I’ve sure messed up a lot, but I think you are right. “God, give us grace to love one another with Your love. And may our kids see You and fall in love with You. Amen.”

Between Father, Son, and Spirit:

Father: Do you think Our children see the love We have for One Another as the secret to life?

Spirit: How can they miss it?

Son: That’s what I asked quite often on earth – how can they miss it? But believe Me, they can miss it. Aren’t so many today missing how much We love them?!

Father: If Our children could understand Your relationship and dependence on Us while You were on earth, they could see the path We’ve planned for them. As You allowed the Holy Spirit to lead, You constantly explained to people that You did nothing apart from Me.

Spirit: When I led You into the wilderness immediately after You were baptized, We allowed You to experience the temptations Our children face on earth. We knew it would be difficult, but We knew You would remember Your identity and resist the evil one with Your Father’s words. You also knew that facing hard things did not mean You were not loved.

Son: No… Your love sustained Me. On earth, I lived in Your love. The more Our children receive Our love, the more they are sustained. I told them: “Remain in My love; remain in Me.” Won’t You constantly remind Our children to live this way?

Father: Yes… and I want them to see that Our love for One Another is the secret to life. There is no friction or competition or strife between Us. We honor and respect and treasure One Another. As Our children realize this, perhaps they will understand a little more of the prayer You taught: “Your Kingdom come; Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”

“As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. Now remain in My love. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:9-12

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – He will testify about Me. And you also must testify…” John 15:26-27

I read recently of a man named Myo Zaw who lives in an Asian country. He was an alcoholic who abused his wife and children and shamed his community until he met Jesus and became a changed man. At first people thought he had gone crazy because all Myo Zaw wanted to talk about was the love of God that saved him. But Myo Zaw knew he was not crazy; he was redeemed.

Myo Zaw felt that he needed to take the story of Jesus to others, so over the course of three years he walked to more than a hundred communities telling “how a sinner like me was found by God.” His wife supported him and committed to pray, telling him: “if your life can change by Christ, there is no one who cannot be changed by Christ.”

Eventually Myo Zaw and all his family moved to a place very hostile to Christianity. Though persecuted at first, the family trusted Christ to let His love be known. After fourteen years, the people of the village seem to now understand that there is a God who loves at all cost. Myo Zaw said of his new community: “My love has become deeper for them. I care for them more. That’s why I don’t want to go back to my hometown. That is why I would like to sacrifice my whole life for them.”

God loving us results in us loving others. “For Christ’s love compels us…,” Paul wrote as he shared the desire for all to be reconciled to God. Myo Zaw must have thought: “If God forgave me of all my wrongs and if He has changed me into a kinder husband and father who does not get drunk and violent, then he can do this for others. If Jesus loves me, He loves everyone!”

The better we know God, the more we know love. The closer we follow Christ, the more we love like Jesus. The more we yield to the Spirit, the more we live in love.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.” Ephesians 1:17

“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the full measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19

“We love because He first loved us.” I John 4:19

Myo Zaw story from GFA World magazine, K. P. Yohannan editor, March 2017 issue, pp 9-11