Monday, March 17, 2014

Love Takes Time - Take the Time to Love


     Spring is in the air even if winter is trying its best to hang around as long as possible.  Believe it or not, I’m actually looking forward to mowing the lawn.  I’m really looking forward to seeing green again.  God has everything under control.  I’m glad.

     We had a very good day this past Sunday with family and friends gathered together for Bible study, worship, and Christian fellowship.  My sermon on Sunday morning was aimed at encouraging every Christian to ask, seek, and knock for as long as it takes to receive, find, and get the door opened.  Love takes time.  Period.

     Love takes time.  Period.  We sing “Sweet Hour of Prayer” NOT “Sweet Minute of Prayer.”  Do you remember what Jesus did the night before He appointed the apostles?  He did this all night long.  Did you say, “Pray?”  If you did, you are exactly right.  He prayed and continue all night (Luke 6:12).  Have you ever prayed for an hour?  What about several  hours?  What about all night?  Jesus said, “Ask, and you will receive.”  How long should I ask?  I should ask and keep asking until I get an answer.  Asking takes time.

     Love takes time.  Period.  Take a look at Luke 15 and notice Jesus’ parables about a lost coin, a lost sheep, and a lost son.  A woman lost one of her 10 coins.  How long did she look for the lost coin?  She looked until she found it.  A shepherd noticed that one of his 100 sheep was missing.  How long did he look for (seek) his lost sheep?  He looked for his sheep until he found it.  A father’s youngest son became lost in a “foreign” country, a place far away from home, a place in life where only sadness, sorrow, and sin surrounded him.  How long did the father long for his son?  The father longed for his son until he saw him coming home, yet a long way away.  How long should we seek after what we need in life?  We should seek and keep seeking until we find our way.  Seeking takes time.

     Love takes time.  Period.  In Luke 11 Jesus taught His disciples about the importance of persistent prayer.  He talked to them about the possibility of getting three loaves of bread at midnight from a friend for a friend who had arrived unexpectedly.  The reason one friend will get up at midnight to lend bread to another friend is not because of friendship, but because of persistence.  How long should we knock on a door of opportunity?  We should knock until the door is opened or until we know that we are knocking on the wrong door.  Knocking takes time.

     Next Sunday (23rd) we will conclude this series “Where is the Love” with a lesson that remind us where the love is.  Look up.  See the love.  Look back.  We do this every Sunday when we eat the Lord’s Supper together.  See the love?  Look ahead.  Christ is already there.  Look beside you.  Can’t you see the love?  Look around you.  Love is right there.  What about beneath you?  Love is there too.  Now look inside you.  Can you find the love?  I hope so.  If not, Jesus Christ, Love is waiting to be welcomed into your life.

     Remember our series “Expecting the Impossible.”  We cannot grow without diligence.  We cannot be diligent without the proper motive for diligence, love.  We cannot love without a true knowledge of God.  John wrote about love in 1 John 4:8; “He who does not love, does not know God, for God is love.”

     Mark your calendar for SUNDAY, MARCH 30TH.  At the Enola Church of Christ we are having a very special Sunday.  We’ll meet for Bible study at 10:00 a.m.  We will gather together for worship at 11:00 a.m.  Immediately following our worship hour, we will gather over in the annex building for a pot-luck lunch together.  After lunch we will assemble again for an early afternoon service then dismiss for the day.  I always look forward to every Sunday.

     May God bless you and yours is my daily desire and prayer.

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