Fruit That Is Never Out Of Season: Love Series

Lessons I’ve learned about love...

1. Love people now.

People wait too long. It’s not that they don’t feel it, it’s just that they don’t express it. I know families that haven’t expressed love to each other for a long time. Listen, if you love somebody, tell them today. Get on the phone. I had a fellow give me a hug after the first service, he was so happy. He said, "Pastor, I heard you say that before. And during Christmas I decided to call every one of my cousins and tell them I loved them. Some of them I hadn’t seen for years. I want to tell you what, it was the highlight of my Christmas." Love them now.

Remember when Idi Amin was the head of Uganda, it was such a terrible mess, revolution was constant and lives, especially of Christians, were greatly in danger? The bishop of Uganda, in one of his church services, knowing that death was imminent upon him and upon his people, looked at them and said, "If you have somebody you love, tell them quickly."

For some of you, the best thing you can do on Sunday afternoon is get on the phone. Some of you need to get out a piece of paper and write some notes. Let people know you love them now.

2. Love is vulnerable.

It sure is. If I choose to love you, I open myself up. I know that. I can either withhold affection and kind of stiff-arm people through life or else I can kind of open my arms and let them come in. And when you open your arms and let them come in, you’re not only open to incredible affirmation; you’re also open up to hurt, betrayal.

You see, a long time ago I realized something about love: if you want to, you can go through life and stiff-arm people and never let them close to you, and you probably will never be greatly hurt because you never let them in close enough. But just as you’ll never be greatly hurt, you’ll never be greatly helped either.

3. Love is powerful.

It sure is. The law may tell you what to do but love will give you the power to do it. And Jesus knew that, which is why he said, "The greatest commandment is to love your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself." God knew what love could do. It’s a powerful, powerful, force.

4. Love is unconditional.

If love is what it should be, it’s always unconditional. In fact, I have found that people normally need to be loved the most when they deserve it the least. Isn’t that true? It’s unconditional. It doesn’t keep score. It doesn’t have a qualifying list. It’s just unconditional.

I love the story about the guy who was getting ready to propose to his girlfriend. He had the ring in his hand, was holding her hand, and the moon was just right. He said, "Sweetheart, I want you to marry me." He said, "I don’t have a car like Johnny Green and I don’t have a yacht like him and I don’t have a house his size and I don’t have the money of Johnny Green, but I want you to know that I love you with all of my heart." And she looked in his eyes and said, "I want you to know that I love you too, sweetheart, but could you tell me a little bit more about Johnny Green?"