Intro
Continuing to this new year by focusing on how our lives can be joining God in the present.
Jesus called us into life with him.... an the life he lived he now continues in us
And a quality we see in him is how he lives in a constant relationship to what his Father in heaven (eternal realm) was doing on earth.
As we've seen.... not bound by the past. When Jesus first declared his ministry...his purpose....they said "He's just a Galilean."
People will want to say: "You're just the guy next door.... in the cubicle or office down the aisle...." You can fill in the blank of how you might perceive your past. But Jesus knew it wasn't about his natural past...he was participating in something much bigger...he was joining his Father who was working all the time...and you and I have to do the same.
And the future....do we have to get that settled and secure before we can focus on the present? We want to have the future all figured out. Jesus said "You can't." We can be faithful but we can't be in control of all events. We have to entrust our lives to the Father...and His goodness.
> God is calling us to focus on His purpose in the present.
There is freedom in that. If we spend our lives bound in a past that doesn't control the present....we are never free to join God. When we try to control a future that we don't have ultimate control over....we are going to miss the moments that really matter.
Jesus wasn't disconnected from the past or future as he walked through life here on earth....he simply knew that the Father was always working and that his purpose was at hand in the moment by moment present.
Jesus was engaged in the present moment... because he knew that His Father was working all the time.
Staying connected to God's purpose is what gives life...life.
• It makes the difference between existing and living.
• It makes the difference between a new year that is just another new year ...and a new year in which every moment is new.
When Jesus came to the final days on earth.....he told the Father he had completed the work he had given him to do....by glorifying him. (John 17:4)
He had one central purpose: to glorify his Father in heaver....God the Father.
How?
Didn't say many of the things we feel will validate our lives with meaning.
Didn't say, "by bearing children.....building a monument of wealth....by gaining recognition."
> By bringing PEOPLE into life with God.
(We tend to define ourselves by "what we do and by that we mean our jobs or roles. That certainly is a big part of our lives. But to God it is a context not a valuation.)
How do we stay tuned in to God's purposes in life?
God want us to realize that there is a general frequency range that God is on....it's PEOPLE.
God is moving....at work....always involves people.
I. Joining God in the present will be found in the intersection of the love of God and the love of PEOPLE.
When asked what the greatest command of all was… what really mattered most to God… what was it that we really needed to get right… Jesus said, I can do that....if you get this...you get what life is all about.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength… love your neighbor as yourself. There are no commands more important than these.” Mark 12:30-31 (NCV)
A lot can be said about his response...about each of these two commands. But one thing should initially strike us. He did not answer with one. They are inseparable.
You cannot love a personal creator without loving those he personally created and loves.
You don't have to like my kids....but if you don't have any interest or intent to love them...any relationship of love we might seek is limited at best.
The intersection of these two helps us join God in every present moment.
Some of us will tend to focus on loving God and separate it from loving people. We may... religious... yet God has expressed how offensive such self centered religious life can be (Isaiah 58, Mark 10:42-45, Matthew 5:2-24).
And some of us may tend to serve people apart from serving God. Some of us have to consider whether we have made people the gods of life. Have we been defined and driven by their affirmation and approval?
Jesus tells us that it is the love of God and the love of those around us...we will find God at work in the intersecting.
John 3:16 (NIV)
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Do you hear the heartbeat that Jesus connected to?
This wasn't just good news...it is what shaped how Jesus engaged every present moment. It was the purpose that was always at hand.
In fact shortly after we see how it defined a common journey... Shortly after he explained that...he was traveling with his core disciples.... he waits at a well...they go to get lunch....
John 4:4-10 (NIV)
4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?"
8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
Conversation unfolds...touches upon her desires and reveals how he is the fulfillment
John 4:27, 31-35
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. 31 ....his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something." 32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." 33 Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?" 34 "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
35 Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
A lot could be said about the exchange between Jesus and this Samaritan woman.... but I want us to hear what Jesus was describing to his disciples in terms of a purpose that was at hand if they could see it.
They were focused on what might lie ahead....whereas Jesus was sensitive to how his Father in heaven was at work in this moment...and His love for His Father was reflected in his love for this women...this person.
They went for food.... he said he had food they hadn't recognized.
They saw something material that was good and satisfying....but missed what was life-giving on another level.
Not simply a matter of people vs. possessions.
God created food and the Scriptures tell us that it's great...pleasing to the eye and good. God is not anti-material... he created the material world for pleasure and provision.
We can discover God in creation... He is the creator. (Romans 1). But the pinnacle of creation is human life. Human life is what he created to share relationship with. He is Creator....but He is the God now redeeming. He is love.
In the Bible in the book of 1 Corinthians 14:1… we are told…
“Let love be your greatest aim.” 1 Cor. 14:1 (LB)
These words were spoken into a community known for the hustle of being a center of trade… and of a lot of powerful spiritual experiences… he wrote the famous chapter on love… and concludes “Let love be your greatest aim.”
Why does he say that? The simple truth is that love IS the most fundamental and important power in life… and anything else that defines and drives our nature is competing with our highest calling.
What is your greatest goal in life?
Our greatest goal in life is the motivation that drives and directs our decisions in everyday life …consciously or unconsciously.
Everybody’s got a defining and driving life motivation. Every time you make a decision, every time you have a choice, it is run through this central motivation.
For instance if it’s to have fun then this evening if I get a couple of invitations to do something …I’m going to tend to choose the thing that’s the most fun to do. Because that’s what’s most important to me; to have fun.
If my dominant life force is comfort, then I’m going to tend to choose the easiest thing to do, what’s the most convenient thing. “I’d rather just stay home and lie on the couch and watch TV.”
If my defining and driving life motivation value is safety, then I’m going to tend to make every decision in life based on what’s the safest choice.
If it’s to be approved, to be affirmed, to be applauded, then I’m going to tend to choose things in life where I get the most affirmation.
But if our defining and driving life motivation is love...then we will seek God's heart and work in how we engage others.
This is why Jesus' life is more focused on people than things.
Others saw interruptions....but he saw people.
II. Why is Love is the Most Important Priority in Life?
Why is love the most fundamental and important power of life?
1. Love UNITES us with God
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” - 1 John 4:8 (NIV)
The Bible tells us that God created everything in the universe out of love. He made everything in order to love it. Because God is love. It doesn’t say he has love. He is love.
He created you as an object of his love.
God is love and he wants you to be like him.
I want to challenge us today with this simple truth:
There is only one goal in life that will fully align us with God… and it is LOVE.
This love is not simply a love for God that can be separated from a love for people.
“ If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen.”
1 John 4:20 (TEV)
Jesus said that it was by this love that others would recognize us as His true disciples.
John 13:35 (TEV)
If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples."
2. Love compensates for the sin that separates us
Without love… there is no force but judgment upon us all. We face judgment before God… and all stand judged by one another. End of story. Game over.
But…love is the power that that chooses to relate beyond our flaws and failures.
“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” - 1 Peter 4:8 (NLT)
Now this isn’t referring to some type of deceitful or fraudulent ‘cover up’… but to the way in which one covers another’s shortage. If you go and buy a meal or something… and realize you don’t have the money to pay for it… there’s a dilemma… until some friend steps up and says… “I’ll cover for you.” That is what love does.
That is exactly what Jesus did when he bore our sin and separation. When Jesus Christ came to earth and died on the cross, he stretched out his hands and said, I love you this much…I’m willing to take the punishment for all the laws, the moral laws that you’ve broken. I’ll take your rap. I’ll do your time. I’ll serve your sentence. I’ll pay your debt.
In this text Peter is declaring that our love can also forgive others. As I receive grace…I can relate to others with grace.
Love is the only power that allows us to live and survive together as fallen and flawed people.
3. Love lasts FOREVER
In the most often read chapter on love by the Apostle Paul… the Bible tells us...
“Three things will continue forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.” - 1 Cor. 13:13 (NCV)
Love echoes into eternity.
The reality is that in five years, I will probably have a hard time identifying the fruit of my busy activities… but I will be living with the fruit of my relationships.
I hate to tell you this but people are going to forget most of your work. People are going to forget all your wealth. People are never remembered for what they made. They’re remembered for what they gave away. They’re remembered for their love.
When people are dying they don’t want things around them. What they want is people. They want the people that they love and they want to love those people. Only what’s going to last is what you did in love.
> The truth is everybody – every one of us – will eventually learn the basic truth of life that life is about relationships not accomplishments.
Everybody will realize this one day… but wisdom beckons us to learn it now… that what matters right now are relationships.
Many of us may recall the story of Oskar Schindler. He was a wealthy German Industrialist. During World War II... he discovered the value of human lives... and spent millions in bribes to purchase the freedom of Jews waiting to die in the Holocaust. When he finally needed to leave himself... a large number of those freed came to offer a sign of thanks. They present him with a ring they had make and inscribed with the words from the Jewish Talmud:
"Whoever save one life, saves the world entire."
Here is the clip from the film portraying that moment:
[Video clip: Schindlers List - Could Have Done More.mov]
Can see at: http://www.wingclips.com/movie-clips/schindlers-list/one-more-person )
Good version at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTy6JR7wFlg
III. How do we join God's heart and hand for people?
Some of you may feel overwhelmed with responsibilities...including people. So when you think of making people a higher priority....you may assume it simply means doing more for people.
Important that we don't simplify what it means to make people a priority.
Jesus was overwhelmed at times to. And he got away....was free to disappoint some expectations.
He had core commitments like we do: Crowd - 70 - 12 - 3. He didn't just ignore that.
So it's not simply a matter of "always take time with everyone."
It has to do with becoming focused on God's purpose...and following Divine prompting.
Jesus didn't get a script...and neither will we.
So how do we join God in the present love of people?
1. Stop and look within at our heart towards people.
We need to get honest. Many of us really don't like people. Some of us just don't naturally feel care and compassion.
Many of us may feel threatened or afraid of people...
Some of us are angry at people... because of the pain we have experienced.
Some of us may feel defensive or competitive with people... because we are focused on proving ourselves.
Some of us may feel overwhelmed or resentful...because we carried the idea that we can control everything and are responsible for everyone.
Some of us may feel insignificant and powerless.
The BEST thing we can do is stop and be honest.
Ask yourself...
When I look at a group of people around me I generally feel _____________?
2. Let God fill our hearts with His love and purpose for people.
“Love comes from God…for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8 (NLT)
Since love has a source… our love can grow in relationship to that source.
You don’t need to fear losing yourself by caring about others. Love is not a something that simply flows out of some limited capacity that resides in us.
If God wasn’t loving there would be no love in the universe. All love comes from God. The reason you have the ability to love is because you were made in the image of God.
The Bible says in 1 John 4:19
“We love because God first loved us.” - 1 John 4:19
When we feel we aren’t living the type of life we aspire to… it’s common to simply think the problem is that we don’t love God enough. The real problem we face is that we don’t realize how much he loves us. When can try to just feel bad enough… or guilty enough… or try to find some mysterious will power to turn on inside us that makes us loving. But love flows and grows from knowing how much God loves us.
I’m convinced that the reason some of us may struggle with being judgmental, mean spirited, self-righteous, unforgiving… is ultimately because we don’t feel accepted and loved ourselves. We don’t feel forgiven. We don’t feel grace. And if I feel bad about myself I certainly don’t want you feeling good about you. When you feel that unconditional love you’re going to start cutting people a lot of slack. You’re not going to be as angry as you’ve been. You’re going to be more patient. You’re going to be more forgiving. You’re going to be more merciful. You’re going to let other people have grace.
3. Identify with people
We need to recognize our common connection with us. There are so many forces that are at work to separate us - differences that try to divide us such as race, gender, politics...so many that can set us apart as superior or self-righteous.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.....whose birthday we celebrated last week.... said...
"We've learned to fly the air like birds, we've learned to swim the seas like fish and yet we haven't learned to walk the earth like brothers and sisters."
King once wrote that all people are caught up in an “inescapable network of mutuality… I can never be what I ought to be until you are allowed to be what you ought to be.”
4. Decide that you will accept being hurt.
You’ve may been hurt by parents or you’ve been hurt by peers in school or you’ve been hurt by professionals or you’ve been hurt by partners. Maybe some of you have been abused or you’ve been misused or you’ve been rejected or you’ve been abandoned or you’ve been betrayed.
If we allow being hurt to become what we deem the worst thing in life.... and it becomes the primary thing we avoid....we will never love.
Jesus is an amazing example. he never sought to be hurt or be a martyr....he simply loved the only way we can... by embracing what comes.
We Hurt is a real possibility when dealing with others and most of us would rather stay within our own little circles where safety is assured. (or so we think)
We may recall what C.S. LEWIS declared:
"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The atlernative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell."
Closing:
God is at work NOW....in the lives around us. I want to ask each of us to consider where such opportunities may lie.
Who can you bless with God's heart?
• Is there someone I know who may feel alone...and left out...for whom God may want to use me to bless with some time and words?
• Is there someone I know who is different (in race, age, etc) for whom God may be glorified as I help build a bridge across those differences?
• Is there someone I know in which there has been hurt between us... that I can join God showing mercy to?
You can only get so close to God keeping others at arms length, because by holding them away from ourselves we refuse to let God do his reconciliation work in us.
Resources: The section of this message entitled "Love is the Most Important Power in Life" draws from the series developed by Rick Warren and Tom Holladay entitled 40 Days of Love. section.
Notes:
1. Does the truth that all love comes from God mean that that only people who receive Christ as their savior and Lord are loving people?
Actually it explains just the opposite. God is the original source of all life.
Human nature was created in God’s image… to share in His nature. So everyone has the capacity to love and everyone has received something from the flow of love that begins with God. Love flows in various ways through all people.
2. C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves, Ch 6, p. 169
