Love is a Package Deal

Love… bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

                                                                        I Corinthians 13:4-7

Wouldn’t it be nice if love were like a cafeteria line? The best part of Luby’s is that I get to choose what I don’t want to eat. What if you could look at the person with whom you live and select what you want and pass on what you don’t. Life with my kids would have been different. Yes on the good grades and nice manners, and yes on the chores. I would pass on the attitude and those clothes and some of those guys my daughter wanted to bring home. But more to the point. How about the spouse? Yes on a good mood and not on the honey due list. And you can think of the rest, and don’t forget the inlaws. But you know what? It wouldn’t be love. Love doesn’t accept just a few things. Love is willing to accept all things.

“Love…bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”

When we love someone, we take the entire package. No picking and choosing. No large helpings of the good and passing on the bad. Love is a package deal.

Time out….what love are we talking about? Paul uses the AGAPE love….Agape love cares for others because God has cared for us. Agape love goes beyond sentiment and good wishes. Agape love forgives the mistake when the offense is high, offers patience when stress is abundant and extends kindness when kindness is rare. Why? Because God offered it to us first.

Did I mention, “Love…bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Such love isn’t easy. But it is the Love that God has for us and he wants us to share with others.

Agape someone today like you have never loved them before and they will see Christ in you.

Perspective

I enjoy watching basketball. The free-throw line is called by many as the charity stripe. When a player is fouled in the act of shooting or if the other team is over the allotment of fouls, the player fouled can shoot free throws. These are considered free points if the player makes the shots. Not only are statices kept on how a player does at the free-throw line, but the teams are also tracked. Players and teams alike take great pride in having a high percentage at the free-throw line. Many of us take pride in being at the top of our game in many areas of our lives. We tend to compare ourselves with others to find satisfaction.

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" Matthew 5:48.

Vision

Do you have a vision? Are you on a mission to get a task done? Many times I find myself interrupted or even redirected from my vision. It seems like there are distractions on every side. Staying focused is something that I must work on to achieve a vision.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 (ESV)

2 And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.

3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Proverbs 29:18 (ESV)

18 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

California Stop

Many years ago someone explained to me what a California stop was. They described it as a “rolling stop.” It seems to me that there must be lots of Californians who have moved to our area or are teaching driver’s education in our area. This morning my question to you is not whether you make California stops in your vehicle, but if that reflects your prayer time with the Lord. Do you come to a complete stop from the activities in your life to wait on the Lord?

Psalm 46:10 (ESV)

10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Short Memory

A short memory is said to be good in basketball. If you miss a few shots, a basketball player is encouraged to have a short memory so that they will not give up on shooting the ball. Each shot is a new shot. In the area of sin, we need to have a short memory in that we need to put behind what is past and move toward where God would have us. Seek forgiveness and then move forward.

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)

13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Not My Own

Many times, the question has been asked, “Is your glass half empty or half full? I have concluded that for a believer, that is not even a valid question. The first thing that we need to realize is that we are not our own. We have been bought with a price. Therefore it is not our glass anymore. The Second thing to remember is that God will enable us to do what He has for us to do. It doesn’t matter what is in the glass. He is sufficient.

1 Corinthians 6:20

You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.

2 Corinthians 3:5

Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God

"It's never too late to do right"

Karen and I were stuck in traffic for over 3 hours when I-10 shut down due to a fatality.  We were on the HOV lane headed into Houston from Katy last Thursday.  It wasn’t long before many cars passed us in a zone marked as no passing.  They were getting ahead at our expense.  I knew the police would be occupied with the accident and would not bother with these lawbreakers. How much time could I save if I joined them?  What would that do to my witness? Would anyone I know see me?  These are some of the questions that came to my mind as I had plenty of time to think about their actions.  Then I was reminded that I was not accountable for their actions, only mine.

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.  James 4:17

Take Flight

That was the title of Houston’s First Baptist Church Christmas Program. Not only was it a great production, but the message was for all to hear. Jesus took flight from Heaven to purchase you a ticket to take the flight to Heaven. The greatest message, the greatest gift is that Jesus offers forgiveness and eternal life with the Father. Share the good news!

John 3:16 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Greater Love

How would you define “greater love”? We are commanded to love as Christ first loved us. To love one another! I personally don’t recall any of my friends who have given their life for another; however, I have not completed my education on learning what greater love is.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. - John 15:13

Rerouting

Most of the time that I drive into Houston, I use my phone’s navigation app. Yes, I know where I am going and am very familiar with the route. Yet, I have found great value in allowing an app that I don’t understand how it works to guide me. It tells me when an object is on the road and the traffic conditions. When traffic conditions dictate a time change in my journey, the app I don’t understand how it knows the conditions ahead of me, reroutes my path. However, it is my choice to listen and follow the new directions. Is that not just a glimpse of what God wants to do with us?

Psalm 32:8-9 (ESV)

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

Worry: an opportunity to trust God

When we worry, our minds get an unnecessary workout. As Jesus talked about worry, He redirected our focus onto God. Our worries do not change the character of God. Ultimately, grasping God’s character changes how we handle our worries. God knows what’s going on in your life. He cares about your situation. He loves you. Worry steals your peace and joy, but the Lord gives them abundantly.

“I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy.”

Psalm 34:4–5

Banner

In 1954, our country added the “One Nation under God” phrase to our pledge of allegiance. This past couple of months we have seen banners in yards showing allegiance to political parties. As believers, we a greater kingdom! How are you lifting up your banner?

Psalm 20:5: "We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God".

What Captivates Your Mind?

Last night after reading some scriptures, I began thinking about this coming week. Lots of tough stuff headed my way. As I began sinking into a little depression, the word dwell from my reading came to mind. We are not to just read God's Word. When we dwell on it , blessings will come our way. This is going to be a great week as I walk with the Lord. Where are you dwelling?

Philippians 4:8 CSB

[8] Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable-if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy-dwell on these things.

No Eggs, Okay… No Faith, Not Okay

Once, my mom sent me to the store to get eggs, as she needed them to bake a cake—or that is what she told me. I have since learned that you can bake a cake without eggs, but I'm not sure that it would come close to tasting as good as my mom’s. I do know that there is no replacement for faith in being a child of God.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Time

The older I get, the more I realize the most precious time in life is when I spend it with the people I love the most. Even after 47 years of marriage, I love spending time with my wife. I have never gotten over the fact that she married me, and she still loves to spend time with me.

Yet even more amazing to me is that God desires to spend time with me!

How much time do we spend with our Lord?

Ps 37:4

“Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.”

When To Praise God

If you are like me, it is much easier to offer praise to God when good things are happening. I am reminded while studying in Acts that Paul shows us that even in tough times, it is good to praise God. On Paul’s 2nd missionary journey, he was not permitted to go where he first chose to go. Nor was his second choice accepted. So, he set out on a trip where he was beaten and then thrown in jail. What does he do? He sings and prays to God in praise worship.

Psalm 145:18-19 (ESV)

18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

Hebrews 13:15 (ESV)

15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Night Goggles

An Army Chaplain shared a story about going out in the darkest of nights to talk to a soldier. He was following an officer who was wearing night goggles. The only thing the Chaplain could see on that very dark night was the reflectors on the back of the officer’s helmet. When the two men arrived at the soldier's location, the chaplain thought that he was alone with the soldier. It wasn’t until the officer gave the chaplain his night goggles that he could see the situation. When we don’t see the scriptures with the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, we won’t see what God has for us.

God never intended for us to flounder through life with the best of our abilities. The Holy Spirit helps us understand God’s Word and He convicts us when we stray off track. He prays for us, encourages us, and guides us.

Romans 8:11 (ESV)

11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

What Do Others Hear or See?

When one argues, how do they appear? Many times arguments bring out drama in the participants. What subject is worth losing our witness over? Even to our family members.

Mark 9:33-34 (ESV)

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”

34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

Matthew 5:9 (ESV)

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Practice of Sinning

Judas was able to do the wicked things that he did because he never really knew Jesus. Sure, he learned about Him more than most people did. He spent 3 years walking with the Master. But he never personally knew Jesus.

If you can habitually sin without remorse, does that mean you are like Judas? Does that mean you don’t know God? Many people are running around today saying, “I’m a believer. I’m a follower of Jesus.” Yet, if they can persist in sin, something isn’t right.

The Bible doesn’t say that a Christian won’t sin, only that a Christian won’t habitually sin. As sinners, where do you need God to do surgery in your life?

1 John 3:9 (ESV)

9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

Roadblocks

When I am set on course for a particular destination, roadblocks often prevent me from completing my route as planned. You can count on roadblocks when God sets us out for His purpose. What would keep you from completing the task He has set before you? Paul was stoned yet went back to complete the task.

Acts 14:19-20 (ESV)

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.