Love of Christ
5-11-04

In the message "Teach The World His Grace" we considered our need to teach others about the grace of God through our actions. We saw how God's grace is inseparable from His love and that Jesus commanded: "As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34).

But oh how we (I) fall terribly short in teaching His grace and love through actions. In this ministry I certainly want us to study God's Word. But we must never stop at simply being better educated; "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says" (James 1:22). Part of my job is to instruct and encourage you in the Word, but the other part is to make it real - and, like it or not, one of the ways I know I must do this is by sharing some of my weaknesses.

I'm currently traveling with my wife and two younger children. In just the last few days I can think of two individuals (one young man at the airport ticket counter and another behind the desk at a hotel) who have received my rudeness when plans were not going the way I thought they should. Both times I walked away and immediately felt ashamed of my witness - I'm afraid neither of them received very good instruction from me on the grace of Jesus.

Our Spiritual growth must never be measured by how much we know, but by how much we are transformed - by how much the Word penetrates to the innermost part of our heart. I could use your prayers in this area. I have been blessed far more than I deserve and I desire to be much more loving and gracious to others. Our flight home has been delayed several days and we are currently stuck at a military base in central California. I'm sure God will give me many more opportunities on this trip to better learn how to become His expression of love to others.

Ephesians 3:17-19
"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge."

Paul had a deep appreciation for the love contained in God's plan of Salvation through the gift of His Son, and it was often overwhelming; "When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father" (Ephesians 3:14 NLT). When we begin to grasp His love, all we can do is say Thank You!

Let's pray for a greater understanding of His love and devote every moment of our life to returning His love through worship and shining His love into the lives of those He places in our path. Let's begin to grasp, and then give back and share, the true love of Christ.

Have A Great Day!