One night last week, before saying a goodnight prayer, my very tired four-year-old daughter asked some amazing questions as I was telling her that Jesus loves it when we talk to Him, and tell Him all about the good times and the bad times we have every day, to coax her to pray with me. At first she just pulled the blankets over her head and said, “uggh, I’m tired.” Then after a little more casual talk, she popped out from beneath the blanket and asked, “Dadda, God and Jesus, which one died?” I told her Jesus died, but He brought Himself back to life and now lives with God in Heaven. (Then I added, which probably really confused her) “But God is not only in Heaven, He is everywhere, with you, mommy, me, and everyone else in the world.” She then asked, “How did Jesus get up to heaven?” I told her that God and Jesus can go anywhere they want. She did some quick thinking and asked, “Which one is the dadda and momma?” I told her that God is the Father and Jesus is the Son.” Immediately she said, “I want to go to heaven and see God and Jesus. Can I go on my bike and ride there?” I told her, “No,” and added, “We don’t go there until God tells us to come up there and be with Him.” She said, “but I want to see God and Jesus. How can I see them if I can’t go to heaven?” I told her, “Ask Jesus and God to let you see them in your prayers. God and Jesus love it when we ask to see them.” I then told her to ask God and Jesus to let you see them when you dream tonight.”
She gave it some thought and said, “Okay.” I then said a quick prayer with her and told her goodnight. Then went back to the living room to continue watching the baseball game and began reflecting on our conversation. As I sat watching the game, I could not stop thinking about what just happened. Often times I say things over and over, in many different settings that there is no faith behind the words – not coming from the heart. “Jesus lives…Jesus lives…Jesus lives…” kept playing over and over in my mind like a vinyl record stuck in an incidental scratch. I mean, I say that Jesus lives. In fact, I just told my daughter that Jesus lives, but do I really live my life like I truly believe that Jesus lives inside of me? Is my life’s image even close to a blurry, cracked mirror reflecting Christ’ life? How do my wife, daughter, coworkers, and strangers see me? I call myself a Christian, but is it a tag I am entitled to brand on my chest? Shouldn’t it be up to those around me that I encounter to call me a Christian; because of the way I live my life demonstrates such
According to scripture – I would have to go with…yes. Let’s take a look…
(All verses are NIV)
Jesus tells His disciples, those who believe and disseminate His doctrine, in John 13: 34-35, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
All men will know, not have to be told, that you are my disciples, and all men will know we are Jesus’ disciples by us loving each other as God loves us, which is unconditionally. Thus, for all to know we are His disciples, we must have an understanding of love.
Time to revisit the true meaning of love and its characteristics. So, I will re-educate myself and break out the famous Love Chapter, and etch God’s words a little deeper in my heart’s table.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Well, as Jesus disciples traveled, they obviously obeyed Jesus’ command to love everyone as He loves them. Because...
News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Acts 11:22-25
The disciples did not have to tell everyone they were Christians. Their character inspired the community to title them as Christians, because their actions spoke louder than their words. Do not get me wrong, it is definitely good to know who we are in Christ Jesus, but it is not necessarily who I say I am, but who you and others say I am; because of the fruit I bear is tested and prooved true of a Christian. Then others will know because of the love that pours out of me onto all.
Just a few verses regarding love:
1 John 4: 7-8 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Proverbs 3: 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Proverbs 10: 12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.
Proverbs 16: 6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit
Proverbs 22:11 He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.
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