We have been discussing love and how it relates to our surrender to Jesus for several weeks now, and could easily spend a year just on this subject without exhausting it. Just a couple more weeks and we will look at other aspects of surrender, but today I would like to look at how Christian Work Requires Love.
Let's begin with the question, why is love so important in our work to share Jesus to a sin sick world? And the answer is: That is the only power in which we as Christians can possibly do our work. If we do not have divine love to bind us together and to draw us to the lost around us we are merely involved in a form of philanthropy that we see in the lives of atheist and agnostic's who have a natural spirit of compassion for their fellow-men. Is it possible that we sometimes take on Christian work just because our pastor or another member has a vision for reaching souls, but we do it just out of duty or to please that person, but don't have that baptism of love in our own heart?
Now that kind of work and devotion is certainly better than nothing at all, but the results will fall far short of what can happen when we have the fire of everlasting love that we see in Jesus and God the Father at Calvary.
That is the baptism of love that will give us as a Church the same results that Jesus experienced. The same results that His disciples experienced in the early Church. The only way that we too can experience this love and sacrifice is if we get down on our faces in confession and pray to God:
"Lord, let love from Heaven flow down into my heart. I am giving up my life to pray and live as one who has given himself up for the everlasting love to dwell in and fill him." Absolute Surrender page 32.
Friends, if the love of Jesus were in our hearts as God wants to put it through the Holy Spirit, what a difference it would make! How often have I heard devoted Christians say, "I would love to do more; I really would, but it's just not my gift! How often have I felt that way myself if I'm honest? Sometimes we just throw up our hands and say, "I don't know where to begin. Lord, I just don't know what to do?"
Our part in this is to ask God to fill us with the Spirit of Love, and that love will change everything! Love truly covers a multitude of sins! Love is the one thing that can cover our mistakes and weaknesses in our work with people.
I heard the story of a woman who was asked to speak at a mission where there were a number of poor women suffering with addictions and beat up by life. As she was preparing to speak she noticed a pitiful women outside that didn't even seem to have the desire to come in out of the cold. The speaker asked; "who is that?" The matron answered; "She has been here thirty or forty times and she always goes right back to the streets. Nothing can be done with her, she is a hard case." But the speaker said; "She must come in." The matron then said; "Its almost time to start and we only have an hour for your address."
The speaker then replied; "No, this is more important"; and she went outside where the woman was sitting and said; "My sister, what is the matter?" "I'm not your sister," was the reply. Then the speaker laid her hand on the woman, and said; "Yes, I am your sister, and I love you"; and so she spoke until the heart of the poor woman was touched. Finally the speaker brought the woman inside. She was embarrassed! She wouldn't even sit in a chair, but sat down on a stool beside the speakers seat and leaned against her. The speaker wrapped her arms around this woman as she spoke to the people. And that love touched the woman's heart; she had found someone that really loved her, and that love gave access to the love of Jesus.
I praise God for the love in your hearts! But how much more does God want to give us? How much greater of an impact can we have in our homes, communities and churches if we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us more fully with the love of Jesus?
I love you!
Brad
Let's begin with the question, why is love so important in our work to share Jesus to a sin sick world? And the answer is: That is the only power in which we as Christians can possibly do our work. If we do not have divine love to bind us together and to draw us to the lost around us we are merely involved in a form of philanthropy that we see in the lives of atheist and agnostic's who have a natural spirit of compassion for their fellow-men. Is it possible that we sometimes take on Christian work just because our pastor or another member has a vision for reaching souls, but we do it just out of duty or to please that person, but don't have that baptism of love in our own heart?
Now that kind of work and devotion is certainly better than nothing at all, but the results will fall far short of what can happen when we have the fire of everlasting love that we see in Jesus and God the Father at Calvary.
That is the baptism of love that will give us as a Church the same results that Jesus experienced. The same results that His disciples experienced in the early Church. The only way that we too can experience this love and sacrifice is if we get down on our faces in confession and pray to God:
"Lord, let love from Heaven flow down into my heart. I am giving up my life to pray and live as one who has given himself up for the everlasting love to dwell in and fill him." Absolute Surrender page 32.
Friends, if the love of Jesus were in our hearts as God wants to put it through the Holy Spirit, what a difference it would make! How often have I heard devoted Christians say, "I would love to do more; I really would, but it's just not my gift! How often have I felt that way myself if I'm honest? Sometimes we just throw up our hands and say, "I don't know where to begin. Lord, I just don't know what to do?"
Our part in this is to ask God to fill us with the Spirit of Love, and that love will change everything! Love truly covers a multitude of sins! Love is the one thing that can cover our mistakes and weaknesses in our work with people.
I heard the story of a woman who was asked to speak at a mission where there were a number of poor women suffering with addictions and beat up by life. As she was preparing to speak she noticed a pitiful women outside that didn't even seem to have the desire to come in out of the cold. The speaker asked; "who is that?" The matron answered; "She has been here thirty or forty times and she always goes right back to the streets. Nothing can be done with her, she is a hard case." But the speaker said; "She must come in." The matron then said; "Its almost time to start and we only have an hour for your address."
The speaker then replied; "No, this is more important"; and she went outside where the woman was sitting and said; "My sister, what is the matter?" "I'm not your sister," was the reply. Then the speaker laid her hand on the woman, and said; "Yes, I am your sister, and I love you"; and so she spoke until the heart of the poor woman was touched. Finally the speaker brought the woman inside. She was embarrassed! She wouldn't even sit in a chair, but sat down on a stool beside the speakers seat and leaned against her. The speaker wrapped her arms around this woman as she spoke to the people. And that love touched the woman's heart; she had found someone that really loved her, and that love gave access to the love of Jesus.
I praise God for the love in your hearts! But how much more does God want to give us? How much greater of an impact can we have in our homes, communities and churches if we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us more fully with the love of Jesus?
I love you!
Brad
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