Hatred Is All Over – We Need Love

2 John 1:5

I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.

Today’s world seems to have so much hatred. Hatred between nations is not new – nations have gone to war and had tensions since time began. Protecting a nation’s borders is not new either – wars have been started over border enforcement or borders being ignored. In my opinion – tensions seem to be at an all time high in many places around the world. Hatred is running rampant.

Today’s world seems to have so much hatred. The last Presidential election (2016) seemed to turn ugly – uglier than usual. And the ugliness has only gotten uglier if possible. If you voted for Trump or Clinton – the opposite side immediately thought you were an idiot and hatred spewed forth – before and after the election. And the candidates didn’t help any calling those who supported the other side deplorables or talking about punching someone in the face – and the hatred continues. The rhetoric coming from the mouths and tweets of our leaders – on both sides – news bites – feeds the hatred being experienced today. And three years later – it is still going on.

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We Gotta Tell Somebody

Luke 19:40

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

How many of our readers today enjoy a good detective/police show like me? Some of my personal favorites over the years are shows like Hill Street Blues – Dragnet – Blue Bloods – NCIS – and yes – Baretta. On these TV shows victims are often encouraged to speak out or to witness so that someone else will not have to suffer what they have suffered. Trying to keep others from being hurt is a strong argument and many times a victim will cooperate to put the bad guys behind bars.

An episode of Blue Bloods had Erin Reagan use that very approach with a young woman who had been attacked – trying to get her to testify so that others wouldn’t be attacked. Many detective shows use this approach or episode design. Speak out so that others will be protected or saved.

Today’s passage records the words of Jesus speaking about His disciples to the Pharisees – if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to make His disciples keep quiet. Jesus told them – if they did keep quiet – the rocks would cry out. Are the rocks clearing their throats in our life dear readers? Here is today’s passage in partial context – of course you will recognize it as part of the Palm Sunday story. Luke 19:35-40 – 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Do We Love One Another?

John 13:35

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Do we have a hard time loving others or showing love to others? I know some men who have a hard time showing love – or even saying I love you to family members. Speaking of men – we have our monthly men’s ministry meeting tonight at 7 pm. I hope to see you there.

Typically it is easier to say I love you to those who love us back or do nice things to us or for us. If someone is nice to us or shows us respect – it would seem easier to love them – right?

Loving others is not an easy command from Jesus. In today’s passage Jesus says that others will know we are His followers – His disciples – if we love one another. Think for a moment – are there folks we have a hard time loving?

Here’s today’s passage in partial context. John 13:34–35 – ³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Giving Our Testimony

Acts 4:10

It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

When is the last time you spoke to someone about your faith – told someone about Jesus? When was the last time you shared your testimony with anyone? I’ve asked some folks to send me their testimonies. Some have done so – some have not. Our testimony is a tool we can use – if we will – to draw others to Jesus. We’ve been lookin at the Book of Acts of late on Tuesdays. The Apostles and disciples were telling people about Jesus – even at the risk of their life.

We talk a lot about giving our testimony – about sharing how Jesus has impacted our lives with others – at our church. We have a time in worship called Telling Our Story where people either give a testimony or we talk about a person’s witness/walk with Christ. This is an easy time to give testimony – because it is in the church family. It is harder to give your testimony outside the church. Are we sharing Jesus with others? We might even have a Tuesday set aside to share how God has touched our lives – and invite the whole congregation.

I May Not Always Be Right – But I’m Never Wrong

Ephesians 4:3

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

I may not always be right – but I’m never wrong. I saw somewhere that this attitude is attributed to Garfield the Cat.

Some think this way in their own theological processes. Whether Calvinist – Wesleyan – Arminian – or whatever – none of us has a lock on understanding God completely. Debates over theological positions have occurred since Adam and Eve I guess – as the serpent tried to persuade Eve to eat the fruit – because “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5 Of course we know the serpent to be wrong and even lined up with Satan – if not Satan himself – in the form of a serpent. It is not always that easy.

At times it is not as clear as the Genesis story. There are passages that – when taken in context – can support a number of views in what I will call minor beliefs or non-essential things. Things like the amount of water used at baptism – the form used at baptism – or even the age one is baptized are not salvation questions – important of course – but not essential to one’s salvation.