God’s love

Fearless!

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18 ESV

Terror attacks, earthquakes and endless wars dominate our daily headlines. Sometimes family conflicts and crises make it seem as if our world is closing in around us. In his day, the apostle John had seen Jesus crucified, his own brother executed by King Herod and a crowd of ‘religious people’ stone his friend Stephen to death in the middle of the day. John and been in prison with Peter and was arrested again by the Roman authorities then sent to a penal colony on the Island of Patmos.

Interestingly, when John talks about freedom from fear he doesn’t mention a strong army to come to our defense. He doesn’t talk about the confidence of having good legal representation to defend us or powerful friends in places of influence who will stand up for our rights. John tells us that the best defense against any kind of fear is love! John knew that fear is completely stripped of power in the face of God’s love. That love of God as witnessed in the life of Jesus Christ is strong enough to handcuff our fears and put them under arrest. God’s perfect love is so powerful that no army, no terroristic threat and no human enemy can defeat. And the best news of all is that this perfect love is available to anyone who is ready to receive it. We can’t earn His love and we don’t need to wait to figure it out. With arms opened wide on the cross God’s love receives thieves, forgives crucifiers and blesses fearful disciples. His amazing, unending and perfect love overcomes the world and casts out every fear!

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 …if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there… MATT 17:20

 

Breakfast with Great grandmother

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When my mom passed away she left us no money but lots of paperback Agatha Christie mysteries. She also left a few odds and ends of furniture from my great grandmother. My sister took home the stone sundial from the garden and I ended up with an old cherry side table. Besides the table which sat in a side room for years were worn out chairs, a broken footstool and curious table leaves with legs that took up permanent residence in the attic.

One night as I was reorganizing things recently I began to examine the spare table parts thinking maybe I could recut them for shelves. In a flash it came to me like when you suddenly realize where a puzzle piece fits. They were designed to fit snugly into the slots on the old side table! That’s when I remembered why they had seemed strangely familiar. Together they made up the table at which I had sat down to breakfast with great grandmother 60 years ago. Since we were the only two early risers in the family she welcomed me to sit with her if I was good. After eating she delighted in showing me her scrap books filled with clippings from the Chicago world’s fair and of her travels to Australia. It was she who passed along her great sense of adventure for the life that lay ahead of me and behind her. How our world has changed from those long ago days. Bur in my heart rests those sweet memories of a woman who shared her stories . So it isn’t just about holding on to old dusty furniture that I am writing tonight. It is about a respect and love for others that we once shared as families, communities and as a nation. We learned that life was more than just what we could take from others. What really mattered was sitting down at the table together and learning about the endless possibilities that lay ahead!

A Seat at the Table Part Two

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Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”  Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”  And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Luke 7:44-50

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The woman went to Simon’s house because she wanted to see Jesus

She didn’t care what Simon and his friends might think. She didn’t want to miss her chance to be with Jesus. Simon had missed the opportunity of a lifetime. He had so much but he gave so little

She knew that she might never have the chance again so even though she had so little yet she gave so much!

 

She wasn’t embarrassed or in a hurry. There was nothing more important on her schedule that day. While Simon probably couldn’t wait for her worship to end, she lavished the final drops of perfume on Jesus’ feet. Inwardly Simon criticized both her and Jesus because he never saw his own need. But this very special lady knew that forgiveness and grace weren’t just ideas to understand but gifts she desperately needed to receive!

 

Yet worship is more than despair at our condition, it is the expression of faith that no matter how big our sin: God’s mercy is bigger! May her story be ours – Sinned much- Repented much-Forgiven much- Loved much!