Love

Measuring God’s Love

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

How can we measure the limitless love of God? Paul gives us some dimensions for us to consider and that got me to thinking.

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 ESV

So just how wide is the breadth of God’s love? John tells us it stretches to the widest horizon: For God so loved the world that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3:16

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And how long is its farthest limit? Jeremiah raises his hand to answer:

The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Jeremiah 31:3

And how height is it’s loftiest peak? Isaiah reminds us that it is higher and holier than we can imagine and yet God welcomes us there when we seek Him. Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,  who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:“I dwell in the high and holy place,  and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

And when we ask how we can measure the depth of the heart of God almighty? Paul answers back: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Loving Like Jesus

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. e second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”    Romans 12:15

I learned something about weeping and rejoicing after fourteen hours of flying time to Delhi India. I found an airport that looked just like New York (Only better). It was clean, bright and beautiful. But we were on a missions trip and not on a vacation. So though the staff at our hotel was polite and helpful, the room was something you find only in the world of India. Though we had crossed nine time zones it was still hard to sleep but washing with cold water from a bucket in the tub woke us right up in the morning! We quickly dressed and left for the airport to catch our flight to a smaller city. That is where to the amusement of my pastor and the taxi driver I began to experience the whole new world of Delhi traffic with each honk of the horn and lurch to the left or right avoiding pedestrians, bicycles and various animals.

Having a loved one move into a nursing home especially during this Covid-19 crisis, is like watching them travel farther away than even India. Every nation has its own language, laws and culture and just as you would carefully study a travel guide about them before going overseas so also it is important to prepare for the world of a nursing home your loved one is moving to. Their new home will mean losing a measure of the control which they once had. They lose privacy, the ability to travel, familiar surroundings and maybe most difficult of all; the right to say no to many things. Don’t turn a deaf ear to their fretting; instead be ready to rejoice when they rejoice and weep when they weep. You might not know all the answers for them but coming along on their journey is the best way to help them put down roots, make friends and accept for weeping or rejoicing that new world. Sharing their emotions and struggles can help to unlock the door to hope then just do your best to live out what the Apostle Paul added in the next verse:

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Romans 12:16 Now that is loving just like Jesus would have us to do!

Willing to Be a Neighbor

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But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.  So he went to himand bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.      Luke 10:33-34        

Jesus told a story of three people who passed by a man left for dead. Two of them were busy with their lives but one chose to stop and help. The first man was known for his religion and the second for his good family background. But only the third; a Samaritan, who even Jesus’ disciples would have avoided because of his race was remembered as a good neighbor. The Samaritan became a nieghbor because he slowed down long enough make a connection to someone he didn’t even know. He didn’t care about what anyone thought. His willingness to connect to a single person is remembered after 2,000 years! He was willing to serve, he shared a smile, even when no one else was willing to help. Making a connection meant taking the time to have compassion even when he was in a hurry.

God is holding a doorway open to make a connection to you and me today. In the story of the Good Samaritan we never do find out what happens next to the man left behind at the inn. In the same way today, Jesus is asking us to show mercy even when we don’t know what might happen next. The rest of the story because belongs to God. He is the greatest author of all time and He has some amazing endings to write for anyone willing to be a neighbor.