Hi Church!
What is the best question that a lawyer ever asked Jesus? Do you know? Good lawyers ask good questions. What would a lawyer want to know, or ask? A legal question, of course. And, that is exactly what one of them asked Jesus, “a lawyer, asked him a question, testing him, and saying, ‘teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?'” That seems like a good and fair question, regardless of his motivation, since his work involved knowing and upholding the 613 Jewish laws. He was NOT ready for Jesus’ answer!
Jesus said, “you shall LOVE the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind….this IS the GREAT commandment. And the second is like it: ‘you shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself.’ on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:35-40 I can only imagine the look on his face. He was left speechless. Why? That law was not written in the law books, yet if one was able to keep it, they would keep all of the laws. It is that simple. When we have perfect love for God and for others, we do not break God’s laws.
Hence, it is not surprising that in the midst of a letter written to a church that was filled with strife, division, narcissist-ism, and chaos, Paul would write the GRANDEST WORDS EVER WRITTEN ON THE SUBJECT OF LOVE. Paul says “earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” I Cor. 12:31. Following those words are what we know as the love chapter, found in I Corinthians 13.
The question that everybody is asking is, “Do you love me?” This in and of itself presents another problem, most people do not know what real love is… they do not. Love is much more than a feeling. A thorough study and understanding of the love chapter will give you a doctor’s Degree in the priority of love and how to practice love… Paul said that in the midst of all of our serving, Christians should be pursuing and practicing love.
Why? Because ____________ – Love = 0 No matter what you write in that blank space, if it is not accompanied by love it = 0.
When Love is absent:
– All that I Say is Ineffective…
– All that I Know is Incomplete…
– All that I Believe is Insufficient…
– All that I Give is Insignificant…
This is going to be a great lesson on love. Plan to join us on Sunday at 9:30 as we pursue love at Faith, for the greatest of these is LOVE.
In God’s Gracious Grip,
Pastor Mike