May 9, 2021
Morning Service

Last week Jesus commanded us to “Judge not, that you be not judged.”  He pointed us to look first within ourselves and honestly deal with our own issues (2x4 in the eye) before we try to intervene and fix our bother’s problem (a splinter).  We explored a bit of how our culture is changing and judgment is now how we deal with one another.  Our society is overflowing with the cry of racial unrest, social justice, defund the police, and political conflict.  In these issues the judgement given has created division, unrest, and even hatred for one another to arise.  We are no longer able to agree that we disagree, but if you do not line up with the social agenda of this culture then you are evil and you are the enemy.  We concluded the message with the challenge that as Jesus followers we will not judge our brothers, but love them.  I want to thank Donna for suggesting the song that we opened with today; “Love can build a bridge.”  She was correct in thinking it would have fit in well with last week, but it has in fact driven me to speak on it in more depth today.  Love is the only thing that can build a bridge that can bring a divided nation, community, and family back together.  Is there a better day to talk about love than on Mother’s Day?

 I believe a mother displays in her actions the truest definition of love.  Mothers are devoted to their children for life and only stop loving on the day of their own funeral.  It is not a decision they make, but it is who they are.  A mother’s love is not always that “warm and fuzzy feeling” especially at 2:00 in the morning as she nurses her sick child, but it is a connection and devotion that gives her the strength to give even when her tank is empty.  It is a selfless giving of herself to someone who she cares deeply for and is deeply committed to; truly loving them as much or more than she loves herself expecting nothing in return. Of all the people in this world that love me, I know my mother loves me in a much deeper, intimate, and unique way than anyone else.  A mother’s life of selfless devotion to her children gives us the best living example of the definition of love that Jesus put on display for us.  Today we celebrate mother’s, but we are going to focus in on the love that they display.  The church today needs to be shining brightly with this type of love  and not just for our church family but for the lost world around us. We must first be standing firmly upon the foundation that God loves us and then begin building our bridge from that point.  If our foundation is built on anything else our efforts will fail.  It is only God’s perfect love that will stand the test of time because God is love. 

1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

            For love to build a bridge its origin must be from the abiding presence of God through the Holy Spirit in our lives.  We are able to love because we know we are loved.  His love for us now defines us and how we treat one another.

1Jn 4:19-21 We love Him because He first loved us.  (20)  If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?  (21)  And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

            We do not need a theological degree to understand the simplicity of that command do we?  Love is not an option for us to choose or ignore, it is a direct command for us to follow.  We are able to love because God first loved us.  It is the foundation that we work off of.  Though persecution and conflicts arise, we are still empowered by the Holy Spirit to be able to love even those who seem unlovable.  The non-Christian world does not have that power given to them.  Someone who does not feel loved or cared for often finds it difficult to offer love to others.  We must understand that everyone we meet is not standing upon the same firm foundation that we are.  That puts it upon us to be the bridge builders.  We must share God’s love with a world that may not return that love to us.  Look at how Jesus, love embodied, was treated.  In fact, Jesus prophesied that we would be treated likewise in John’s gospel.

Joh 15:20-21 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  (21)  But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.

             As bridge builders we now need to display God’s love to this world regardless of the reaction it creates.  Jesus continued to display love and forgiveness for even to the soldiers who nailed Him to the cross.  We must imitate that same love He offered to those around us; let our light shine.  Let’s look together at I Cor. 13; “The love chapter.”

1Co 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  (2)  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  (3)  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

            Paul here affirms to us that love needs to be our motivational factor in all of our actions.  In the previous chapter he described the many gifts God has given us to use, but in the end he says; “I show you a more excellent way.”  Love is the defining; motivational factor we must act upon.  We can’t just go through the motions and expect results if they aren’t done in and through love.  Doing all these deeds, regardless how wonderful they are, “but have not love, it profits me nothing.”  Again love is our foundation in which we build our bridge.  What does a love like this look like?

1Co 13:4-7 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; (5) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; (6) does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; (7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

            All of these descriptions are true of how a mother loves her child and of how God loves each one of us.  It is now our task to use these attributes to build a bridge for those outside the ark of salvation to desire to enter in.  We are to reflect how God treats us to those around us.  We must be patient, long suffering and kind with others not quick to fly off the handle.  We are not to be jealous, prideful, rude, self-seeking, or easily provoked to wrath.  We don’t rejoice in injustice but rejoice and stand firmly upon the truth.  We are to never give up or lose the faith, always be hopeful, and be strong enough to endure anything that gets thrown our way.  That certainly seems like a tall order, but a mother displays these qualities every day and it defines how God’s love is given to us.  Why is God pushing us to this next level?

 1Co 13:8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

            Every other motivation to build a bridge will fail, but love never fails.  A bridge of love will not collapse under any weight or scrutiny.  Love is not an option for us, it is a command and it is one that will not fail.  Church it is time for us to grow up into the fullness of what God calls us to become and begin to build bridges in our homes, community and country through God’s love radiating from us.

1Co 13:9-13 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.  (10)  But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.  (11)  When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  (12)  For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.  (13)  And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

            We need to all look into our spiritual mirrors and be sure love is one of the foundations we are standing upon in our journey to follow Jesus.  We as the church need to be shining light in this dark world.  Love can build a bridge; don’t you think it is time?