The Greatest of These

          “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not

          insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices

          in the truth. Love bears all things; believes all things; hopes all things; endures all things. Love

          never ends...So now faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

- 1 Corinthians 13

   We all are familiar with many of the “love” passages from the Bible. For example, we all would recognize the phrase: “the greatest of these is love” from 1 Corinthians. There are other passages that include the concept of love or words that touch us concerning love. What shapes our perception about love? I’m sure most of us remember our first love, or perhaps falling in love with that special someone. What are the feelings we experience when we are “in love?” Perhaps you never want the days to end; you think the other person is perfect and wonderful and you believe that harmony will be the norm in your relationship. I can remember thinking how Susan and I were so alike that it was perfect. (She will tell you that she still is perfect!) But very quickly we learned that no two people are exactly alike or think exactly alike. Today, I can honestly state that without those differences in our marriage, I would not be the man I am today, nor would I be the pastor I am today.

  Have you ever thought that maybe the “hard times” in life are actually times for love to be stretched and improved? On February 14th - Valentine’s Day - the Love Day - we begin the season of Lent. Lent is a journey with Christ to the cross. He will face betrayal and broken friendships based on his love for us. Despite all of the hardship he faced, Jesus teaches the meaning of true love. “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.” is what Jesus tells his disciples. What does this mean for the disciples; how did Jesus love them? What does it mean for us and our relationship with one another and with Christ?

   Jesus’ picture of love is a complete and perfect love in a world where all of us are incomplete and imperfect. His love is characterized by selflessness. We are all called as Christians to love our neighbors. Loving your neighbors, as we have discussed means treating them as we would like to be treated ourselves. Also as a part of that love, we are called to help those in need. On what is this based? We are called in everything we do to be witnesses to the grace of Jesus Christ. Because of our beliefs, we are called to love and help others based on being followers of Christ. As we discuss so often, ‘what would Jesus do? Or ‘what would Jesus have us do?’ But, “good works” are not the message of the good news. Good works are not how salvation is achieved. Good works are a manifestation of our following Christ. Why is this? Let us be honest, all of us have some selfishness in all of our actions. This is not a condemnation nor does it condemn good works, or those who actively engage in good works. But being a sinful, fallen people inevitably, the “self” always comes into the picture. This is the “ugly” side of being human and being “fallen.” Somehow, even with the best of intentions, we can fall back into self aggrandizement. In fact there is a warning in Galatians against trusting exclusively in the goodness of our own efforts. In seminary, the most experienced and seasoned professor/ministers gave strong warnings about boasting about our pastoral works, talents or efforts. It was their conclusion that despite being good or noble, there is always an element of self-fulfillment. I am not advocating avoiding “good works.” In doing works as we are commanded, we should follow Paul’s guideline: that if we should boast, boast in what Christ has done for us.

Yet through Christ’s example we see the true meaning of works being a sacrificial effort based on love. What if that became the outline for an enhanced understanding of love and its application to others?

    When we talk about love, we also need to talk about forgiveness. Again, think of the disciples’ example during the final hours of Jesus’ life.  Peter betrayed him and the rest fled, yet Jesus forgave them and restored them. “If only you knew what he/she did to me, you would understand why I cannot forgive.”  All of us have been hurt, wounded and betrayed. Have we extended forgiveness to others? Often this is the most difficult aspect of our call as believers. Yet we need to remind ourselves of  the example of Jesus, dying on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not understand what they have done.” What if Christ chose to count our sins instead of forgiving us? We would be in a bad way. Without forgiveness of one another, love cannot continue and will die.

   During this, the love month and every month, I challenge each one of you to emulate the model of love shown to us by Christ. This is a love that is characterized by selflessness, understanding and forgiveness…

Faith, hope and charity remain, But the greatest of these is love.

 Yours in Christian Love,

Pastor Harry