A GREAT EXAMPLE OF LOVE
For two weeks now, I have addressed the subject of love in conjunction with the valentine theme. As I said in my message yesterday, there are two thoughts about love. One is God's view of love and the other is the world's view of love. This week, please consider a very good example of love-lived-out as found in the life of Mary in Luke 10:38-42, John 12:1-8 and John 11:28-35. These are three separate occasions where we get a view of the believer, Mary. In the first incident, Mary chooses to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to his teachings. In the second incident Mary bravely goes into an 'all male' dinner' (which was against the custom of that day) and lavishly anoints the Lord with her tears and expensive perfume as she knelt at His feet. The last incident finds Mary grieving over the death of her brother. She threw herself at Jesus feet when he arrived at the place of mourning. It seems that Mary was always at Jesus feet! This is a true sign of submission to the Lord as her Master. Her love for the Lord compelled her to be in subjection to Him. We can learn from Mary that love for God compels us to worship Him and be in subjection to our Lord.
So, how does that translate into our daily lives? Look at it this way, when we love God will all our soul, mind and strength we return His love to Him in our submission and worship on a daily basis. Jesus gave us that formula when he said, "Love the Lord your God will all your soul, mind and strength".....and......"love your neighbor as yourself." He knew that when we love Him and others, life would be abundant for us! We would have more joy, more peace and more contentment than ever before!! What a huge dividend for a small word like 'love.'
When Glad and I married 52 years ago, I told her that "the closer I get to God and the more I love Him, the more I will love her too." She feels secure in my love because she understands that the love I have for her is based on the love I have for God!! It has been a comfort in our marriage. I urge you to put this to the test in your own life and relationships.
Concentrate on loving God totally as He requested and then pay attention to how that love and submission to Him translates into the way that you view other people and how you react to them. You will joyfully find that this is God's secret formula for joy, peace, contentment and all of His gifts for your life. Live a 'Mary life'.....at the feet of Jesus!!
God's love to all,
God's love to all,
Pastor Jack
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