Your very first experience of love came at the expense of your mother. Your first 39 weeks of life came inside her body. You were growing and developing and as you did, it took a toll on your mom. In all likelihood, she was exhausted, especially at first. She was hungry, perhaps for some very peculiar foods. She was uncomfortable, especially as the months wore on. There were doctor appointments, not to mention the challenges of everyday life and many other things I can’t think of, that many of you certainly could tell me about. And this, all before the rigors and potential complications of labor and childbirth. This is the first experience of love that all of us had (and none of us can remember it).
And yet, this love that we received from our mothers was just beginning. Mothers, both natural and adoptive, love their children. There is no more helpless creature in the world than a baby, and they utterly rely on the sacrificial efforts of their caretakers for longer than almost every other living being. And as they grow, their needs only change, and mothers need to change to meet these needs. Mothers feed, mothers nurture, mothers heal, and mothers teach. And that’s only the beginning of what they do.
And all of this is intentionally designed by our all-wise creator and designer.
Love is the Greatest commandment, according to Jesus. The Bible tells us that the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love, and that love is the fulfillment of the law. Not only that, but when it comes to love, Jesus shows and tells.
First, Jesus tells: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.”
And then, at the Cross, Jesus shows. John, the Beloved Apostle who was there, wrote: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
The Cross of Christ is the greatest expression of love. Jesus laid down his life for you, taking the guilt of your sin so that you might become a new creation in him. Have you received this gift? Receiving comes by believing!
And the Cross of Christ is the pattern we follow to put love into practice. Listening to people, truly listening – especially to people who are hurting, confused, lost or lonely requires sacrifice. Being present with people requires sacrifice. Helping hurts, making meals, helping with homework, disciplining and discipling, driving to games and discussing difficult subjects, all take sacrifice.
Pastor Ryan Sarenpa
God is Good, All the Time!
