Join Rev. Bernie and others from the Christ Church Family who begin their week with a social time, a devotional and discussion from 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. every Monday in the Fellowship Hall. Come and experience this friendly discussion. The invitiation is open for anyone to attend. Bernie's devotional for the week is always found on this page - accessed from the Christ Church homepage on our website www.connectingwithchrist.com
How can we enhance our ability to love?
By Rev. Bernie Keale
#304
April 27 -- May 3, 2008
Jesus said he came to fulfill the law, not abolish it. It is a difficult concept to understand. We know there are a ton of laws out there, mostly laws to protect us. Protect us from what? My best answer is found in speed limits for cars. Why have speed limits? We have them to protect us. We read and hear news each day of some fatal accident, mostly because someone was driving too fast for conditions. If every person cared about the other, speed laws would be unnecessary because the safety of others would be our primary concern. Isn’t that what it is all about, putting others before ourselves?
Listen to what Paul says in Romans 13:10: “Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements.” Living a life of love means I have met all the demands of the law. The law is for the good of us all. Love does no harm. Love is the fulfillment of the law.
I remember taking my 6th grade class to meet Gale Sayers when he was athletic director at Southern Illinois University—Carbondale. He had a book that my students read called: “I am Third.” He said that God is first. His family and friends were next. And I am third. Jesus said to love God and to love your neighbor. He did not have to tell us to love ourselves. It is much more difficult to love God and my neighbor than to love myself. However, if we could just get it right by putting first things first, all demands of the law would be met.
QUESTIONS:
1. What laws have you broken? Were you thinking of the needs of others when you broke them?
2. Can you recall a recent tragedy in the news? Was the cause tied to love of self?
3. How can we enhance our ability to love?