Have You Learned to Love?

By T. Sean Sullivan

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another…" (John 13:34). The 'you' in this verse are all who are followers of Christ, true disci­ples, those who are committed to living within the boundaries of His doctrine. The commandment is that we “love one an­other”. I suppose there are as many con­cepts of what “love” is, as there are people. Which way should we love one another? Jesus did not allow this “love” to be subjec­tive—decided by all sorts of standards. He continued His statement in John 14:34 to tell us exactly what kind of love He intended in this new commandment. He clarified by adding, "as I have loved you, that you also love one another."  We are to love one an­other in the same way that Christ loved us.

How much did Christ love us?  The imme­diate response might be, "Enough to give His life for us" (Matthew 27:46-54). This is absolutely true and this should stir our hearts at its very mentioning. However, it is possible to miss the rest of the picture if we focus on just that singular event. The life of Christ is full of loving examples. In this ar­ticle let's take some time to consider three different periods during Christ's life here on earth in which His love is exemplified.

His Compassion

The compassion demonstrated by Jesus Christ is a tremendous expression of His love. The fullest expression of Christ's com­passion is found in the fact that He saw fit to come to earth and give Himself for us. Consider where we were in relationship to God before He came (Romans 3:23). We were alienated from God by our own doing (Isaiah 59:1-2). We had all rebelled against God causing ourselves to be hopeless with­out Him. Christ had compassion on us and came to give us that hope that we so des­perately needed (Romans 5:6-11).

Beyond that fact, we also have many spe­cific examples that allow us to see Christ's compassion on those in need. In Matthew 9:35-36 we read that Christ had compas­sion on the masses because He saw them as, "sheep having no shepherd."  It was His leadership that they needed. The world, without Christ's direction, wanders aim­lessly--helplessly. He is our only hope. The hope we need in this life and for the life be­yond.

Another example of Christ's compassion is seen when He raises the only son of a widow woman in Nain. Luke records the event for us in Luke 7:11-13. She was left alone and without help in this world. Unlike today, with our large variety of social ser­vices that will attempt to provide for those in need, she was living in the first century and would likely not survive without someone to supply her needs. Christ did not ignore her plight and He supplied what she needed. He had compassion on her situation.

Whether we are willing to admit it or not we too are helpless and are in need of com­passion.  Jesus had compassion on all gen­erations to come. He offers a way to return to God for all those who are willing (John 14:6). He allows them a way in which they can be acceptable to God (Hebrews 9:27-28).

His Kind Understanding

It is important to make note of this spe­cific example of Christ's love. We should al­ways be thankful of Christ’s loving under­standing. We live each day striving to be found faithful to God.  Knowing that He has loving kindness—that He understands—is important for us because we also know that we make mistakes and sin.

We are not looking to take advantage of His loving understanding. We should not ex­pect Him to look past our sins. Much rather we seek His loving kindness to offer us an opportunity to try again. This understanding is found in the message of the prodigal son. He returned to his father and the father had loving kindness toward him (Luke 15:11-20). The father did not find pleasure in the sins of his son. It was his son's willingness to return that pleased him. We must be will­ing to return to our Father and Christ makes that return available.

His Constant Concern for Others above Himself

One example of Christ's love that should be imprinted on our hearts is His constant concern for others. We have a catchall of love in Christ's willingness to go to the cross. We have seen that it demonstrates His compassion and His understanding of our needs. We now can also look at it as an example of putting others before Himself. 

During His prayer to the Father in John 17 we find one of the greatest specific examples of Christ putting others before Himself. Con­sider the circumstances surrounding the situation. Jesus knew that the time had come for His death (17:1). As He prayed Judas was traveling toward Him with the mob sent from the chief priests (18:1-12).  This was the last recorded prayer of Jesus before being arrested, before being falsely accused, and crucified. A time when it might be expected of Him to pray for Him­self alone knowing the tremendous stress He must have been under. But, no, Jesus prays for His immediate disciples and then also for all those who would believe in Him in the time to come. 

In this prayer before going to the cross Jesus prayed for you and Jesus prayed for me. From the beginning to the end Jesus knew that He was the only hope for all man­kind. He did all this for others. He put us first and gave Himself to die on the cross.

One other example that so clearly depicts this selfless care is when He was already on the cross. He was suffering and close to death yet He still thought of others. He sees his birth mother nearby Him and makes ar­rangements for her continued care. He told John to care for her (John 19:25-27).

We have a loving, caring, compassionate Savior. Jesus Christ demonstrated time and again that He cares for us. By going to the cross Jesus did not gain anything for Him­self. It was all about our salvation from sins. The cross, however, was not the end of His care. Through His death He established a plan of salvation so that He could be the Savior of all who will come to God through Him. This morning, are you a follower of Christ? Are you found in His love? What is holding you back? Jesus, through His love, has made the way ready. Will you walk it to­day? &

Can Worship Be in Vain?

By J. F. Dancer

All over the world at various days dur­ing each week people seek to show their veneration to God in what is commonly called “worship." In most in­stances these efforts come from hearts of honest, sincere people who are seeking the pleasure of God. But we must recognize that even though most of these are honest, sincere people they are doing different things in this thing called “worship." Is it possible that God accepts all of this “worship”? Or, is it possible that people can sincerely worship God in vain?

To worship in “vain” is to worship without it accomplishing anything. It is empty, wasted in the sight of God. Jesus said, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matt. 15:9). Yes, people can worship in vain! Jesus also said the people under consideration in this context were hypo­crites. They knew what the commandments of God were but they chose to substitute their own teachings. They evidently felt what they thought would be as well pleasing to God as what he had commanded. But not so! We can see the same problem today if we look.

Those who, in their worship, substitute commandments of men for the words of God worship in vain even today. This means it is important that we know what the word of God says and then we do as it says if we want our worship to be acceptable to Him. Let us examine some things done in wor­ship:

1.   Use of instrumental music.

2.   Women preaching and leading in prayer in public assemblies.

3.   Taking communion on weekdays or quarterly on Sundays.

4.   Taking collections on days besides the first day of the week.

5.   Bowing down before images.

6.   Praying through a mediator other than Jesus.

These and many other things are done regularly by honest, sincere people in at­tempts to worship God. Is such acceptable? Search your Bible and see if such are found in the New Testament. Jesus told the Sa­maritan woman worship had to be in spirit and in truth (John 4:24) in order for it to be acceptable. & [Via the Eastside Teacher]