May 27, 2015

“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” Matthew 10:40-42

“Whether we are sick or healthy, lowly or powerful, poor or rich, base or honorable, hungry or filled, let us do all things in the name of the Lord with patience….Then will be fulfilled that word of Scripture, “All things work together for good for those who love G*d” (Romans 8:28) There is a story about John the Evangelist when he was a very old man living in Ephesus. He was so weak that his disciples could hardly carry him to church and he had difficulty speaking several words together in a connected thought. It became his practice to utter nothing except this simple sentence, “My little children, love each other.” “…they asked him “Master, why do you always say this?” He answered…”Because this is the Lord’s command. If that alone is done, it is enough.” Jerome (340 – 420) “For All The Saints” volume IV (p. 30-31)

How do you suppose we are to live out the sentence, “My little children, love each other”? What do you think counts as “love of your neighbor?” How would you show this love? How do you show this love? We could turn to 1 John 3:18 that says, “Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” We can’t just say we should do more to show our love, we need to put those words into action. It is one thing to say to someone, “I will pray for you.” It is another to sit with someone and pray with them.

When Paul says “All things work together for good for those who love G*d”, he is saying that those who love G*d look to do G*d’s will, which is to love each other, and to love G*d. If we love G*d, we can do whatever we want – for whatever we want to do is to love G*d — and then all we do will be formed by this love of and for G*d.

Pastor Dave