February 10, 2023 — “How to Fertilize Love”

 “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“It’s important to look at the context of these verses on love. A major theme of this letter Paul writes to the church at Corinth is unity. There are tons of problems happening within the church due to divisive spirits and selfish attitudes. Basically, Christians acting in an un-loving manner toward each other. Paul’s heart is that, “there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Cor. 1:10). And oh, how we Christians struggle with this concept today. Fights, drama, disagreements… they are a lot more frequent than we’d like to admit. But at our core, I think each of us knows we are made to be loving. That’s why the outcry is so strong when we hear of any violent act in our world – we know it goes against our very nature.” (healthychristianhome.com)

Is it possible to love all people the same? I would say, this is not possible. As we read the scriptures, it seems that even Jesus liked some of his disciples more than others. There are examples where we see Jesus is with only three or four of his disciples—Peter, Andrew, James, and John. These were seemingly the big four disciples – the ones Jesus called on more often than others. There was also the disciple, from John’s Gospel, whom we are told is the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” If love for our brothers and sisters were simply dependent on the Holy Spirit, then, possibly we might love all the same; but love depends to a great extent on other human things as well. Jesus may have found some of his disciples more lovable because of their nature – just the same way that we love those most who seem to us most lovable. We are drawn most to those whose dispositions and characters and interests appeal most strongly to us.

Of course, there is danger of a twofold nature as we seek to love people. On the one hand, we are liable to love some so much that we become partial towards them to such an extent that others will feel that we do not value them as we should. On the other hand, there is danger of looking at the unlovable qualities of others until we lose sight of the good that is in them, and grow prejudiced against them until it becomes hard to feel the proper love.

What we need to remember is, if we are to seek to be loving and to love all people, then we need to stop looking at the things that we find unlovable, and instead try to focus on the good things, the noble qualities of each person. Keep them in mind, and work on forgetting the faults and failings and unlovely traits. Begin to show special kindness, make it a point to speak to the loveable and the unlovable, and show an interest in them. Watch for a chance to do something helpful; go out of your way to do them favors. Let us love each other knowing Christ died for all people.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, what gives us hope for learning to love all people is to remember that Jesus didn’t die for just the loveable folk – he died for all people. Today give me the courage to learn to love the unlovable. Amen.

Pastor Dave

February 9, 2023 — “Doubts, or Faith?”

“And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the Israelites in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us; it flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Yet the people who live in the land are strong, and the towns are fortified and very large; and besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the land of the Negeb; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea, and along the Jordan.” But Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against this people, for they are stronger than we.” So they brought to the Israelites an unfavorable report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land that we have gone through as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people that we saw in it are of great size. There we saw the Nephilim (the Anakites come from the Nephilim); and to ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.” Numbers 13:26-33

“It’s always a possibility when you realize that the future is uncertain and good things never come without a struggle. That’s why I think it’s helpful to look at this passage and learn from it. There are three truths I want you to see. First, anything can happen. Life is filled with uncertainty. Second, nothing can happen that God can’t use. And finally, because of God, there’s no reason to be afraid of tomorrow! Let’s look at each of these truths more closely.” (Preaching.com)

The Israelites had crossed the Red Sea. Their enemies, the Egyptians had been destroyed behind them. They had come at last almost to the borders of the Promised Land. Here the people camped while the spies went to see the country. They passed through it and viewed the land and the people, and presently came back with their report. It was a wonderful land — a land flowing with milk and honey. The samples of the fruit they brought back were large and plentiful. Of course, the people were at once very eager to possess such a land, but the questions and the doubts soon came to possess them: “Are we able to do so?  What kind of people are they over there? Are they good fighters? Are they courageous? Do we have what it takes to defeat them?”

There were those among the people who wanted to move forward – and there were those among the people who doubted that this would be a good idea. “What was behind their eyes—doubts, or faith?” In the end, the doubts won out – and the people were destined to wander for many years until two more generations were born to these wanderers – they would be the ones to enter the promised land. That is the thing that really counts: do we doubt the power of G-d? Or will we trust the Lord to lead us and guide us.  We need to get rid of our doubts, look to G-d, and learn to trust with hearts of faith.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, thank you for your word Jesus, loaded with grace and truth. Help us to hear your word and trust your guidance. Help us to grow through it and to have the faith of Caleb — to encourage the people of God in difficult times. Amen!

Pastor Dave