THE GREATEST COMMANDMENTS

THE GREATEST COMMANDMENTS

 

I was sooo excited to become one of the shepherds in the Christmas play hosted in Hortonville, Wisconsin!! Who doesn’t love a good Christmas play with costumes and props!! Not only did I get to wield a large stick and wear the coolest of all costumes… I was the first of the biblical characters to come see baby Jesus! To top it off, ABSOLUTELY no speaking lines for this part … so I might have been the most enjoyable role to play as well!! 

To understand true love, we must first understand Sovereignty – God’s ultimate power, authority and control. God commands us to love him first with all our heart, soul, mind and strength… something that is quite impossible to do on our own strength. The religious leaders of Israel were keenly aware of the difficulties involved with keeping "good show" within their myriad of laws displaying external signs of obedience to God. However, God cares for the heart, the soul, the mind and our strength. Mark 12:28-34 reports the events of a scholarly scribe seeking to know the greatest of all the commandments. Which law… which rule is paramount? Which is the Greatest? Which is the most important to follow?

Here was the answer, '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

What does it mean to be “A Christian?” It means that we seek to love God perfectly. He is the source of our thoughts and words and actions and the core of our identity. Our emotions, our purpose and our energy are focused on our love toward Him. Yet how does this love look? It is a love of purpose and choice, being sacrificial and obedient. 

So what if I refuse to love God? What if I refuse to love others? Quite simply, this is what brings about eternal separation, judgment and punishment. It is not a threat, simply a promise. God will not share his glory with another. He is supreme... and we are not his equals. We can choose to love Him first and others second… but we cannot choose to only love ourselves. 

Although I did not fully understand at the time of this Christmas play, the shepherds did display true love… and perhaps it was partially why I was happy to portray one of them. They submitted their will and their purpose, choosing to leave their flocks by night... sacrificially coming to worship the newborn Messiah... out of obedience to the message proclaimed by the heavenly hosts … which in turn brought them joy and fulfillment beyond their wildest imagination.

TRAGICALLY A TRAVESTY... DO YOU LOVE DISHES TOO?

TRAGICALLY A TRAVESTY... DO YOU LOVE DISHES TOO?

It was a mistake. As you can clearly see… this picture exemplifies a very bleak pre-Jesus attitude. However this picture is just the precursor to the main event, a great mistake.  I think it is pretty obvious how “doing dishes” rates on the list of “fun” things to do in this picture!

This picture must have been taken shortly before my great faux pas. One day, while being tasked with these dreaded dishes… I voiced my frustration and complained that dishes were... (insert dramatic pause here)... "Women’s work.” You can imagine what happens next!

This slip of the tongue (and revealing of my heart) did not end so well. Of all the disciplinary action taken by my father … I can hardly remember any examples that were ever so swift. At the time, no punishment ever seemed harsher. I ended up doing ALL the dishes BY MYSELF for an entire week as discipline for my slip of the tongue.

Now that may seem like a light sentence now, but I HATED doing dishes, with a passion! So this was about the worst thing that could be done in terms of punishment! Never again should I consider myself above doing any task. However, more importantly, this situation revealed a heart condition that needed to be addressed. Did a week of dishes instantaneously fix it? Not really, but it did help me begin to question the condition of my heart.

Romans 12:3 reminds us:

“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you."

How often do I think of myself more highly than I ought to? It is selfish. It reveals a conceited heart. It does not ooze true love. In fact, such an attitude is despised and hated. Hypocrites are not loving! Let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. None of us are above an introspective life. Yet often we are blind to our own shortcomings. How can we know? Who can tell us?

Many people can train the actions... but only God can change the heart. Perhaps this story should have been titled "Train vs. Change - Who Can Fix A Broken Heart?" because that seems to be the lingering question. Anyone can do dishes... even train themselves to do their dishes with a smile, yet that can hardly be considered an authentic change of heart.

The most difficult part is belief. God alone enables our ability to believe. John Chapter 3 discusses belief. When we believe and accept God's gracious gift of salvation... only then can we experience this change of heart. That requires faith ... which is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you cannot see. Living out true authentic love, requires more than just doing the dishes... it requires a change of heart. Not simply a trained heart... but a changed heart.

GATOR GRIPPIN'

Gator Grippin' - A Profound Experience

Gator Grippin has got to be outlawed by now... I mean seriously?!?! This is not your everyday next door neighbor's finger nawing poodle, the stakes are just a tinsy bit higher here. Tiny fingers and little boys wrists are at stake!

Surprisingly, there were only a few simple instructions on how to hold this baby alligator.  

Number 1: "Hold it with both hands... so it can't get away." (Behind the head & at the tail) 
Number 2: "DON'T let go."

A Gator this size can do quite a bit of damage. They look small, even arguably cute with that sly grin... but they have enough bite to take off a hand (or at least do permanent damage)! It requires a good grip... you hold on for dear life!

Now holding a gator may seem like a stretch in describing love... but the grip is the key. A strong hold is critical. A baby gator is something so small yet so deadly if we are casual and carefree with how we handle it! James speaks of controlling the tongue with similar urgency (James 3) 

“For we all stumble in many ways.  If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.  Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.  Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.  So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.”

“See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.  For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.  But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.”

If even a gator can be tamed, but not the tongue ... how much more seriously should our effort be to consider what we say? As my sister once reminded, "There is a reason we have two ears but only one mouth." Love is a condition of the heart... and what a person says is a clear reflection of that which is within that heart. True love restrains that "little monster" of a tongue ... especially when it seems easier or even necessary to let it run wild! 

LOVE IS NOT A STINKER

It is very likely that you have met this Christmas brat before. Undoubtedly, many Christmas celebrations have had to deal with this little monster.

In the picture above we see that a picture really does speak a thousand words... so I will skip those words and give only the appropriate history for context. For one child, Christmas and birthday celebations overlapped... doubled... and so did the gifts received. Of course, someone would have to feel this was unfair. Can you guess who?

Envy and jealousy are powerful emotions... and very destructive. They reveal a covetous human sinful nature that is anything but loving.

Love is not a stinker. "... it does not envy..." according to Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Furthermore, we should also "Live in harmony with one another." according to Romans 12:16

ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A LAWNMOWER ... THEN ... IT DIED.

The experience could have been traumatic for an 11-year-old boy. The John Deere self-propelled grass-cutting machine was a critical asset ... a cornerstone perhaps ... for a young boy’s newly emerging grass-cutting business. For many years this trusty two-stroke machine had represented quality. The mower had been recently passed down as a gift to a son who was entrusted to keep the machine in good repair… now it simply would not start (and it was not for want of a "tired arm" pulling the start cord).

(little sister posing with beloved John Deere mower)

What would Dad say when he found out why it would not start?

There was no way to buy a new one. The old mower could not be fixed nor could it be pushed into the garage to pretend as if nothing ever happened … there were numerous clients (neighbors) with fast growing grass that would eventually need to be cut! Yes, sooner or later the facts would be faced and this adolescent blunder dealt with.

Apparently if you don’t add oil to the gasoline in a two-stroke machine… eventually you seize the block. Metal on metal creates some impressive heat without proper lubrication… but that was nothing like the heat this kid was going to receive from his dad about the matter! In a surprising turn of events, a larger more important lesson was learned – a lesson on true love… about mercy and grace.

Have you ever met anyone who was quick to listen, slow to speak and even slower to become angry? James 1:19-20 reminds us that man’s anger does not bring about the kind of life that God desires.

Someone not easily offended is commended.

On that very ominous day, both grace and mercy were personally experienced ... and their meanings better understood. Definition 1 - Grace: when you receive a gift you do not deserve. Definition 2 - Mercy: when you do NOT receive that which you truly deserve (like punishment).

Not being punished for destroying the $300 lawnmower was merciful. Receiving the gift of a replacement "walk behind" Murray mower (to cover my blunder) was gracious… however, it did not seem a very worthy gift at first. Is it even possible to entertain the idea that a person could be unhappy about such a gracious act of love? Even angry in return? You see it was MORE WORK!! It had to be PUSHED UP hills (no longer self-propelled)!! How ungrateful was such an attitude!! But that attitude was short-lived. A few weeks of sore muscles and soon both body and heart were re-conditioned, renewed, strengthened to be far better than before. Lesson learned...

1 Cor. 13:5 – Love Is Not Easily Angered

DOG… A MAN'S BEST FRIEND

Anyone who has encountered the wonderful opportunity to experience the “master & faithful sidekick” relationship with a dog of his or her own simply cannot deny truth in this statement: 

“Dog – A Man’s Best Friend.”

Such a dog is not so rare. Perhaps you have one of your own. Why does it seem that the dog is such an unfailing, faithful companion? Perhaps not unfailing, yet always quick to recover from a mistake. Why must every greeting be extraneous? What on earth makes them love that bone or ball sooooo much (other than peanut butter)! How is it that affection is always right around the corner, no matter the scolding or rebuke?

It would be a mistake to focus the entire attention on the dogs themselves. The true reasons extend far beyond mere instincts and behaviors. God has created many things, which have been designed to be reminders for us. Contrary to much popular belief, I am quite certain that creation is more than a simple reminder of God’s character or his essence. The purpose of creation far exceeds these. To worship the creation is not the point... but it does point us to the Creator. We are to view all of God's creation as a reflection of His commands (spoken in His written Word). 

When I see a dog, I can not help but be reminded of an element of God's love. In fact, every time I see this picture of Gus (my dog… look above… isn’t he cute… I am getting off track lol!) it is a gentle reminder to have an enduring love. To love other people with a true love that never fails.

1 Cor. 13:8 – Love Never Fails.

~BLIZZARDS & BABIES~

It was a cold harsh November day in the winter of 1985 … rather it was commonly

referred to as the Blizzard of 85’ A very pregnant wife and quite concerned husband

were very impetuously penetrating towering snow banks and the associated drifts

through seemingly narrower and narrower streets as they made their way toward Appleton Medical center in Appleton, Wisconsin. The matter was quite serious, for her

water had broken quite some time ago and her contractions were very close together.

Some of the roads seemed impassable, yet they somehow managed to press on in the

blue GMC pickup truck. The ballast of weighty sand over the rear axle used for traction,

did not seem nearly enough for today’s adventure. One final hurdle … the parking lot

entrance to the hospital had been plowed shut. Accelerator down and vehicle pointed

straight towards the fresh snow bank, they skid their way towards the emergency

room without a second thought, nearly getting stuck.

After a quick inspection, the attending ER staff quickly noted that the wife was in no

condition to walk to the delivery room. They forced her to sit in a wheel chair. She

protested … informing the staff that “ he’s coming ” and decided to prop her body

weight up using her elbows, with a few bruises and very sore arms to prove it later. As

the couple took a seemingly everlasting ride up the elevator little did they realize how

quickly time would soon pass. Very soon after, a new life entered the world. That was

me.

Love is not self- seeking (1 Cor. 13:5). It is affirmed in word but displayed by action.

The love of a mother for her children extends beyond mere affection. Her sacrifice is

what sets her apart. " Thanks Mom" is not nearly enough to express my gratitude for

her dedication and determination from day one ... and this is just the beginning of many

people who have taught me love.