Love Makes Time for Others..Craig Denison Ministries

 Love Makes Time for Others

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

James 2:26 tells us, “Faith apart from works is dead.” If we are going to experience the fullness of life offered to us through our faith we must be those who put our words into action. We must not profess to love God on Sundays and live as if he isn’t present, real, or good on Monday. May your faith come alive this week as you seek to be a doer of the word.

Scripture: “Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.” Luke 8:40-42

Devotional:

There’s a story in Luke 8:40-42, 49-56 that gives us insight into Jesus’s love for those in need. Luke writes,

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. . . While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Jesus made time for those in need. He wasn’t too busy to leave what he was doing, which happened to be ministering to a large group of people, to make time for a single girl. Jesus displayed the heart of the Father in going after the one. Throughout his ministry, Jesus consistently made time for people around him. Whether it was eating a meal with his disciples, going to the house of Zacchaeus, or spending time with little children, Jesus was there for those around him.

God is the same way with you and me today. Through the death of Jesus we have been given an opportunity to have conversation with God all day, every day. God’s desire is to make time for us. He counts our needs as important. Jesus’s ministry exemplified God’s heart to make time for his children.

This week as we are looking at what it means to not only be a hearer of God’s word but a doer,  let’s ask God how we could be more like Jesus. In what ways could you make time for those around you today? Will you choose to spend time with someone in need even if it doesn’t fit in your schedule? Will you put those around you above yourself? If you will choose to be a doer of God’s word today, you will experience the joy of not living just for your own goals and pursuits, but for the benefit of others around you. Spend some time with God in prayer today, and ask him to help you know when and how to make time for those around you in need.

Guided Prayer:

1. Reflect on Jesus’s heart to make time for those in need. Choose to make Jesus your example.

“While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, ‘Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.’ But Jesus on hearing this answered him, ‘Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well’ And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child.” Luke 8:49-51

2. Who needs you to make time for them? Ask God to bring someone to mind you can love well today.

3. How can you spend time with someone in need today? How could you make time to listen to, help, or simply be there for someone?

Love is powerful. It has the power to lead someone to Jesus, heal a wounded heart, and even help someone on the path to restored relationship with God. It’s worth your effort to make time for those around you today. Jesus never wasted a minute. He did everything in perfect accordance with the Father’s will. You won’t be missing out if you make time for someone today. Follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit as you seek to love others well.

Extended Reading: Luke 19

How Do You Define Love?..Lynette Kittle

 How Do You Define Love?

By Lynette Kittle

“Do everything in love” - 1 Corinthians 16:14

What does it mean to do everything in love? Is that even possible? If so, what does that look like, and how do we live it out in our lives? Because God is love (1 John 4:8), the devil works overtime to distort the meaning of love by twisting it, confusing it, mixing it up, and dwindling it down to a sporadic feeling that comes and goes with a whim.

Love’s Definition
God is love, so the only way to really define and understand what love is, and how to do everything in love, requires looking at how God defines it. The following are seven ways.

1. Love reaches out first. As God demonstrated to us, love doesn’t wait to be invited before it steps out first. “We love because He first loved us”(1 John 4:19).

2. Love is a decision. Love is not an uncontrollable feeling that overwhelms us to where we can’t resist. The saying “You don’t choose who you love” is just not true.

We absolutely choose whom to love. Real love is a purposeful choice we make. As John 3:16 explains, God chose to love us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

3. Love sacrifices. Most people are looking for easy love where nothing is required of them but to be loved. But real love sacrifices for the benefit of the ones we love. 

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1,2).

4. Love gives. As God has shown us by giving us Jesus, loves gives and keeps giving, as 1 John 4:9 explains, “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.”

As well, Ephesians 1:3 describes, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” 

5. Love covers sin. Most of us don’t truly understand how love works so powerfully in our lives. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins”(1 Peter 4:8).

6. Love forgives. Evidence of real love is forgiveness. Absence or lack of forgiveness reveals an unloving heart. Luke 7:47 explains, “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Being willing to forgive reveals how much of God’s forgiveness we have received ourselves. A lack of it indicates a heart that most likely has not received the fullness of His forgiveness in our own lives.

Like Ephesians 4:32 reminds us, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” As well, Colossians 3:13 says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Many miss that forgiving others is connected to our receiving God’s forgiveness. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).

7. Love never fails. As 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 explains, in every situation, love doesn’t ever fail. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Intersecting Faith and Life:
How does your definition of love line up with God’s description? If it doesn’t seem to match up, ask God to help you realign your view and understanding with His word.

A Prayer to Prepare Our Hearts to Serve Others..Lynette Kittle

 A Prayer to Prepare Our Hearts to Serve Others

By Lynette Kittle

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” - Philippians 2:6-7

Many Christians look for places and ways to serve others, wanting to help the less fortunate and needy in the world, often finding opportunities in their own communities and close to home. Sadly, though, sometimes the same believers looking for ways to serve outside their homes are unwilling to serve within them, but serving at home is where the real test of the heart occurs. At home, it’s easy to see our family members as quite capable of taking care of themselves. Consequently, we often miss out on opportunities to serve them, not realizing how important it is to serve each other in our own homes.  

Most of us often learn how to serve others by watching those close to us serve. As neighbors, friends, co-workers, family members, and especially as parents, we have countless opportunities to model serving one another and, in the process, to encourage and inspire others to serve each other.

Learning to Serve Others by Example
Growing up, my Dad served our family in so many ways, along with working full-time and providing for us. Often, he would make us special individual salads, bring home surprises for us, fix items for us, take us wherever we needed to go, and so much more--all ways of serving others that helped us experience and learn from his example in how to do the same. Even though he was the head of the household, served as pastor, and held important positions in the community, he didn’t see himself as above serving others. Even when we would be out at a restaurant, if he saw the servers were busy, he’d pick up the coffee pot and walk around filling up customers’ coffee cups. Fortunately, the eatery didn’t mind him helping out and appreciated his selfless assistance, even though, at times, as kids, we would try to hide, giggling and feeling embarrassed by his stepping in uninvited to serve.

Jesus, Our Example in How to Serve Others
Often, we as Christians overlook how Jesus came as our example in how to serve one another. Even though He was fully God and fully man, He didn’t use His divine nature as an excuse to avoid serving others on earth. As our example, Jesus served in complete obedience to the will of God, His Father. “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). Jesus’ willingness to submit to God by serving us brought us Salvation. Matthew 20:28 explains how, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Like Isaiah 42:1 prophesied, “Here is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.”

Let’s pray:

Dear Father,
Thank you for giving us Jesus, Your only Son, to fulfill Your will on earth. Because He came and emptied Himself out for us, coming in human form as a servant, we have Salvation and eternal life through His selfless obedience to You. Forgive us for the opportunities we’ve let slip by to serve others in obedience to Your Word. Cleanse us from self-centeredness, pride, and arrogance, and forgive us for the times we have sought to be served over serving You and each other. Soften our hearts, Lord, to be tender toward You and toward each other. Prepare our hearts and minds to be willing to serve one another, ready and available, even when it’s inconvenient, uncomfortable, or costly to us.
In Jesus’ name, Amen

The Lenten Journey..Sarah Phillips

 The Lenten Journey

by Sarah Phillips

As they went out, they came upon a man of Cyre'ne, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry his cross. Matthew 27:32

I have to confess, Lent is my least favorite liturgical season. Many have written beautiful reflections on this season and the many opportunities for spiritual growth it holds. I couldn't agree more. But the reason this season is often so fruitful can be attributed to one overarching theme: sacrifice.

Lent is filled to the brim with sacrifice. The point, of course, is to reflect on Christ's sacrifice, to feel just a little bit of the pain he felt, and to draw closer to God as we clear out the clutter of our comfortable lives. Naturally, this isn't easy. Sacrifice requires toleration for pain. Sacrifice requires thinking beyond yourself and your wants. Sacrifice demands discipline. Sacrifice isn't fun.

Can't it just be Christmas year round?

Still, part of me is relieved that Lent has arrived. Deep down, far below my selfish nature, exists a yearning to cast off the suffocating materialism and shallowness that so often characterizes modern, American life. Deep down, my spirit desires reconciliation with the living God. Deep down, my soul is sick from spiritual fluff and wants something deeper, meatier.

Left to my own devices, those yearnings would probably go ignored, at least for long stretches of time. I wouldn't have the strength to give up the comforts of my life to hear God's voice a little more clearly. Thanks to the Lenten journey, when we travel the road of sacrifice with fellow believers, my weak nature is compelled to take action, to dig deeper, and to follow through with commitments.

Cardinal Newman once said, "We all suffer for each other, and gain by each other's suffering; for man never stands alone here, though he will stand alone hereafter; but here he is a social being, and goes forward to his long home as one of a large company."

So often I treat faith in God as a private matter, as a path I can walk by myself. In doing this, I confuse individuality with isolation. I ignore the scriptural truth that God created us for Him -- and one another. Year after year, Lent pulls the curtain back on this illusion as I draw unusual strength from the universal Church - from the community fasting, the special Friday prayer gatherings, and even the long lines to the confessional.

What a merciful God; he does not ask us to journey alone. Even the simple, friendly question, "What are you giving up for Lent?" jolts me out of my usual routine, forcing me to ponder where I'm at spiritually and what kind of fast would be appropriate this year. And when I feel like giving up and returning to the easy life, images of fellow believers enduring hardships (voluntary or involuntary) readily float to the surface of my thoughts during the Lenten season.

I can't lie - when Easter arrives, I am always relieved. Finally, a little rejoicing! But the rejoicing wouldn't be as sweet if I hadn't been compelled to walk the way of the Cross first. And the jubilation is even more poignant given that the very people I sit next to on Easter morning are the same ones that walked with me through the darker days of Lent.

Intersecting Faith & Life:  "Nothing, how little so ever it be, that is suffered for God's sake, can pass without merit in the sight of God." ~ Thomas a Kempis. What area of your spiritual walk would benefit from a little sacrifice? If you haven't already, connect with a community of believers where you can draw the strength needed to grow in your faith.

Further Reading

Luke 4:1-13