Bonds of Love

Dear Brethren,

Learning to create bonds of love is probably the greatest challenge facing us today. God formed the human family. It provided a habitat in which children were to be nurtured and loved from the day they were born. Some of us were blessed to grow up as children being loved and having our needs provided by family and friends. In that protected environment, we were trained and prepared for lives as adults; we were given opportunities to learn, to work, and even to be respected for our accomplishments, our talents, and in our careers.

We have had so many blessings handed to us that we can easily slip into the mindset of expecting more and more from others. If we are not alert, we can become spiritually spoiled. We expect teachers to praise us and to guide us. We expect our employers to give us opportunities. We expect our children to honor us. We expect the church and the ministry to nurture and feed us. That is all as it should be, and yet, there is the ever present danger that we could begin to take the process for granted. We might say to ourselves that it is only natural that blessings should abound for us because we are living righteous lives. We might even begin to "bless ourselves" instead of waiting on God. As Christians, we have to be especially diligent not to adopt an “I deserve it” attitude, or a “what’s in it for me?” attitude.

Of course, that attitude of selfishness is the exact opposite of God’s own Spirit of love. God wants us to learn to love as He loves. Jesus Christ Himself told the disciples, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another.” (John 13:34-35) We must grow beyond just expecting others to do for us, and make "doing for others" the priority in our lives. To become like God, we must learn to love as God loves.

"Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this [love our neighbor], knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." (Romans 13:10-11)

As we grow in spiritual maturity, we learn to view ourselves more and more as God sees us. We no longer justify ourselves - but ask to be justified by the blood of Jesus Christ. Praying for others is the first step in learning to love them. Praying for others is one way to serve them. “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have served the needs of the saints, and do serve.”  (Hebrews 6:10)

It is easy to say, "O Lord bless and heal them." Let us go beyond just praying for God's called out ones, or for just the persons mentioned in the prayer announcements. Reach out and interact with them. Make sure that they will be in God's eternal kingdom with us. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."  (Galatians 6:10)

Brethren, time is short. Restoring the broken bonds of love is the sacrifice of laying down our lives. God has made it possible for those of us with His Spirit to carry out His will. We must present to the world this example of unity and oneness that Jesus Christ desires. Jesus is serious about our serving each other. “The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent bonds of love among yourselves: for this love shall cover the multitude of sins.”  (1Peter 4:7-8)

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Sermon:  "Bonds of Love"

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