May 14, 2020 – Love

LynnDaily Devotion

What is love? Everybody wants it, but very few people know what it is. There are very few examples of love in our “me-first” society. That’s one of the reasons we look to Jesus. He is the perfect example of love. And when we learn about love from Jesus, we learn that love is not about warm and fuzzy feelings (although it can produce them) and doesn’t mean giving people what they want (most people want selfish and sinful things). In fact, love is the opposite of “what do I want.” Love is about sacrifice.

We see love most clearly demonstrated on the cross of Christ. Jesus didn’t lay down his life because it made him feel warm and fuzzy. Jesus didn’t go to the cross because that’s what people wanted. Jesus gave up his life because that is what we needed. It didn’t help Jesus at all. It didn’t save him or make him more welcome in heaven. It didn’t make him wealthier or more powerful or more comfortable. It didn’t make his life more convenient. There was nothing in it for him except us.

That’s love. And love is more than words. Love motivates us to sacrifice for each other. We want to help. We have to do something. That’s what love does.

Suppose a small child is about to wander out into a busy street. What would a loving parent do? Would they just tell the child that it’s not a good idea? Would they watch to see what happens? Would they shake their heads and wring their hands and complain about disobedient children?

Or would they move to rescue them? Even though it makes their life less convenient—even though it costs them something—even though it might put their own life in danger. They would run to save them. That’s what love does.

God tells us that faith causes us to love each other. It makes us less worried about ourselves and more interested in helping others. Remember how Cain was jealous that God accepted Abel’s offering? Love changes that. Instead of being envious of someone’s success or good fortune, love leads us to celebrate with them! Jealousy is focused inward. Love is focused outward.

God tells us that, out of love, we will lay down our lives for each other. We will share our time and energy and possessions with each other. Love is active. When we love someone, we want to help them. We have to help! That’s what love does.

1 John 3:13–18 (EHV)

13Do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. 14We know that we have crossed over from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. 15Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. 16This is how we have come to know love: Jesus laid down his life for us. And we also should lay down our lives for our brothers. 17Whoever has worldly wealth and sees his brother in need but closes his heart against him—how can God’s love remain in him? 18Dear children, let us love not only with word or with our tongue, but also in action and truth.

 

God bless you,

Pastor Tesch

With the Stay-At-Home orders struck down by the state Supreme Court, we have more options open to us for worship. Pray for our council as we decide the best and safest way to worship the Lord our God. The virus hasn’t gone away, so this calls for wisdom and patience.

I’ll let you know more when the plans are made.

Our food pantry is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-noon. If you or someone you know could benefit, please come! And get the word out!

Check out our new website! It’s the same address trinitymarinette.com. Let us know what you think! It will always be a work in progress, so let us know how we can make it better. Our website is our front door, so we want to make it welcoming!

If you have some pictures you are willing to share in our worship video on Sunday, please send them in! It’s always wonderful to see the faces of our Trinity family.

Here’s this week’s bulletin announcements: 2020-05-10-Announcements Easter 5.pdf

If you know of someone who would like the service on DVD or the audio on CD, please let us know.

If you would like to support the Lord’s work at Trinity, you may contribute at  trinitymarinette.com/contribute or you can mail it to

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

1501 Thomas St.

Marinette, WI 54143