The enemy’s two primary tactics are ideas and isolation. If he can get you alone mulling over an idea, you’re in trouble. Why mention that right off the bat? Because that’s what’s happening right now. The enemy is a fear-monger. He slings fear around like a pulsating sprinkler. Just when you’re starting to feel good again, that thing comes whipping back around to douse you in another layer of fear.
Case-in-point: the corona virus. Now, you should know that I grew up in the midwest but relocated to the northwest about 20 years ago. Growing up in the midwest, we dealt with snow, and especially in college I spent a lot of time driving in it. While you might think the northwest would get a lot of snow, the valley floor, which is where Portland and Vancouver are, doesn’t get much because of our proximity to the Ocean. So, when the weathermen predict snow, people go crazy and rush to the store to buy up all the tater tots. Then it usually doesn’t snow, or doesn’t snow as much as was predicted and people feel foolish.
Last week, our entire country went crazy about the corona virus. People bought up all the hand sanitizer, cleaning product and stock piled toilet paper and water. I think we’ve been watching a little too much of the Walking Dead. And what’s with the water? Is the virus going to get in our water supply or something? Or were people really worried that civilization was going to come crashing down?
What did we do as a result of the fear surrounding the virus? Well, the University of Washington cancelled in person classes until the end of the month. South by Southwest was cancelled. All across the country, events are being cancelled because of fear of the virus. Our food pantry has had to come up with a plan to deal with the spread of the virus. We have never had to talk about what we do to prevent the spread of the flu or the common cold. But, now we have talked about when we may need to shut down for a time.
The enemy’s two primary tactic are ideas and isolation. Because we’re terrified of the idea of the corona virus, we’re isolating ourselves.
This comes at a time when we’re already the most isolated we have ever been as a society. We have already withdrawn from many social norms to hibernate in front of our Netflix distribution devices, those things that used to be called Television. We’re consumed with consuming our Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Disney plus content at the expense of real-life, face to face, human to human interaction.
As we’re talking about how love has to go beyond possession to being a person of provision, today we’re talking about going beyond performance to presence.
In the world today and in the church we have reduced fellowship and community to a set of tasks that must be performed. We go to church, we go to small group, we serve with this ministry, etc. We go and perform a certain function then we go home. We show up late or at best right on time, we have to leave early because we have to get the kids to bed, finish up homework and we have this big project that is due tomorrow. We don’t have time to dwell with one another in love.
But dwelling, abiding, remaining, residing in love takes time. The person of love abides. That’s what God does in us. God does not treat us like an activity that has to be performed. He abides in us. God’s Spirit is present in us. 1 Jn 4:13, 15 – “By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” Paul says in 1 Cor 6:19-20 – “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
Love abides. God’s love for us was not only the cross, God’s love for us is also His presence. The cross made the presence possible. The cross dealt with the problem that kept us from God’s presence. But because of God’s love, God’s love abides in us.
1 Jn 4:16 “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
We can only become love because God is present in us. We can become love because God’s love is flowing through us in the form of His Spirit. That’s how God loves us, by abiding in us. We can’t become love unless we abide in God’s presence. We have to dwell, reside, remain and live in the presence of God. How do we do that?
Of course we should pray, read our Bibles and meditate. But, the way to spend more time in the presence of God is to spend more time with people who are carrying the presence of God. When we are together in sacrificial community with brothers and sisters in Christ, we are in the presence of God. And when we dwell, reside, remain, live in that, we stand a better chance at becoming love. When we treat it like a task to be performed we miss out on it all. When we are patient and willing to wait and linger with one another, God can do amazing things.
Love must go beyond performance to presence. It’s going to be hard to become love if we don’t dwell in the presence of it. It’s going to be hard to love someone if we’re not in their presence. It’s going to be hard to experience and feel God’s love if we’re not where it can be found.
Like we talked about yesterday, the presence of sacrificial love is the evidence of the presence of God. When we are living in the flow of God’s love, our love for one another will look like the love God displayed for us-a love that gives. This kind of love is the greatest evidence of God. Yes, we want to see God move in power and see people who are passionate about following Jesus. But, as we read in 1 For 13, Love remains. Love abides. Love Endures.
I’ve been saying lately that we have to start saying no to other things so we can start saying yes to church things. The early church devoted themselves to one another. This last week I read an article about how church should be our excuse for missing everything else. And yesterday, I know that attendance in many churches was down for fear of the corona virus. Don’t get me wrong, some have a legitimate reason for isolation for health reasons. Most of us don’t. This is a tactic of the enemy to drive us into further isolation. The pulsating sprinkler of fear has been on overdrive the last couple of weeks. And it’s working, because we’re letting it.
And the corona virus isn’t really to blame, and I’m not really even talking about church attendance. My thoughts about that are pretty clear. What I’m talking about is devotion. Devotion isn’t showing up at a service once a week when it’s convenient. The word for devotion in Acts 2:42 means “to be devoted or constant to…be steadfastly attentive unto, give unremitting care to, continue all the time in a place, to persevere and not to faint, show one’s self courageous for, be in constant readiness for.”
The earliest manifestation of the body of Christ on the earth after God sent the Holy Spirit was absolute devotion to one another. This was the purest form of the church. This is what most pastors dream of for their churches. An unwavering devotion to one another, continuing in a place together, persevering through, being courageous for and constantly ready.
This love for one another is supposed to be our testimony to the unbelieving world. Those are Jesus’ words not mine. We are supposed to love one another in a radically different way than the world loves. The world, that system that is opposed to God and is under the control of the devil is supposed to be able to look on us as disciples and see something completely, utterly and entirely different.
But is love what they see? Sure, they may see a group of people who care and are kind. They will likely see people who want to give food to the hungry like we do at our church, give clothing and assistance wherever possible, pay off medical debts and give ridiculously generous tips to delivery drivers. All things our church and other churches have done. These things are good and they should be done. Jesus said in His sermon on the mount that people should see our good deeds and glorify the Father. There’s nothing wrong with doing these things.
But what about how we love one another. Let’s say we do one of those things that gets the attention of the unbelieving world around us. What will they see when they look into our churches? Will they see a group of people who radically, self-sacrificially love one another in inexplicable ways. Or will they see a bunch of people who live and do life pretty much like they do? This is the primary difference that is supposed to exist in the church. This is how we’re supposed to be different.
We aren’t just called to be different. We aren’t just commanded to be different. (Both of which are true. Jesus called us out of the darkness and into the light, Jesus commanded us to love one another.) The very nature of the love of God that is flowing through us is different. The nature of the love itself is not a taking love, it’s a giving love. Love that recklessly gives to brothers and sisters in Christ in time, resources, energy and life. It’s not a checklist. It’s not a duty that we perform. Love goes beyond performance to presence.
The way we love one another should be so different that an unbeliever would want to get in on that love. We should love one another in such a way that when we have their attention and they look behind the curtain, what they see is even more ridiculously radical than what drew them there in the first place.
That’s how Jesus loved us, that’s the love that Jesus wants to flow through us. Will we let it flow?
blake griffin red jersey adidas ultra boost uncaged blanc ltd cheetah moncler denim dress with white top adidas superstar 80s bianca clean kansas city royals baseball cap live
blturnerintl http://www.blturnerintl.com/
dallas cowboys pro moncler bomber jacket with fur pandora ariel shell charm moncler maire black red bottom nike air force 1 demar raptors jersey
bizopcntr http://www.bizopcntr.com/
oakley tinfoil carbon ferrari yellow moncler jacket moncler anges down jacket nike air odyssey bianca grigio elite charles woodson mens jersey oakland raiders 24 road white nfl moncler cap beige
gradingpen http://www.gradingpen.com/
indian headdress halloween womens north face 600 down jacket tab s 10.5 case coach brown leather backpack green black adidas eqt air max 2020 model
sureshbursu http://www.sureshbursu.com/
court coach backpack baker mayfield jersey t shirt for cheap red and black air uptempo birthday party look for mom moncler taschhorn moncler jacket kids
bcporter http://www.bcporter.net/
I actually wanted to post a quick comment in order to say thanks to you for the pleasant secrets you are giving on this site. My rather long internet lookup has at the end been paid with reputable concept to write about with my classmates and friends. I would repeat that many of us readers are truly endowed to live in a wonderful place with very many awesome professionals with good methods. I feel really lucky to have used your website and look forward to many more enjoyable minutes reading here. Thank you again for everything.
I as well as my friends have been checking out the excellent information and facts from your web site and instantly I had a terrible suspicion I had not thanked the blog owner for those tips. All the men became as a consequence stimulated to study them and have in effect very much been having fun with them. Thanks for truly being considerably thoughtful and for selecting this form of brilliant subjects millions of individuals are really desperate to know about. My very own honest apologies for not expressing appreciation to you earlier.
I truly wanted to compose a comment to express gratitude to you for these wonderful steps you are writing on this site. My considerable internet investigation has finally been rewarded with reasonable facts and strategies to go over with my classmates and friends. I would assume that most of us visitors actually are extremely blessed to exist in a wonderful website with many brilliant individuals with very helpful tactics. I feel rather grateful to have used your website page and look forward to tons of more amazing times reading here. Thanks once again for everything.
I and also my pals came looking at the best information and facts from your web page and so quickly came up with a terrible feeling I never expressed respect to you for those secrets. Most of the men are already absolutely excited to study them and have definitely been using these things. Thanks for really being so kind and then for picking out variety of extraordinary topics millions of individuals are really needing to learn about. Our sincere regret for not expressing gratitude to you sooner.
self portrait white lace panel midi dress
tekstrens http://www.tekstrens.com/
game victor cruz womens jersey new york giants 80 team road two tone nfl pandora clip charms minnesota twins fitted hat list 9mm new era seattle seahawks nfl sideline sport knit hat quiz jacquemus laurise dress new york mets floppy hat races las vegas
salankhan http://www.salankhan.com/
ray ban cats 5000 sunglass hut nike vapor untouchable limited miami heat purple shirt reebok classic zig kinetica edge whirlibird watch cap pandora christmas charms 2020 preview
milumba http://www.milumba.com/
Thanks a lot for providing individuals with remarkably remarkable possiblity to check tips from this site. It can be so useful and also packed with a good time for me and my office acquaintances to search your site at a minimum 3 times a week to study the new tips you have. And lastly, I’m so actually amazed concerning the brilliant points served by you. Some 4 facts in this post are indeed the most suitable we have ever had.
I must convey my appreciation for your kindness giving support to folks who should have assistance with in this matter. Your personal commitment to getting the solution up and down came to be really advantageous and has constantly encouraged somebody much like me to arrive at their dreams. Your new invaluable help and advice means a whole lot to me and even further to my fellow workers. Thank you; from all of us.
I definitely wanted to type a small note in order to appreciate you for some of the remarkable solutions you are giving at this site. My particularly long internet lookup has finally been recognized with awesome concept to share with my close friends. I ‘d claim that we visitors actually are undeniably blessed to be in a fine website with so many awesome people with useful guidelines. I feel extremely lucky to have used your entire web page and look forward to tons of more thrilling times reading here. Thanks again for everything.
wholesale nike air pro snapback oakley slippers ny rangers 2018 winter classic jersey moncler lappe superstar primeknit shoes adidas x 15.1 all green
bibliowine http://www.bibliowine.com/
personalised soccer shirts for cheap nashville predators bucket hat for cheap mens 2015 nike nfl san francisco 49ers t shirts 56 gwendoline christie emmy dress nike kobe venomenon 6 moncler acorus grey
friedads http://www.friedads.com/
air jordan 6 schwarz and white low new era chargers hat for cheap new adidas eqt support java jets fan gear baby girl ghagra choli design lime green red bottoms
lsdmuzic http://www.lsdmuzic.com/
Thank you a lot for giving everyone remarkably special opportunity to read articles and blog posts from this blog. It’s usually very awesome and also packed with fun for me personally and my office peers to search your blog at a minimum 3 times a week to read through the newest issues you will have. And indeed, I’m actually impressed with all the attractive tactics you give. Certain 4 areas in this posting are absolutely the most beneficial I’ve ever had.
I and also my pals happened to be examining the excellent secrets and techniques found on your web blog while all of the sudden I had an awful feeling I had not expressed respect to the blog owner for those techniques. The guys ended up as a consequence passionate to learn them and already have extremely been making the most of those things. Thanks for turning out to be considerably helpful and also for going for this form of great topics most people are really needing to be informed on. My very own honest apologies for not expressing gratitude to earlier.
I together with my guys have already been digesting the best tactics found on your web blog and so before long I got a terrible suspicion I never thanked the web site owner for them. All of the boys ended up consequently very interested to study them and now have actually been enjoying these things. Many thanks for truly being indeed accommodating and then for going for variety of remarkable areas millions of individuals are really eager to learn about. My sincere regret for not expressing gratitude to earlier.
arsenal soccer pants love tiffany bracelet light pink evening gown best slim iphone 11 pro case mizuno energy wave sky 4 lids army hat
shoop-parfum http://www.shoop-parfum.com/
moncler white windbreaker nike gris jaune air max thea trainers new urville moncler all red louboutin sneakers black white red nike kd 7 men adidas bounce flip flop
calaera http://www.calaera.net/
jordan xiv supreme nike mercurial superfly hvit and blue womens fox racing hats zombies pink dolphin waves hat tricks chelsea jersey nike sb zoom blazer mid sashiko mystic navy blanc
evpsistemas http://www.evpsistemas.com/
nba 2k20 new jerseys russell wilson grey jersey motel rocks milkmaid dress fake pink dolphin hats amazon soft womens graphic tees junior flat cap
hyo-kin http://www.hyo-kin.com/
how much do red bottoms cost nike air max 90 men grey white shoes moncler dixence jacket pink coach purse outlet the north face hyalite 550 fill power down jacket vintage green coach bag
lucianoluz http://www.lucianoluz.com/
real red bottom shoes vs fake the north face eco nuptse puffer jacket sneakers donna invernali greeley hat works straw hats wiretap2 0 rx
silifkeli http://www.silifkeli.com/
party city frozen costume phantom topo athletic nike w air max 98 premium north face himalayan 550 red bottom slides with spikes uhlsport goalkeeper shorts
netverka http://www.netverka.com/
I want to convey my appreciation for your kind-heartedness supporting men and women that require assistance with this important content. Your special dedication to passing the solution along became exceedingly powerful and have in most cases made associates just like me to arrive at their dreams. Your amazing valuable facts entails this much a person like me and even further to my peers. Thanks a ton; from each one of us.
I would like to show my affection for your kindness giving support to men and women who absolutely need assistance with the subject matter. Your very own dedication to getting the solution around ended up being unbelievably functional and has regularly made professionals just like me to realize their objectives. Your own valuable suggestions signifies a whole lot a person like me and even more to my colleagues. Regards; from all of us.
I precisely had to say thanks again. I am not sure the things that I could possibly have sorted out without the entire opinions revealed by you on such industry. It seemed to be a very distressing concern in my opinion, however , discovering the very well-written way you solved that forced me to weep with fulfillment. Extremely grateful for your service and thus have high hopes you find out what an amazing job you are always getting into instructing people today through the use of your site. Most probably you haven’t met all of us.
I intended to create you this very little note so as to give many thanks again regarding the breathtaking solutions you have documented on this site. This has been simply seriously generous of you to offer extensively just what a lot of people would have distributed for an e-book to generate some dough on their own, principally considering that you could possibly have tried it if you decided. Those ideas additionally worked as the easy way to be sure that other people online have similar zeal much like my own to figure out a lot more in respect of this condition. I’m sure there are thousands of more pleasant opportunities in the future for individuals that examine your blog post.
I needed to write you one very small note in order to say thanks a lot again on the precious principles you have shared in this case. It’s quite shockingly open-handed with you in giving without restraint all that a few people would have supplied as an e book to help make some cash for their own end, most notably considering that you could have tried it if you ever desired. These basics likewise acted like a great way to recognize that other people have similar keenness like mine to realize more concerning this issue. I believe there are some more pleasant sessions up front for people who scan your website.
I wish to express some appreciation to you just for rescuing me from this type of problem. Because of looking through the the web and meeting ideas which are not pleasant, I figured my life was done. Living without the presence of solutions to the problems you have fixed as a result of your good website is a serious case, and the ones that could have badly affected my entire career if I hadn’t encountered your site. Your personal skills and kindness in taking care of the whole lot was priceless. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I had not come upon such a thing like this. I can at this moment look forward to my future. Thanks a lot very much for the high quality and amazing help. I will not hesitate to endorse your blog post to anybody who needs assistance on this problem.
I must convey my love for your kindness for those individuals that really want guidance on this issue. Your real dedication to getting the solution throughout was particularly practical and have continuously encouraged regular people just like me to achieve their desired goals. Your amazing warm and friendly guideline entails this much a person like me and further more to my office workers. Regards; from each one of us.
I definitely wanted to construct a quick note so as to express gratitude to you for some of the unique facts you are posting on this site. My time intensive internet search has at the end of the day been rewarded with reputable suggestions to exchange with my family members. I ‘d say that we visitors actually are very lucky to exist in a good network with many special people with beneficial ideas. I feel rather fortunate to have discovered your entire website and look forward to really more entertaining minutes reading here. Thanks a lot again for a lot of things.
new england revolution home jersey for cheap jordan 14 schwarz and carolina blau lilly pulitzer rejina dress iphone 8 plus case heavy duty christening outfit for guest cincinnati reds crochet hat xl
fricade http://www.fricade.com/
black white concord 11 air jordan 3 size 9 san francisco giants hat orange bill switzerland pandora cross charm mamba air force 1 barbour wax gilet womens
lumeraserum http://www.lumeraserum.com/
I wish to show my thanks to you for bailing me out of this predicament. As a result of looking through the internet and getting advice which are not helpful, I believed my entire life was well over. Being alive devoid of the approaches to the issues you have resolved all through this post is a serious case, as well as ones which could have negatively affected my career if I had not encountered your site. Your natural talent and kindness in controlling all the things was priceless. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t come upon such a solution like this. It’s possible to at this point look forward to my future. Thank you so much for your expert and effective help. I will not be reluctant to propose your web page to anyone who needs care on this situation.
I have to convey my gratitude for your kind-heartedness giving support to people that have the need for help on this particular theme. Your special commitment to passing the solution around has been astonishingly productive and have consistently helped some individuals much like me to get to their objectives. The important hints and tips signifies a lot a person like me and additionally to my office workers. Thanks a ton; from everyone of us.
I and also my buddies were found to be reviewing the great hints on your website and instantly got an awful feeling I never thanked the website owner for them. Most of the women were definitely for that reason very interested to see them and have in effect quite simply been taking advantage of them. I appreciate you for actually being considerably thoughtful and then for picking this sort of fantastic issues most people are really desirous to know about. Our honest regret for not saying thanks to you sooner.
Thanks for your whole efforts on this web page. My mum takes pleasure in managing research and it’s easy to understand why. Many of us notice all about the compelling means you render simple thoughts by means of this web site and as well as encourage response from other individuals about this article while my child is being taught a lot of things. Have fun with the remaining portion of the year. You are carrying out a stunning job.
My wife and i felt fortunate when Peter managed to finish up his web research from the precious recommendations he discovered from your very own blog. It is now and again perplexing to simply happen to be offering helpful hints which usually many people could have been selling. We recognize we need the website owner to be grateful to because of that. Most of the illustrations you’ve made, the easy website menu, the relationships you make it possible to foster – it’s mostly great, and it’s making our son and our family understand that subject matter is exciting, which is very serious. Thank you for the whole thing!