BELLA VISTA — A friend of mine was coming to a meeting in a large room with several people in it. As he came in, he said he had not been feeling well and would not sit close to anyone. I jokingly said that was a good idea and that we all love him, but we wanted to do it from a distance.

After I made my remark, I realized it was not appropriate. You can’t love somebody and not be involved in their life. Love is never easy.

It is like the old saying about building a house- it always costs more than you think, it always takes longer than you thought, and building the house will always be messier than you anticipated.

To love someone means you will get close to them. Loving them is helping them when they are sick. To love someone means rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep.

The apostle John gives us these words, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laiddown his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and seeshis brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”

Too often I want to love somebody from afar. I don’t want to be involved in their pain and problems. I don’t think that is real love.

Dr. H.I. Hester was a professor at the seminary I attended. His wife was in a nursing home. Dr. Hester was very attentive to her needs. He left his office every afternoon and checked on her. His devotion to her was obvious to all of us. One day, a man asked Dr. Hester if he ever got tired of taking care of his wife.

Dr. Hester looked at him in disgust and said to the man, “Don’t you realize I love her?”

Christ modeled real love for us on the cross.

We did not deserve his love, but he chose to give it. His love was painful; he had to pay for all our sins. He had to suffer that we might find eternal life. He understands all we go through because he has been through all life canthrow at us.

Love is always about action. What will we do as a result of our love?

Christ reminds us the world knows we are Christian because of our love for each other. I can guarantee you Christ will send someone your way that needs love.

By the way, it is OK to admit you need to be loved at times. We all do.

I’m pressing on. What about you?

* * *

Thad Moore is pastor of Bella Vista Community Church.

Religion, Pages 16 on 11/04/2009

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