“We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we love the brothers and sisters. He who does not love remains in [spiritual] death.” (I John 3:14 The Amplified Bible)
Tuesday morning, just a few days after I had preached on the subject, “Move The Love Needle,” I was going through a photo album put together by some of my relatives who recognize the value of preserving our family history. There are plenty of pictures, they cause your mind, looking back in time, to say, “Was I ever really that young?” The photos were nice but what really caused my eyes to pause, and focus was a page entitled “In Memoriam.” It was tribute for our grandfather’s faithful service in the ministry. The last church he pastored was the Second Baptist Church in New Albany, Indiana from 1937-1965. On that same page was a saying that Grandaddy wrote on March 3, 1910. The words not only tied in with the message I preached Sunday, but I observed how God dialogues with us are filled with concrete, unchanging wisdom, and how He that connects to what He specifically wants to bring to our attention, even over many decades.
Here is the quote: “Love is the sweetest bud that blows. It’s beauty never dies, on earth among the saints it grows and ripens the skies.”
To me this was reinforcement about how we must continually move the love needle in our actions, interactions, and reactions. For you, even though you might have not heard the sermon I delivered or viewed it online, it is telling you the exact same thing.
If you don’t think this is applicable to you, then I suggest you read this meditation and the associated opening verse again when you finish reading it the first time. Go back over “What He Said.” Then, read the closing verse and see what the Master, Jesus the Christ said. Have a fantastic, faith walking day, flowing with love that proves that you have passed from death to life. Be blessed!
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 New King James Version)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King