AT YOUR SERVICE - To be Known by LOVE

"Love others as much as you love yourself." Matthew 22:39

Love is a romantic word. More songs have been written about
love than any other subject or word in the world. Would there
even be a movie industry w/out love? There is an entire genre
called romance novels because people so desperately long for love.
Yet as much as we talk about it & claim to build our lives around it,
love is actually a rare commodity. Most of what we call love falls into
other categories: from like to lust, “I love your shoes” or
“I love “The Simpsons” - from passion to possession. “I love the Houston Astros” or “I'd love to own that car” - We have been so inundated w/ love imitations that we've become blind to what love is really about.

In the end How does love manifest itself?
In Sacrifice

Jesus told us the way the world would know we are His followers is
if we love one another.
"A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this all men will know that you are my disciples,
if you love one another." John 13:34-35

To be known by LOVE.

We see love in sacrifice.
How do the relationships that we are involved in grow?

In Sacrifice.
We turn away from our own selfish wants and desires and we sacrifice
what we may want to do, or where to go, or where not to go – WHY?

It is purely done out of love.

Notes from an anonymous journal:
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a
hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering
from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared
to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had
miraculously survived the same disease and had developed antibodies
needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her
little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did,
seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice,
"Will I start to die right away?" Being young, the little boy had
misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save his sister.

Now that’s Sacrifice. That’s being known by LOVE.

In John 15:13, Jesus gives us the practical expression of love. He says,

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for
his friends.” Ofcourse, Jesus was speaking of his own death,
explaining that his sacrifice would be the ultimate expression for
the love of all humanity.
The church erupted out of an act of love. It shouldn't surprise us
that the church only moves toward God when it is fueled by love.
Listen... in a world of imitations, real love draws a crowd. It stands out.
It is undeniable. It is defining.
That being the case, What is the practical expression of love?
Servanthood

It is impossible to come close to God and not have love overwhelm you.
And when we realize that the practical expression of love is servanthood,
love begins to change everything about your relationships. In fact,
this is the one amazing things about God: He loves to serve.
In John 13 when Jesus tied a towel around his waist and began washing his disciples feet, this was not an extraordinary act for God but right in line with who He is. Jesus Christ was a servant. He was doing nothing more than expressing the serving heart of God.
“... the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve...” Matt. 20:28

People matter to God, so... People matter to us.

I have made the mistake of passing judgment on others. Have you?
We tend to make these armchair assessments of who God has use for and
who He doesn't.
Jesus made it clear of the value each person has a # of times,
but one that stands out for me was a conversation He had on the cross.
Luke 23:32-43
32 There were also two criminals led out with Jesus to be put to death. 33 When they came to a place called the Skull, the soldiers crucified Jesus and the criminals -- one on his right and the other on his left.....
38 At the top of the cross these words were written: this is the king of
the jews. 39 One of the criminals on a cross began to shout insults at Jesus: "Aren't you the Christ? Then save yourself and us." 40 But the
other criminal stopped him and said, "You should fear God! You are getting
the same punishment he is. 41 We are punished justly, getting what we
deserve for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 Jesus said
to him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Think about this – while they were hanging on crosses one of them
launched into a verbal tirade.
The other thief opened his eyes to what was really happening –
he realized in a short amount of time he was about to face eternity,
and he was painfully aware of the kind of life he had lived. So he yells to the other criminal to SHUT UP! Can't you see what's goin on here –
we derserve to die but this man doesn't. He looked to Christ and said
"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." in essence he was saying, I know this sounds like a silly question, but could somebody like me, who has committed the sins I've committed, who has not exactly been a great guy, I have treated people like garbage, could somebody like me, still matter to anybody?
What did Jesus say? Without hesitation, He assured this man,
“You matter far more than you can even imagine. And because of your faith
and you tender spirit, you'll meet up with me a little later today in paradise, where we'll be together for eternity.

Sometimes it tough to comprehend that kind of compassion,
that kind of love. But that's exactly what God wants us to be like –
He said it is that kind of love that will show people you are my followers.
It is that kind of love that marks you as a follower of Christ.

Love produces servanthood
Servanthood sees sacrifice as a privilege

Whenever we are known by love, God's reputation is intact.
When people see our love and sacrifice for others it shows that this is real.
It shows that "Christianity" is legit. What do people think and say when
we dont show God's love towards others - when were only concerned about
ourselves, when we expect everyone to just fall right in line with us -
They think were hypocritical and phoney's.
When love erupts in the hearts of God's people,
they become the servants of a lost and broken world.
And the world will see
May we be known by LOVE