All Ya Need Is Love!!

“Yet, without true Christians loving one another, Christ says the world cannot be expected to listen, even when we give proper answers. Let us be careful, indeed, to spend a lifetime studying to give honest answers. But after we have done our best to communicate to a lost world, still we must never forget that the final apologetic which Jesus gives is the observable love of true Christians for true Christians.” Francis Schaffer, The Great Evangelical Disaster, pgs. 164-165

May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me. (22) I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one. (23) I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me. Jesus in His High Priestly Prayer in John 17:21-23

The first quote above is from a favorite writer of mine Francis Schaffer. He is commenting and John 17:21-23. On my book shelf there sits five massive volumes of his writings that try to explain how to answer objections to the Christian faith and lead people to Christ. Some of his stuff is deeply philosophical, but still practical and worth readings. The amazing thing is that he said that in those five volumes of his writings there is nothing better at showing the Christian faith than love. Love that sounds easy right?

Jesus towards the ends of his life and ministry asks His Father to help his followers to be one: unified, strong and in harmony. Those 12 were all radically different people, Jesus was not asking for blanket uniformity, but a deep love that Christ showed on the cross to characterize our lives. We are not all that easy to love all the time. Just ask my wife Rebecca about me (I know it is hard to believe).My son Cason is capable of making me the happiest man and on the planet one minute and then angry as a "wet setting hen" to quote my late and wonderful grandma (BTW I really I have no idea of what that expression means). The world tends to look at the church and knows all the things we are against, all the groups we don't like, and by clever Jesus T-Shirts but do they know that we have love. Do we show that love in all we do? Do we show that love when are angry, feelings hurt, and mad? Probably not, but if we don't try hard in all areas of our life, the world will see a lack of love and we we will waste a lot time, energy and effort when the world sees straight through us.

Remember Paul said Philippians 2:1-5 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, (2) fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. (3) Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. (4) Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (5) Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus

Pastor Phillip