GOT LOVE?

Date: Mon Aug 20 08:29:08 2007

Most people have seen those commercials where people have the white milk mustache. Never particularly cared for them, but I still drink milk and enjoy it. It is good for the bones, and sure tastes better than some of those calcium-enriched drinks. Despite that fact, a whole lot of adults do without it, and it seems every other person you meet these days is ìlactose intolerantî.

My question today is not ñ ìGot Milk?î My question today is ìGot Love?î It seems that a whole lot of people push big doses of love for kids. They hug ëem, squeeze ëem, and give them a protective atmosphere. Then, the world loses confidence in love. They donít believe teenagers can be loving. They believe they must be exploitive and use people. They believe that they are controlled by animal impulses, so they forget about love and give them condoms.

Adults marry people that seem appropriate, but for whom there is no deep abiding, unselfish love. Yikes, they sign contracts on what to do with their resources when they break up ñ BEFORE they even marry! Many adults move in with a member of the opposite sex for convenience, because they are lonely, or sometimes simply to save money. This has become an alarming pattern for seniors who donít think that love means trusting each other with their resources. So love in is short supply in the romantic world where people would expect to most find it.

It is easy to pick on K-Fed and Britney Spears, or on Brad or Nick and Angelina Jolie or some other media relationship that seems destined for disaster. What about Christian young people who have no clue what Agape love means? Who are divorcing almost as much as the world, or in the surprising case of Southern Baptists, at an even HIGHER rate than the world. We need to ask more than ever ìGot Love?î

This question is not just a subject for meditation on Valentineís Day. It is a question for the church. It was the Ephesian Church that was known for its love. This was the church that John the Apostle of Love had so much input into. They did so many things right, but they lost their first love. Just like some folks eat healthy in so many ways but miss the milk. Not only the milk from cows or goats, but the sincere milk of the word. We simply cannot be spiritually healthy without a whole lot of love.

The church today has meetings. The church ìgets it praise onî. They hug, they kiss, they encourage. They go to meetings. Oh, did I say they hug? But is there true love in the church? Not the emotional feelings that pass for ìloveî among immature teens and immature adults. Iím talking about I Corinthians 13 love. Love that does not vaunt up itself. Love that does not behave itself unseemly. Love that truly puts other people first ñ not just on Sunday during a fellowship moment, but all week long.

You see, some people speak with the tongues of men and of angels. A woman called for prayer ñ her daughter talks in tongues a lot, but she is an angry woman. People who speak in tongues but who cannot bridle their own tongue do not have love. Love is NOT easily angered. Others ìgive their body to be burnedî. Some work in the inner city or go to the third world to share the gospel, but do not truly love the people or consider them equal to themselves. This is not love. Some give away their money and live a simple lifestyle, but if they donít have true love, it profits them nothing.

We HAVE to ask the people of God. ìGot Love?î We cannot continue with ministry, with words, with seemingly good deeds. We have to love in word AND in deed. We have to have the love of Jesus Christ flowing through us.

Getting love is not possible by trying harder, nor by smiling more, hugging more, or giving out more compliments. Godís love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit he has given to us. God puts love there and he causes our hearts to overflow with love for people. If you are in Christ, and you have accepted Godís love in you, it is there. Release that love by opening your mouth, your heart, and your arms. Embrace all, especially those who are of the household of faith. Love all, and especially those who are your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.

"Got Love?" It is there for the asking. God is love. In him we live, and move, and have our being. Live in him, move in him, and let his love be expressed in your life TODAY!