1 John 4
Pastor John Edwards
The kitchen must be clean. No dishes in the sink. Counters cleaned with antibacterial spray. If it’s not, then I must take care of it. After all, that's demonstrating love to my wife and children.
Yet in my less noble and all-too-frequent moments, I can tackle this task with a wrong perspective. Frustration will follow when I impose my “acts of service” love language (see Gary Chapman’s book, The 5 Love Languages) upon others. You see, “words of affirmation” make the day for some in my family. For others, it’s spending “quality time.” “Receiving gifts” lights up some of their eyes. “Physical touch” communicates love through another’s filter.
Whatever the preference, focusing upon my comfort zone rarely makes the desired connection. To love intentionally, the receiver’s heart must be the target.
In other words, you or I (dressed in the uniform of my beloved St. Louis Cardinals) could hold a baseball with a textbook grip, employ a classic delivery and throw a perfect fastball. If the pitch sails over the catcher’s head, bounces off of the backstop and doesn’t land in the mitt, a great intention and right mechanics result in a failed opportunity.
That’s not an option for you and me. We must not miss the target of genuine, God-glorifying, others-centered love. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)
God’s love was – and is – on target, since He “sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins…since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:10b-11)
So I’ll ask you the same question that’s challenging me: "how’s your ‘love delivery’?” With a heart of gratitude, reproduce Jesus Christ’s love in someone else’s life. Hit the bullseye with an “others” focus.
When asked about his favorite meal, Pastor John described “fried chicken (wings, thighs or drumsticks, please), lima beans, mashed potatoes, sweet tea and chocolate cake with chocolate icing…with ‘House Special Fried Rice’ a close second!”
