Good Morning: Genuine love is not mere words but actions too. We might tell someone, “I love you so much that ____________.” How would you complete the sentence? “I love you so much that I will buy you a birthday present, take you out to dinner and a movie, clean the garage, do the dishes and help with the laundry”? Have you ever said, “I love you so much that I’m going to tell you what you need to hear, not what you may want to hear”? It is one of the hardest things to do, yet one of the best expressions of love for another. Solomon writes in Prov. 27:6, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” It’s hard, but a loving friend is not going to turn a blind eye and ignore a problem threatening someone. That friend may not want to hear about their drinking, sloppiness on the job, or neglect toward God’s Word and fellowship with the body of Christ. Yet real love can’t be silent and see a friend harming themselves physically and spiritually. David’s friend Nathan confronted the king with his sin of adultery. It wasn’t easy, but it was so necessary to bring David back to the Lord in repentance. The Apostle Paul says, “Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Eph. 4:1, 15-16). Rather than severing ties of friendship and love, humbly pointing out sin and leading someone to Jesus for forgiveness strengthens the bonds of love with the Lord and one another. Through Jesus’ love for us, may the Spirit work in us the concern and courage to speak up when it’s needed and say, “I love you so much that I want to talk to you about a problem and the help Jesus has for you.” May fellow believers show that same love for us. Yours in Christ, Pastor 9 a.m. service tomorrow. The choir will sing. Sunday school and adult Bible class will get underway a few minutes after the service.
