Dear Christian friends:

In the Toledo Times each day we find a cartoon call "Love Is". (Show a sample and read some). The right idea is Love is good works, not some dreamy idea, St. Paul says the same in our text:


This is true. We misunderstand about love or have the wrong ideas about it. Some think only of romantic love or sexual love. But you can have sex without love, and many do also many married people.

Children say, "Mommy, I love you." But never help mother with the house work. A husband may tell his wife, "Honey, I love you, but he never does much to make his wife happy, often does much to make her sad.

Church members say they love God, but never do much to make God happy and do not obey His Commandments. This includes support for World missions, charity and evangelism.

God complained to the Jewish church members: "Why do you call me Lord, and do not what I say?" (Luke 6:46) I'm fed up, and tired of your prayers and offerings, they smell away with them." (Amos 5:21-23)

True love is responsible. It obeys God's Commandments. "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (verse 9)

When explaining each one of the Ten Commandments Martin Luther always began with the phrase, "We should fear and love God that we ..." then explained the Commandment. True love, is busy in serving others and is not selfish but considers the needs of others.

Why is our love so weak? Because we don't stay close enough to Jesus. On the night before He died for our sins upon the cross, in the upper room, He told His disciples:

"If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:5-13)

We know Jesus gave His life for us on the cross. Now He wants us to risk and give our life for one another. Great joy in this. Jesus had great joy in that. You can too!

Amen.