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〝Making God Visible〟 1 John 4:7-21 July 27, 2008 |
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Jim Grace |
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Two weeks ago, we thought about God's second-chance grace. We said that grace reminds us that God's favor is a gift, that it offers us a fresh start, and grace keeps us from looking down on ourselves and others. Experiencing God's grace affects how we live our lives and our attitudes to God and others. ??But then church was over. And then we left here and we went home. And then it was Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and now it is Sunday again... ??As I think about my week, if I'm honest, I struggled to see God. I had moments of seeking God in prayer. There were moments when I sensed God's peace. But that didn't make God visible. ??Although Jesus has the power to change lives, it gives us this question: how do people see Him? How will people meet Him? How is God made visible? This is the question we're thinking about this morning. ??There is a relationship between how we live as followers of Jesus Christ and how other people see Jesus. Because people can't see God with their eyes, but they can see those who claim to love and serve Him, and they can make a connection between the two. ??Let's look at 1 John 4, verses 11-12, where John writes: ??Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:11-12 ??John understands the relationship between our character and actions and how other people see Jesus. "No one has ever seen God." John says it very straightforward. "But... but... if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." John repeats that phrase "in us" so that we don't miss the point. It is "in us" that people will see God. Not in a burning bush or a vision or even in a great sermon but "in us" when we love one another. ??Jesus said it this way in John 13: ??A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples. John 13:34-35 ??"By this..." That is, by living with the same love I have shown you, everyone will know that you follow Me. ??Think about what that means:
. not by your doctrine... although doctrine keeps us committed to love,
. not by your zeal... although passion keeps us faithful when loving others is difficult,
. but by your love... this is how the world will see Me. This is what will make God visible.
This love is what Jesus intends for his people and his church. Remember the scene when Jesus restored Peter at the end of the John's gospel, after Peter had denied Jesus? The risen Jesus comes to Peter and asks him:
Do you love Me? Do you love Me?
And Peter says: Yes, you know that I love You.
When I hear that, part of me expects Jesus to respond: "Well, then let's see it next time." That's what I think when I don't feel loved by someone... let's see it next time. So you might expect Jesus to say: Promise you'll be faithful to me Peter, promise you'll love me Peter. But that's not how Jesus responds to Peter. Jesus asks:
Do you love me?
Yes, of course, Peter replies.
Then tend my sheep. Tend my sheep. Take care of people.
Jesus, our Lord and Savior, turns the attention away from Himself and towards our neighbor. You know that person at work who bothers you, or at school who treats you poorly? You know that child at home who won't obey or that neighbor on your street?
Do you love Me? Yes, of course. Then take care of them. Because if you love Me, you'll love what I care about, and I care about people. Loving God includes loving people because it makes the love of God visible and complete. Which brings us back to the question we're facing: how do we do this? How do we live and love in a way that makes God visible? I'd like to look at a few points from 1 John 4.
First, if we're going to love in a way that makes God visible, we need to take the initiative in loving others. One of the most common phrases in 1 John is:
We are to love because God first loved us. 1 John 4:19
And the key word is not "God" or even "love," the key word is "first." We love because God loved us first.
God chose to love us, not when we became Christians, not once we measured up to His standards, but before we ever even thought about God, God loved us first.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
And if we're going to love people as Jesus does, we have to love them first. Not just after they're part of our church. Not only if they choose to live like we do, but first, before, regardless of their response, because God loved you first.
This challenges us. Christians are often known as people who go to church, who sing songs, listen to sermons and are nice; we wonder why the world is not very interested. God took the initiative to love our sinful world. God loved us first, then we must take the initiative to love as He did, as a church and as individuals.
Watching us as a church last week after Akikosan's baptism, I had a feeling of deja vu when a cake was brought out and we sang Happy Birthday for Yuisan.
Years ago when we lived in Sapporo, a student we knew came to church for the first time. After the service during lunch, we learned it was his birthday. Within a few minutes, there was a birthday card for him and everyone sang Happy Birthday! He said it was the first time anyone had done that for him.
And last week we sang Happy Birthday for Yuisan. A couple at the church for the first time, turned to me and and said this about you: What a warm church! Why? Because you took the initiative. You loved people first.
Which is why it is worth it. We're called to take the initiative with people. Not because we're perfect or have all the answers, but because God loved us first. So that's one observation, we need to take initiative.
Secondly, if we're going to love in a way that makes God visible, we need to make real sacrifices in loving others. Sometimes we think of Christianity as an addition to our lives. As if it won't disrupt anything else. Salvation by free download. But Jesus doesn't really give us that kind of option.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another. If any one of you has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in you? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18
Love is a matter of actions and truth. We cannot love without making sacrifices, and sacrifice requires real time, real energy, real effort, and real expense.
For me, Terui has been a good example of this, though she might not agree. Over the years, Terui has received phone calls from needy people. She has spent hours listening, talking and praying. And many of these people have been emotionally tiring. It's a sacrifice. But Jesus calls us to do it.
When I see someone in physical need, what more can I do? When I see someone in emotional need, what more can I do? When I see someone in financial need, what more can I do? And this is not simply a matter of personal obedience to God, it's a matter of what kind of God we make visible through our actions. A few minutes before we read 1 John 3:17
If any one of you has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in you?
Another translation of 1 John 3:17 says this:
If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something... and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear. (The Message)
Kind of strong, isn't it? Because it shows my selfishness, my greed and my laziness. These things in me hide the love and goodness of God. Because
. when I keep my stuff to myself, I show the world that God is ungenerous;
. when I don't take time for people, I show the world that God is busy;
. when I face people's pain without sympathy, I show the world that God doesn't care.
Jesus did not ignore people's problems; instead, He gave His life for people, not just on the cross, but every day that He lived. And then Jesus said to His disciples:
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:15
Because that's how the world will see me once I'm gone.
We're here today because of the sacrificial love of God. And so if we are going to be a community through which God becomes visible, we are going to have to make real sacrifices. But it's worth it.
So we make God's love visible by taking initiative and by personal sacrifice.
Finally, if we're going to love in a way that makes God visible, we need to start now. We need to start where we are and we need to start as we are. When I face the cost of being Jesus' disciple, the cost of real love, I have this response. Maybe you understand:
I start to feel overwhelmed by the task of loving others; I start to feel afraid because of my my lack of courage or confidence. And I feel I don't have the moral or spiritual strength to do this.
But Jesus gives us a way to overcome this. He says: You can start now. Start today.
Put down your nets, and follow Me, today, right now. You don't have to be perfect; you don't have to know how. You just have to start today. He doesn't need a perfect you tomorrow; He needs an available you today.
How many times have I faced a person in need, how many times have I met someone who might be interested in faith, and thought, I'm not ready. I'm too busy. I tell myself I'll do it tomorrow, but I never change. I never take a risk. I never get to tomorrow. That is why when Jesus calls us, He says to start now.
Start now with that person you know at work, that one you maybe thinking of right now, with whom you've had a difficult relationship. Start now with that person you see on the street, but have never taken interest in, never built a relationship, never found out if you can help.
Start now with that neighbor who has never been to church or heard the gospel, that one who you've always liked but were afraid to tell about your faith.
Starting today means you don't have to be perfect. You just have to be willing and available. And you have to be gracious with yourself and others along the way. This is an opportunity. That's why this is good news. Because God can use you as you are today to change the world.
We don't have to be the smartest or the strongest or the bravest or the best. We just have to take the first step towards people, and be willing to make real sacrifices. We need to start right now, today, in whatever situations we face. No one has seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. In other words, when we love people, Jesus is there.
And as people see it, they have the chance to receive that amazing and eternal gift of saying: Yes! |
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