I have heard couples say 'We fell in love from the first moment we met'. Really? You don't FALL in love. You FALL into a ditch. You FALL off a cliff. You FALL off a ladder. But, you MAKE A DECISION to either love or hate somebody. It would be true to say that we made an 'instant decision' to love somebody.
It would also be true to say that we make a progressive decision to love somebody. We get to know them, we fellowship with them, enjoy that fellowship and desire more fellowship. They do something we like or enjoy and the desire for fellowship increases. The more they please us the more 'in love' we decide to become.
The opposite it true, also. We make progressive as well as instantaneous decisions to hate somebody. We meet them and instantly we are not truly impressed with them. They do this, they say that and progressively we decide not to waste our time on caring for that person.
Here is an interesting observation. Whenever a couple is expecting a child, they make a decision to love that child. They haven't seen it to know if it is pretty or not. They haven't talked to it, worked with it, played with it or anything. Yet, a decision, yes, and a growing decision is made to love and fellowship with that child the entire time of the pregnancy.
Keep following me, now. This same couple even prepares to be inconvenienced. They stock pile diapers, clothes, baby wipes, baby powder, baby soap, baby wash cloths, baby towels, baby blankets as well as a host of toys and do-dads for a human being they have never seen before. They EXPECT to get pooped on. They EXPECT to be awakened in the middle of the night. The EXPECT to be inconvenienced. Yet, BEFORE the baby is born they are crazy in love with it.
Yet, how come your best friend, your spouse or someone close to you POOPS (so to speak) on you one time and you turn or begin turning on them like a ravening wolf?
Jesus, God's Word made flesh (John 1:14), made decisions too. He decided to love the whole world (John 3:16) whether they loved Him or not. He made efforts to fellowship with them whether they returned the fellowship or not. It is true that Jesus spent more time with those who desired His friendship but that never stopped the love that He had for the entire world. He gave evidence of this from the cross when He cried out, "Forgive them for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34)
But, today I don't want to talk about everybody. I want to talk about Peter. You would have to read all four gospels to get the whole picture. Like expectant parents, Jesus knew some things about Peter. He knew that Peter would forsake Him. He knew all along that Peter would lie about their relationship. He knew that Peter would deny Him. He knew that Peter would cuss. He knew that Peter would deny Him and cuss in front of people. He knew that Peter would make a scene in front those that hated Him. And, yet, despite all of that, Jesus washed Peter's feet and talked to him in love. Jesus never scolded Peter. His plans for Peter were the same. Peter was still going to be the leader of the church in the very beginning.
Jesus made a loving choice to throw away all the bad stuff and love Peter anyway. Even after His resurrection, Jesus never brought up the subject of Peter's sins. Jesus treated him just as if Peter had never done anything wrong.
Here's what Jesus told them just before He died. John 13:34-A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. That's tuff stuff not to want to get back at somebody that you've been offended by but Jesus said that you "MUST" do it.
Why? Why is it so important to look past hurt, shame and degradation and CHOOSE to love and actually CHOOSE to fellowship with someone who is unlovable TO YOU. I didn't say that they were unlovable to Jesus. I said they were unlovable to you. After all, Jesus has proven that He loves the whole world, good guys and bad guys.
Do you remember Saul of Tarsus who became the Apostle Paul? He was Mr. I hate all Christians. He proved it by his actions. After his conversion, he made an astounding discovery that fueled his ability to reach the lost. Galations 5:6 says that faith works by love. The type of faith that fuels revival and reaches the lost is the faith that is brought about by our unfailing love for one another as well as the lost soul.
You've tried to pump your faith, shout your faith, preach your faith, sing your faith and all the other things that preachers tell you to do to increase your faith and still revival is not here. Paul identified you in 1 Cor. 13:1 as a clanging cymbal because your actions are not fueled by the pre-forgiving love that Jesus showed to Peter when He washed his feet. He knew Peter would disappoint Him but He made a decision to love Peter anyway.
Those of you who declare your desire to follow Christ to the cross, find some feet to wash first. It's His command and His way to reach the lost.
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