Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)
A whole bunch of us are responding to the Love Chapter Challenge and memorizing these sacred words. It is a definition of Agape Love that is a lever to change the world.
This week’s message is “Love Is Contagious”. It is taken from the passage in 2 Corinthians Chapter 9 where the Bible says that “God loves a cheerful giver”. It explains how planting seeds of love can change the world if we have the right attitude.
In our confused modern age people look at those who are committed to the way of God’s love as somehow being unhealthy. That is why I was tickled by the book entitled: If Love is Contagious - I hope you never get well. My mom and dad have given their lives to loving people with no expectation of return. I can see so many people in our world that feel the way I do. They look up to people with Godly world-changing, astonishing, Agape love and it is contagious. So, unlike influenza, (that is contagious in a bad way) we don’t want those with ‘contagious love’ to get well and give up their mold-breaking ideals and conform to mediocrity. We want them to stay contagious!
Is that the way you feel about someone? I can think of hundreds of Christ Followers that are like that and my heart is thrilled by them. My wife Jackie is contagious with Agape love. Our three kids are like that and so are our grandchildren. Tony and Cindy Woods are like that as are Duff and Carmen Simpson, Russ and Diana Smith, Josh and Gigi Zappone, Becky and Mike Mettler, Bob and Mary Ann Pease. Please stay contagious - don’t ever become normal, because we need to infect the whole world with the love of Jesus.
Join us this weekend to discover how to become a little more contagious. You will be lifted by hopeful love.
Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White