Douglas Baptist Church

This Sunday (July 3), we are beginning a sermon series on the Fruit of the Spirit.  I have the privilege of beginning this series, and discussing the first ‘fruit’ listed in Galatians 5, which is love.

I have quickly realized that this is a HUGE topic!  The word ‘love’ appears 613 times in the Bible, and covers everything from our affection for God, for our spouses, children and our neighbours.  This is a big concept to condense into a twenty minute message.

As we discuss the fruits of the Spirit, our theme is that we are cultivating character.  So I guess my big question is, how do we cultivate love?  How do we develop our character so that we become love?

There are all kinds of ‘classic’ passages to talk about, such as the very famous 1 Corinthians 13, or even 1 John 4.  But when I think about cultivating a particular type of character, I look to Jesus as presented in the four gospels.  How did Jesus model a character marked by love?  How did he cultivate love in his own lifestyle?

I think the place to begin is with the discussions he has surrounding the two greatest commandments, what Scot McKnight calls ‘The Jesus Creed.’   The passage in Luke 10 is also where we find the parable of the Good Samaritan.  So then, according to Jesus, what is love?  A command related to how we respect and show honour to both God and our neighbors.  And, to quote a particular lawyer, ‘Who is my neighbour?’

As an answer to this question, God has been challenging me a lot in this area through the Scripture and books that I’ve been reading.  My neighbours include the people that live in the community of Douglas, but also the men and women I see on the streets downtown.  The ones who are asking for money from passersby, the single moms waiting for their child assistance credits that have been held up by the postal strike.  The people sleeping on benches at night.  And I can’t help but wonder, how am I loving these neighbours?

As a Jesus follower, I need to be loving all my neighbours, but Jesus showed a special concern for the poor.  From Genesis through Revelation, God shows that his heart is for the poor and marginalized, and he calls his people to do likewise.

So how do we cultivate love?  I think reading the gospel of Luke is a good place to start for an example.  But then we need to live out the principles we learn in our day-to-day life.

I got a new Bible for Christmas!  The ESV study Bible.  It’s a great resource to have.  As I’m doing my devotions, I’ve started reading through the book of Jeremiah.  I realized it’s been a long time since I’ve read through that book.

Jeremiah was a man who was called by God to speak to the people of Judah.  In the first chapter of the book, Jeremiah records his calling from God.  God said:

Jeremiah responded with these words:

“Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”

God called Jeremiah to do his work when he was pretty young.  How often do you feel like you’re “only a youth?”  Do you get told that you’re too young, or you just have to wait?  I think as a society, we have low expectations of our youth.  What if we expected more because we believed you could accomplish more?

It’s exciting to be in a new year.  I wonder how God will use you to bless others this year?  What will your response be?  ”I’m only a youth” or (if you’re older reading this) “I’m too old.”  Or “I’m not educated enough.”

I hope instead of Jeremiah’s initial response, you’ll echo the words of Isaiah (6:8) “Here am I! Send me.“

I love epic stories! I love stories that take several books to tell and have a huge ‘showdown’ between good and evil.

I also love Christmas! This day that we’re celebrating is an important event in God’s epic story that he has been writing since he created the world. We are not just celebrating the birth of a child who would grow up to be a good teacher and a wise man. We are celebrating the birth of The Child, who would grow up to “save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). Christmas leads us into the ultimate showdown between good and evil.

In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul wrote that “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19). Creation itself is anticipating the time when everything will be restored to God’s vision.

A familiar Christmas carol (O Holy Night) has been stuck in my mind for several days now. This carol has the line, “A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices.” Christmas is that thrill of hope. An important reminder of God’s promises to restore the world. In response, we rejoice.

Christmas was not meant to be a time of gifts, cookies, and trees. But it’s meant to be a time of worship. A time when we respond to God and we recognize that “thrill of hope.”

This year, “Fall on your knees … With all our hearts we praise His holy name.” Merry Christmas!

Tonight is our Christmas Tree Lighting at Douglas Baptist. This year, we’ll be having a Living Nativity as part of the celebration. I’m excited about seeing the animals and the actors that we have in costume. It reminds me about one of the promises that God made when he announced to his people that he was sending a Savior, a Messiah.

In Isaiah 11, the prophet is describing some of the characteristics of the expected Savior. In verse six, he wrote:
“The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.”

The prophet is reminding us that the Messiah will bring peace. Isn’t this a message we need to remember in this busy season? We get so busy that life seems anything but peaceful!

This verse always reminds me of a scene I saw in Albania. I had the opportunity to visit an old coliseum, one of the places where Christians were fed to the lions. I got to climb through the lions’ dens, and walk through the stands, where people would have watched these early Christians attacked by lions. But the most significant part of my visit that day was when I looked into the arena. Hundreds of years later, there were no longer any lions in that arena. But there was a lamb.

It was a great visual of peace!

Tonight as we celebrate the Christmas Tree Lighting, in the weeks ahead as you continue the celebrations, remember the peace that God promised he would send. May you be able to find the peace that only God can bring this season.

Luke 2:13-14
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’”

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