The “Great Three” Under Attack
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
2020 has taken no prisoners.
Nothing is safe from sin, the world and the devil’s attack. Even the great “remaining three” that the Apostle Paul spoke of – faith, hope and love – are under siege. The onslaught of 2020 has revealed all of the weak and vulnerable places.
We have a …
- a languishing faith
- a loss of hope
- and especially, a lack of love
What’s Love Got to Do With It?
When Jesus was asked about the Ten Commandments, He summarized them with one word directed toward two.
Love God.
Love the neighbor.
Matthew 22:35-40 (NIV)
“One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Jesus didn’t see the Law as isolated commands. He saw them as commandments given in the context of community. For Jesus, breaking the “commandments” was the same as breaking “community”.
- Have we loved the Triune God with all of our heart and soul and mind? Have we called upon Him in every trouble? Have we honored His Word?
- Have we loved our neighbor as ourselves? Have we respected God’s established estates of authority? Protected life? Celebrated marriage and encouraged purity? Helped others gain and keep possessions and receive their daily bread? Upheld reputations? Lived a life of contentment?
Perhaps, the greatest revealer of 2020 and the most disturbing symptom has been our lack of love. Sadly, the worst of the world has brought out the worst in us.
The good news is that, in Jesus, the worst of us (and the world) is daily met with the best of the Triune God. In Jesus, the world is redeemed, restored and reconciled. We not only survive in this world, by God’s grace, we spiritually thrive.
He desires to give to us …
- a vibrant and active faith for today
- a sure and certain hope for tomorrow
- a selfless and sacrificial love each day for the neighbor
Jesus, the Great Physician, has diagnosed the spiritual disease afflicting us and our world and He’s given three doctor’s orders: repent, receive, rejoice,(and I’ll add a fourth) … repeat.
Video: The Ten Commandments
Here’s a video that gives you an overview of the 2020 malady and the healing medicine we find in Jesus. (click on the box below to watch the video)
click here for presentation notes
Here’s some more information, videos, resources, a schedule for this Fall and some next steps to help you enroll in the To Whom Shall We Go? journey.
- “GO?” Home Page
- Overview and Introduction
- Christian Questions With Their Answers (Luther)
- A Day Set Aside …
- The Receptive Life
- “eXPlain it” portal tour
Schedule for Fall of 2020
- On Thursday, October 22nd we’ll start our “GO?” journey with the “Ten Days of Preparation”. Each day we’ll walk through and study one of the Ten Commandments.
- Sunday, November 1st will be a day set aside to go to the Lord’s house. During the time of worship we will repent, receive and rejoice in all of the gifts that only the Triune God can give to us. If you do not have a place to worship, you’re welcome to attend worship at East Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Detroit at 10 am. (click here for website)
- And then, on Monday, November 2nd we’ll begin a 12 week course, process and experience called “The Receptive Life”.
We belong to Christ!
The Lord bless and keep us and grant us His peace,
Paul