Author: Wick

John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Okay, so it’s an imperfect illustration. Jesus doesn’t ask us to love one another to the point of getting cuddly. Neither do my daughters always perfectly embody family-love toward one another. But in this moment, everything before and after faded away. They were sisters, family cuddling up together, a deep sense of hunger being satisfied simply by the close presence of each other.

But Jesus does ask/say something of us as members of the family of God. “..As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” It’s something we can easily lose sight of in the midst of many other efforts to “be the local church”.

There are so many desires we have. We want the music just right, and to fit our personal preferences in style and volume. We want the coffee to have some “ooomph”. We want to point at something our church is doing, and prove to our friends and family who attend other churches that says, “See, we’re a church worth attending!”  We want to interact with people who are like us, and who like us. We want to leave feeling encouraged, needed, and like we’ve gotten a good “R.O.I.” (return on investment) from the time we’ve spent there.

The problem is, Jesus never said they will know we’re his disciples by our programs. He doesn’t point to the music we use, the cleanliness of our facilities, the freshness of our donuts, or the dress-code we either live by or avoid.

So the question is – if someone were to visit your church this week, would they know you are disciples of Jesus Christ, simply by the Love being shown? How has “un-love” in the local church impacted your life? How did you respond? We cannot control the actions or words of others, but we can make a huge impact on the church our children will inherit. Will you begin a new movement of God’s Love?

And now for the kicker – what about your home? It begins there. Would someone visiting your home on a given night, know that you are disciples of Jesus, simply by the love that’s being spoken, acted out, and felt in your family’s presence? How can you be a part of increasing the presence of Love in your home?

A good start = 1 John 4:7-8 – A dangerous realization.  Love is not simply an emotional feeling meant to warm our hearts.  Love is the transforming powerful presence of the Creator God, of whom we have a Holy Fear and Reverence.

Just an encouraging reminder that our kids have brains that can easily memorize, when that function is called upon. Will you take the time to learn scripture with your children this week?

I’m offering a FREE COPY of my book for your iPad, iPod Touch, or other iBook reader software! The first person to have their child (ages 0-5) recite a scripture, and post a link to the video on here WINS! Tell your friends!! 🙂

(even after someone does this….I double dog dare you to still post a video of your child!!)

    As she runs to me, I can literally “hear” the smile and joy on her face.  A few steps from me, she will jump at me with a statement of 100% trust that daddy will catch her.  I’ll grab her with both arms, swing her around a bit against my chest, and tell her I love her.  At the same time, I’ll brush my chin stubble slightly against her neck and make her giggle and squirm, until she runs away.  Most likely, the scene will repeat itself a few times.
She is two years old, and daddy is home. 🙂

Fast forward about 6 hours.  All is quiet, and we’ve just settle into our evening.  Whether it’s a movie, or reading time, or just talking about the day and week we find ourselves swimming through.  All of a sudden, we notice that we’re not alone.  Quietly watching from the shadows of the adjacent office, glowing in the dim light that escapes into an unlit room, is the face of a child.

It could be any of the three, on any given night.  Not guaranteed to happen every night, but once in a while it occurs.  I confess that my first thought is not to be a loving father.  It’s usually more along the lines of a zoo-keeper who’s monkey has been found roaming the premises. 🙂

But as it happened the other night, it struck me with a powerful reminder: My kids need me.  It’s not something in particular they want me to do.  Nothing I’m required to fix, say, or pay for.  It’s simply my presence they desire.  A natural hunger and thirst to be close to their parents.

That won’t always be the case.  They will grow up, and with time will come independence.  There will probably even come times where they want to be as far away from mom and dad as possible.  Of course, we won’t allow that, right? 🙂  So as I held my daughter close, and carried her slowly up the stairs back to her room…I savored the walk.  I laid her down, and kissed her good night.

As always, it translates brilliantly and painfully into our relationship with Christ.  In our most natural and child-like moments, we recognize our need for God.  Not for His action or blessing, but simply His presence with us.  To draw close to Him, our Creator and Father…for comfort.  As we walk through life, there are times where we forget that need.  We become self-sufficient and sustaining…always looking to finances, “highs” of all sorts, and other areas to quiet our withdrawal.  Thankfully nothing will satisfy.  Nothing but the presence and communion with God together as we were created for.

How will we respond to that truth this week?  Imagine God entering the front door of your house:  You’re 2 years old, and daddy is home. 🙂