What's the Most Powerful Tool in Your Toolbox?
When you are born, our Creator gives you a toolbox. When you get saved, you get a "tool upgrade."
What kind of upgrade?
(I'm glad you asked!)
Recently, I heard a sermon.
It was given by another pastor who stood in for our pastor while he was away.
Born again, toolbox.
When you are born, the Holy Spirit gives each person a toolbox. He pulled out his toolbox. Inside he had:
- A manual screwdriver
- A ruler
- A power drill
Many, many gifts. These help us get the job of life DONE.
Some of the things that we receive: the first is forgiveness.
The second, which he wanted to anchor in and expand on in this sermon, is our Identity.
The third is Agape.
I think also of Galatians 5:22, where Paul lists the fruits of the Spirit:
Love, Joy, Peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
When you're saved, you receive a LOT of gifts!
These gifts are nice, kind of like when you're born into a royal family; very much like that. Identity is the most important, he said, the and the one he wanted to anchor on today.
The third is Agape. That's God's love. The Greek word for God's love.
And love is a word that has been hijacked by our world today.
He went through the 5 types of love: Phileo (Brotherly), Epithuma (physical desires), Eros (Romantic love), Storge (Family affection), and Agape.
Agape is a game changer
Biggest difference, he said, is where the 4 other types of love are based on emotion, and because emotions are subject to change over and over, agape asks for nothing in return.
With Agape, you don't have to be in love to love, and you'll act in the expense of self. I think of the word altruism for this.
Agape is love at its purest: unselfish, abundant, overflowing, generous, and altruistic.
What are the other qualities? 1 Cor. 13:3 and it will tell you.
Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and gentlenesss, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.
He shared these other verses:
1 Pet. 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
John 12 Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.
No one loves like Jesus did and does! He loved anyway, without bias, prejudice and judgment. (Judgment is reserved for later.)
He still loves that way today.
And purely humble and unselfish; meek.
"Jesus never played the 'Jesus card.' the pastor said.
Jesus wasn't concerned about His image, just loving others. (Our 1st commandment.)
Love does not (seek, desire, want, need) to build an image, love builds a bridge.) In John 14:6, Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus is the bridge to God. God is the bridge to love. Love is the bridge that connects us all.
Love is true and Truth. Love is what our Lord gives and Love is who (and what) God is.
And we need God to love like Him!
John 13:31-35
So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer.
You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come, so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
"Fruits" Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash
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