Enduring Love

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Fred Rogers the creator of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," which began airing in 1968 and ran until 2000—. won the Emmy lifetime achievement award in 1997, and this is an excerpt of his speech.

“So many people have helped me to come to this night. Some of you are here. Some are far away. Some are even in heaven. All of us have special ones who have loved us into being. Would you just take, along with me, 10 seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are? Those who have cared about you and wanted what was best for you in life. 10 seconds of silence. I'll watch the time…

Whomever you've been thinking about, how pleased they must be to know the difference you feel they've made…”

So here’s a question for you… as we get started, if you were to take just 10 seconds of silence, who were the people that influenced you? (Think about that to yourselves for a moment…)

We stop and think about Fred Rogers this morning, and he is someone, who for each of us, was impactful. From one episode of Mr. Rogers neighboordhood to the next, we cherished our time spent in front of the television screen with Mr. Rogers. And of course, Mr. Mcfeely, King Friday, Daniel stripped tiger and others…

But, there was something different about Mr rogers. What was it?

In looking this week, I found some of the answers. You see, Fred rogers had difficult childhood. He was Shy, introverted, and overweight, and was frequently homebound after suffering from asthma. He was bullied as a child for his weight and even called "Fat Freddy"... Morgan Neville, the director of the 2018 documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor?, said Rogers: "made friends with himself as much as he could. He had a ventriloquist dummy, he had stuffed animals, and he would create his own worlds in his childhood bedroom"

But it wasn’t just his time with stuffed animals or his childhood that made the difference. It was the people around him. It was his friends, including the star high school quarterback, it was his parents, it was his pastor and community. But most importantly the reason that Fred rogers was a remarkable man is because of his love for Jesus.

You see, shortly after his passing. The Salt Lake Tribune asked his widow Joanne Rogers: “Was praying for people by name and reading Scripture things he did?” And his wife stated, He did that every morning. He was a person who really liked schedules. He liked to know what he was going to be doing, and he wrote a song for the program called “I Like to Be Told.” And he really liked that. but first thing in the morning — and that means maybe about 5:15 or so — he prayed in his room. And he had a legal pad with all the names on it that he wanted to remember.

You Mr. Fred Rogers this morning, was a person of love, yes because of the people in his life… but most importantly, because of his relationship with Jesus… But here’s my question, what about you? Who are we this morning? What would others say about you?

Are we loving this morning? are we impacting those around us? What type of legacy are we living?

If you have your bibles turn with me to 1 Corinthians 12, and as we turn there together, we’re going to consider the concept of love this morning as it pertains to our effectiveness as a Christian. And I want us to see Enduring love does 3 things - 1. Gains ground. 2. Impacts relationships. 3. Leaves a legacy

So, beginning with point 1. Enduring Love Gains Ground

1 Corinthians 12:30 Paul writes:

30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

You’ll recall that in chapter 12, Paul discusses spiritual gifts within the church. which God gave to us to manifest his presence. That in using these gifts, that the body might be built up, and we would work together for the common good.

So after taking all of chapter 12 to describe the spiritual gifts, Paul now transitions from the chapters 12 to 13, and he gets to the main thing. He’s keeping the main thing the main thing.

You see, true to their Greek culture, was very fascinated by signs, and wonderous works. And they would compare their gifts one to another. Like children on Christmas morning, who compare their gifts with their siblings, these Corinthians are doing the same thing…

“30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.”

So, he’s talked about the gifts, which have their place in the church, which have been given for a purpose… But then, Paul shifts the narrative and discusses this most excellent way. The word for most excellent meaning in the Greek, meaning beyond measure, or the superior way… and he gets to this topic of love.

You see, unlike the gifts, which are unique for each person. One thing that all the Christians had in common, was their ability and call to love. And Paul would write: 1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

You see, here’s what’s interesting. This Corinthian church to which Paul is writing, is very familiar with the concept of love. Interestingly enough, this morning, we read the word love and in the English,there is the one word. But when a culture holds a term or concept to be highly important, they will have several words for the same thing. And unlike our word for love, there are 4 words in scripture. These words are Eros (romantic love), Storge (family love) , Philia (brotherly love), and Agape love (or God’s perfect, unconditionallove). And here Paul is writing to the Corinthian church, and the word he uses is not eros, the romantic love, or the family love, or even brotherly love, here Paul is telling the church that they are to agape, unconditionally love others.

And here’s the key, you see it all comes down to motive… Paul implores his audience, and explainins, you can have all the spiritual gifts in the world; you can prophesy, you can speak in tongues; you can be a great teacher, that’s great… but what’s in your heart? What’s your motive?

You see, there’s an expression in the fire service. I was told as a young firefighter to fake it until I make it. In other words, until I got it down, I had to fake it till I made it… Church, this doesn’t work in our relationship with others… this doesn’t work in reaching the lost.. you see, you can fake something for a season, but if your motives aren’t right, it won’t be long, and you’ll be burnt out...

Paul explains 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

In other words. To be effective as Christian this morning. You have to have love.

But I want to circle back around to that word for a brief moment; the word – nothing… In the Greek, means, nothing, or no one. And Paul would say that you’re nothing, or no one without love. And that without love you gain nothing… and as we consider reaching a dying world… we have to have love.

You see, without love we are nothing, we gain nothing… But consider the inversive of this word. With love we can be all things, with love we can have great gains for Christ.

Paul writes in 1 Cor 9:22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

You see, im reminded of a story this morning from Peter Miller.

Peter Miller was a Baptist pastor during the American Revolution. Miller, lived in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, and one of his dearest friends was General George Washington. In the town of Ephrata there also lived a spiteful troublemaker named Michael Wittman who did all he could to oppose and humiliate Miller.

One day, Wittman was arrested for treason and sentenced to death. When he heard the news, Miller set out to Philadelphia to plead for the life of his enemy. After walking seventy miles—on foot—Miller petitioned his friend, General Washington, to spare Wittman’s life.

“No, Peter,” General Washington said. “I cannot grant you the life of your friend.”

“My friend?” exclaimed the old preacher. “He’s not my friend. In fact, he is the bitterest enemy I have.”

“What?” cried Washington. “You’ve walked seventy miles to save the life of an enemy? That puts the matter in different light. I’ll grant your pardon.” And he did.

That day, Miller and Wittman walked back home to Ephrata together. When they arrived home, they were no longer enemies. They were friends.

You see, I don’t know how this story concludes. Or if Wittman ever gave his life to the Lord. But I do know, that through Miller’s actions. There was an opportunity of new life for Wittman.

You see, there’s an old saying that says Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.

John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Church, how are we doing in this area? When we talk about effectiveness in reaching the lost… we must begin with love. That is how others will know that we belong to Jesus. Are we doing that this morning?

That takes us to our 2nd point. Enduring love Impacts relationships.

We get to 1 corinthians 12:4-8 : 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

So, we get to the end of verse 8 and we notice 2 catagories about what love is… and what’s it not. There are 8 things in each category. We’re told Love is 1. patient 2. Kind 3. It rejoices with the truth 4. That it always protects 5. Trusts. 6. Hopes 7. Perserveres and 8. Never fails.

But then, we see what it’s not. First. It’s doesn’t envy, 2. Or boast, 3. it’s not proud, 4. it doesn’t dishonor honor others, 5. it’s not self-seeking, 6. It’s not easily angered, 7. it keeps no records of wrong, 8. and doesn’t delight in evil.

Now as we’re going through these list together, perhaps a good question to ask ourselves is, maybe “how do we measure up in these areas.” Am I loving? Am I patient, in my interaction with others? Am I kind? But can I challenge us with something for a moment. Cause here’s the heart of this point… let me asking you something, has there ever been a time in your life, where you personally have not active loving? Has there ever? (show of hands…)

I’ll tell on myself for a moment… there was a time last fall, last summer where I lost my patience with someone who cut me off in traffic, just this one time, hasn’t happened since… but I wasn’t very loving. And so… I honked my horn. And then, another time, this one a few years back, but someone gave me a bad look at the hardware store, so guess what? I didn’t hold the door for that person as he was walking out. I’ve been good ever since… but these 2 times, I failed…

Of course, I’m being sarcastic. We know what it means to not act loving. We live in a culture, where this is the norm. our society says take care of yourself first, everyone else is second…

So the question becomes how do we love others in an unloving world?

I want us to turn back to the book of exodus for a brief moment. One of my favorite books in the bible. And as you’re turning there, you may recall that the Isrealites have recently exited out of Egypt, they’ve crossed the red sea… and a short while later, they find themselves camped out at the base of Mt. Sinai. Now initially, Moses climbs to the top of Mt. Sinai to receive the Law, but on his return down, he finds aaron and the rest of the Isrealites worshipping a golden calf… So he goes back to the summit for 40 days and 40 nights.

and we’re told: Exodus 34: 28 Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.

29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.

So here’s the point, it wasn’t evident to Moses that his appearance was different (the bible says, “he was not aware”), but everyone else… they knew… You see Moses had been with God for 40 days, and he was literally radiating because of his time that he spent in God’s presence.

You say, what’s the point? Church, agape love… is not possible without an agape God. We can’t expect to radiate the love of Jesus without spending time in the presence of Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.

So as Christians, we have the spirit of God living inside of us… he teaches how to love. But we also have the flesh. And so love, although described as an emotion. Is really a choice.

Ephesians 5:1-2 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

In other words, it’s not a destination we arrive at one day. It’s a lifelong journey. It’s a commitment each day. To put on love, as it says in Colossians 3 and it’s a choice we make every day. A wife of Noble Character

Just for example, my wife has been filling in as a substitute teacher. And here’s what I’ve learned, you would expect this… but in hearing stories it breaks my heart. You see many children come from loving, nurturing homes, but many do not… Some of these children have tough home lives, situations, where mom and dad aren’t very loving, aren’t very caring. Nothing breaks my heart more than the idea of a child going to bed at night listening to fighting from the parents in the background. Or a child who just wants to be loved, but who’s parents don’t take the time to simply interact and love on them. In 2010, researchers at Duke University Medical School found that babies with very affectionate and attentive mothers grow up to be happier, more resilient, and less anxious adults. The study involved about 500 people who were followed from when they were infants until they were in their 30s. When the babies were eight months old, psychologists observed their mothers’ interactions with them as they took several developmental tests.

The psychologists rated the mother’s affection and attention level on a five-point scale ranging from “negative” to “extravagant.” Nearly 10 percent of the mothers showed low levels of affection, 85 percent demonstrated a normal amount of affection, and about six percent showed high levels of affection.

Then 30 years later, those same individuals were interviewed about their emotional health. The adults whose mothers showed “extravagant” or “caressing” affection were much less likely than the others to feel stressed and anxious. They were also less likely to report hostility, distressing social interactions, and other symptoms.

Church, would our homes always be loving, safe havens where our kids can run to. They’re not getting the love and support that they need from relationships at school. They’re not getting it from the social media, or media or society, what our children desperately need is our love. What our world desperately needs, is our love.. But again, it doesn’t start with you… You have to spend time with God.

You see in proverbs 19:22 we’re told 22 What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.. Unfailing love, hard to come by, but so impactful, so needed in this world today.

Church, would we make the difference this morning? Would we spend time with God, so as others see us, they would see Jesus through us?

3. Last point: Enduring love leaves a legacy

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

We won’t spend a lot of time on this point. But I want us to see briefly that Paul discusses our current state, and compares it with a child who has not been fully mature or realized. And then he compares that with the completion that is to come in heaven when we will be with Jesus face to face. But the last verse I want to briefly draw our attention to is verse 13. It says And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Church. the truth is, someday, for those of us who are Christians, we will certainly go to Heaven. But here’s the question for you this morning, what sort of things will others say about you when it’s time to go? When your called to glory (assuming the rapture doesn’t happen of course) what will your loved ones say? What will you do with your time on earth?

Morris Lowe

1. Are we using love to reach the lost?

2. Are we spending time with the Lord? Time in Prayer?

Pray