CERRO GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
March 3, 2024
Lord Teach Us To Love
Mark 12:29 – 31
In four weeks, we will celebrate Easter. This was the moment God
proved, even though he did not have to, how much he loved all the
people--past, present and future. We will begin looking in depth at all
the events leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection next Sunday.
Before we look at those events again, I would like for us to look today
at what Godly love really is like. Is it flowing through out lives as it
should be? If not, why? How can we get it and day in and day out put it
into practice? One of the best ways to know if we have God’s love
flowing though us on a consistent basis is our ability to forgive. Jesus
taught his disciples how to pray as written in Matthew 6. One of the
points in the prayer Jesus taught his disciples was to ask God to forgive
us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. Jesus then bluntly
states in verses 14 and 15 of chapter 6, “For if you forgive man when
they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if
you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your
sins.”
So, as we consider the verses, we first read which stated what the
greatest commandment was, we saw that the love of God and the love
for our neighbor covers all of the other commandments. Now as we
consider these two verses about forgiveness, we can see if we do not
have the ability to forgive one another, we really don’t love God or our
neighbor.
When Cathy and I were gone we spent a total of around 20 hours in
planes. Several years ago, I bought the book, Mere Christianity by
C.S. Lewis. I had started on it some time ago but had not completed it.
So I took it with me hoping to complete it. I wish reading was
something that came naturally to me but it does not. Anyway, I began
reading this book again and found several points interesting that
C. S. Lewis was making. Quick quiz--What book is C.S. Lewis probably
best known for? Chronicles of Narnia. I do not know how many of you
have read Mere Christianity or any of the other books C.S. Lewis has
written but if you are familiar with him, you already know in early
adulthood he was an atheist. C.S. Lewis felt God’s presence in ways
around him he could not keep on denying and he ultimately accepted
Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior from that time on and all his books
had a Christian theme to them.
Mere Christianity reflects the journey he has been on as a Christian and
tells of his observations about Christianity, Christians and the world.
Some of you may know C.S. Lewis is from Great Britian. Early in the
chapter entitled “Forgiveness” he makes this statement. “Everyone says
forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive, as we
had during the war.” Those of you who know history know Germany
bombed London day after day, killing hundreds of thousands and C.S.
Lewis recognized God is compelling His people to find forgiveness in
their hearts for everyone, even those who sought to kill you. How easy
is that to do?
C.S. Lewis went on to tell of a news story where someone was accused
of doing terrible things. It was a person easy to dislike, easy to hate. But
it turned out the person had not done the things he was accused of
doing. He goes on to say how disappointed many were that the person
had not done the things he was accused of. Because they had created
such dislike, they wanted the person to be punished. He goes on to
suggest the true evil person may be the one who still holds the grudge.
Can that at times happen to anyone of us? What C.S. Lewis writes in
this chapter is consistent with what the Bible says. We are to hate evil,
this is true. We must condemn sin when it is in direct contradiction to
God and His word. However, we must always promote love in all
circumstances. While many today do not believe in the death penalty,
C.S. Lewis said this as he wrapped up the chapter on forgiveness. “We
may kill, if necessary, but we must not hate and enjoy hating. We may
punish, if necessary, but we must not enjoy it.” He goes on to say,
“Even while we kill and punish, we must try to feel about the enemy as
we feel about ourselves to wish that he were not bad, to hope that he
may, in this world or another be cured; in fact, to wish his good.” That
is what is meant in the Bible by loving him, wishing his good, not feeling
fond of him nor saying he is nice when he is not. I admit that this means
loving people who have nothing lovable about that.”
Let’s face it, some people are not easy to love. Some are not easy to
forgive, but Jesus made it clear if we expect God to forgive us, we must
be willing to forgive. If we expect God’s love and mercy, we must be
wiling to show love and mercy to one another. Every night on the news
you can hear stories of evil done to someone across this country. How
often do we take a minute to pray for the victims and their families?
How often do we pray for those who have committed those evil
crimes? Jesus not only commanded us to love the Lord our God and
love our neighbor as ourselves, he also said in Matthew 5:44-45, “But I
tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that
you may be the sons and daughters of your Father in heaven. The
sermon title is “Lord Teach Us to Love”. C.S. Lewis identifies how
difficult it can be to love as Christ loves us. Without the Holy Spirit’s
help, it is impossible to love as God loves us. May we admit to our
prejudices and our shortcomings and honestly ask God to teach us to
love as he loves us.
Pastor Larry
Announcements:
Sunday School 9:00
Tuesday 9:30 Bible Study
March 10—Commissions and Board meetings after worship
March 20—12:00 Women’s Fellowship luncheon and
meeting—meal provided, in the Fellowship Hall
--Newsletters are available in the back.
--Please sign up to give a children’s message during worship
and/or children’s story lesson in the nursery during the sermon.
We need your help.
Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362
Donation Box for March: Camp Emmanuel
First Sundays: Food Bank donations
Keep in Your Prayers
Carole McClarey; Dave White; Louis & Carol Sulwer; Ava; Nora
Hanaver; Jan Bower; Larry Traxler; Randy and Michelle West; Mike
Gentry; Eli Brunner; Nancy Fansler; Doug Larrick; Ron & Kathleen
Petersen; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Tina Wilhelm; Mike and
Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Mayo & Darlene
Hanaver; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many unspoken requests;
victims of disasters; victims of shootings; shut-ins; the Nigerian
church; Haitian Brethren; Ukraine; Israel and Hamas war
Military and Other Services and their families
Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers
District Prayer Calendar: Pray for the York Center congregation and
for Children’s Disaster Services.
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