April 17, 2000

Lessons for April 30


FAMILY BIBLE SERIES:
Love should be strongest when life's gales blow
___ 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13
___By Stacy Conner
___First Baptist Church, Muleshoe
___We usually read the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians during the very calm, white, sanitary setting of a wedding service. With the bride and groom standing before friends and family, the preacher reads, "Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends" (vs. 4-8).
___I can hear the blissful sighs from the congregation now. People gaze at the couple standing before them as if they capture the true ideas of love.
___Well, that would be pleasant if that were as difficult as life becomes.
___Please hear my testimony as one who does not live a difficult life. I have a wonderful wife, three healthy, somewhat obedient children, and I pastor a great church. Yet at the time of this writing, we are having our house painted. For over a week we have been living with the furniture crowded into the middle of the rooms, covered under drop cloths. The contents of every closet have been emptied, sifted, folded, refolded, stacked and restacked, and put back into place. We have had children sleeping on the floor of our bedroom while the painters were painting theirs. We have a choir robe rack in our living room holding clothes and such.
___On top of that, we have just completed a building project, attended baseball tryouts and a draft, presented at the Chamber of Commerce Banquet, taught high school math, attended several baseball games and track meets. TAAS tests begin on Tuesday for all three of our children, and next week is Palm Sunday. Whew!
___Naturally, we are swinging from the end of our ropes. It is times like these and many others far more difficult that test Paul's words. The commitment of Christian love can overcome many challenges. So often we mistake the romantic ideals of love with genuine love. Christian love is a family enduring and enjoying the everyday challenges of life while holding hands. Christian love recognizes that people have faults and failures, and they work to overcome those. Christian love takes irritable situations and does not respond in kind. Love builds up when the winds seem to be pushing everything over.
___No, Christian love is not the stuff of country music, cheap fiction, afternoon television or most cinematic productions. Instead, love takes break neck schedules and negotiates them with care.
___Christian love is the daily visit to sit with a wife or husband who no longer remembers the spouse's name. Love is forgiveness for harsh words said in haste. Love is putting together what has been broken. Unfortunately, we associate this masterpiece with weddings. In reality, Christians display it in the grind of everyday life. Love "... bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails" (vs. 7-8).

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