Sunday, June 18, 2017

On Father's Day and Always - Love is good for your heart

“Love never fails” I Corinthians 13:8

Today is Father’s Day, and so many fathers and children are separated today due to divorce.  Not just physically, but emotionally separated.  We may stand in church and sing, “You’re a good, good Father, it’s who you are…” but we are talking about God.  At the same time, we may be emotionally separated from our earthly father.  But God has called us to love.  If you are an adult or teenager who doesn’t have a relationship with your earthly father, I say gently that it’s time to reach out in love.  It’s time to swallow your pride and call or text or write and just say hello.  You don’t have to go all out, you can just say something along the lines of, “I hope you have a nice Father’s Day”.  Whether you’re physically a part of that day or not doesn’t matter.  Love never fails after all and forgiveness is key to loving someone.  You might never have a close relationship with this man, but you will release him and also set yourself free from whatever hurts he brought upon you.  It doesn’t really hurt physically but it takes courage and the ability to “put yourself out there”.  So it may hurt emotionally to make that contact but go ahead and do it.  Your simple act of love can make a difference in so many lives.

If you’re the dad, then you make the call or the text (you know all your kids have cell phones).  They may or may not respond to you, doesn’t matter.  You make the first step and remember that love never fails.  Realize they probably have a deep well of hurt and resentment - but one drop of love into that well can make a difference.  Just saying hello lets them know you thought of them today and remembered them on this day.  

"Love never fails" – as Beth Moore has written, “I used to think this verse meant that love wouldn’t fail to bring about the exact results I wanted.  But “fail” actually portrays something that drops to the ground, thereby having no effect.  So with a better grasp on the concept these days, I can make you a bold, biblical promise:  When you really love – difficulty and sacrificially – it never falls to the ground.  Never.  Not once.  Not ever.  God catches it even if no one else does.  According to His Word, we are incapable of loving in Jesus’ name and for the sake of His sacrificial legacy for nothing.  Love absolutely cannot fail".