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First Baptist Church: Williams, Arizona - They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love
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First Baptist Church: Williams, Arizona - They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love
At dinner last night, I asked my waitress what church I should go to. She said that the church she went to was great.
She told me 3 times how good the pastor was. She attended First Baptist Church of Williams, Arizona. It was even a Southern Baptist Church. I haven't found a Southern Baptist Church for several weeks now. I knew I had my place of worship for Sunday.
The waitress admitted that she hadn't been a regular attendee. I encouraged her to attend with me. She said Sunday was the last day of her husband's vacation and he wouldn't agree to go. She wasn't willing to go alone. She promised that they would go the very next week.
The first thing I noticed about this church was that they were very friendly. I don't know if being friendly is a requirement for God's church but I do know that I prefer friendly churches. Several people greeted me and someone walked me to my Bible School Class.
The next thing I noticed about the church is that they love to laugh. The room was filled with laughter. They finally settled down and started the serious Bible Study. Someone entered late. Her name was Sue and she started the joking all over again.
She was teased about disrupting the class. She quickly said that everyone in here but the "pretty lady" sitting over there knows that I can't enter a room without talking. God will have to forgive my vanity because anyone that calls me pretty has my heart. Sue and I became instant friends. We swapped e-mail addresses and will most likely stay in touch. Sue makes me laugh and I love to laugh.
God is so wonderful. The Bible Study was on Matthew 22:37-40.
Jesus replied: "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-41 NIV
As you probably know, this is one of the New Testament versions of part of the Shema. This is the theme for my journey. We talked about what it means to love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind. In the Old Testament version, mind is might. We talked about how one actually loves their neighbor.
This scripture was important to me before I left Jacksonville. The part that has come alive for me is Jesus saying, This is the first and greatest commandment.
This simple statement is almost an understatement when we read it. I'm coming to believe that this is everything in our walk with God.
When Jesus said it, I can picture him saying it in a loud passionate voice. I can picture everyone seeing the fire in his eyes and feeling how worthy he was to love. Picture Jesus looking at you. Hear him say these words to you. He is offering you the secret to happiness.
If churches could embrace this, they would be full on Sundays.
If families could embrace this with their entire being, it would wipe out divorce, drugs, violence, crime, and many diseases.
We wouldn't have to teach the Ten Commandments or morals if we could somehow teach loving God and loving our neighbors.
If we love God and love our neighbors, it takes care of the entire Ten Commandments. Jesus made the commandments very simple for us and summed up his entire purpose in this scripture.
As people talked about how they loved God, one thing was clear. In our walk with him, we either are loving him more or growing more distant from him each day. It was also clear that love is action. We talked about it being a journey and how we have never arrived. How exciting it is that no matter how much we love him, we can love God more than we do now.
We talked about how few Christians actually begin their mornings with a time with God. I wondered aloud why that was. Spending regular and disciplined quality time in the morning in prayer, Bible study, and meditation is critical to our falling in love with God. It is where we get the daily instructions for loving our neighbors.
I often hear people say, "I'm too busy to do it in the morning."
I hear, "I pray on the way to work."
I hear, "I do it at night."
I hear, "I pray all day long.
I hear, "I pray after I get my children ready for school."
If you do those things, thank God. We are instructed to do all of this. We are also supposed to spend time in the morning with God. The time in the morning is the most critical because we are fresh and we have the day in front of us. God speaks to us one day at the time and it takes getting quiet to hear his voice. This time needs to include Bible Study and talking and listening to God.
We would be so much more loving in our morning tasks if we begin with quiet time with God.
When I got to my hotel, I looked up "morning" in the Bible.
It is mentioned 217 times. There are many scriptures about people starting their day with time with God.
Jesus prayed early in the morning. He went off by himself to his regular spot and spent "solitary time with God."
Below are some of the scriptures I found.
"Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD." Genesis 19: 27-28 NIV
"And in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD" Exodus 16:7 NIV
"He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel." Exodus 16:7 NIV
"They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same in the evening." 1 Chronicles 23:30 NIV
"But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you." Psalms 88:13 NIV
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Mark 1:35 NIV
One of the revelations in the Bible Study Class was that when you get all of the excuses out of the way, the truth is, many Christians don't spend time with God because they don't want to hear what God is saying to them. That is a painful thing to realize. There is nothing anyone of us could decide to do that would be more rewarding that listening to God.
I have heard from several people how good their pastor is. I was briefly disappointed to find out he was out of town. The youth minister preached and I was so blessed. He is an excellent speaker. He is also sincere. He was dressed casually and spoke straight from the heart.
The message was about letting go of the god's we put before God. I thought about our discussion in Bible Study and all of the gods Christians may choose to serve.
The minister said two key things.
1. If there is anything keeping you from God, that is your idol.
2. Do one thing today to remove that idol and move in the direction of God.
We read Judges 2:1-5
"The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars. Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be [thorns] in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you." Judges 2:1-5 NIV
He made the point that we could choose to keep our idols but that they would always be a "thorn in our side."
I thought back on the idols I have had in my lifetime. Anything I have ever put before God became a "thorn in my side."
He begged us to just give up our idols. With a plea in his voice, he said that if we left there and did nothing, his words had no meaning. He repeated his request to do one thing to move towards God.
He ended on such an encouraging note. The Biblical figure Joshua had a tough assignment from God. God gave him encouragement in Joshua 1:1-9.
It is no wonder some people are afraid to hear what God is asking of us. God sometimes has big assignments. We are always happiest when we follow God's plan. It is also true that God can make all things possible.
Read the following scripture as if God is talking to you.
"No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 1:5 NIV
What are the thorns in your side?
Is it your work? Is it your husband, wife, or children? Are you using your responsibility to them as an excuse for not spending time with God in the morning? Get up earlier. Listen to God in the morning. Talk and listen to Him before you talk to them. Spend your day doing what He tells you to do. You will love more. Things will get better.
Is it a craving for substances like food, drugs, alcohol, or tobacco? It is interesting that in 12 step recovery programs, morning prayer and meditation are strongly recommended if recovery is desired. I also recommend a 12 Step recovery program for help in these areas. And if you do want recovery, take their advice and spend time with God in the morning.
Is your idol money or lack of money? Instead of getting to work sooner, spend time with God in the morning. He will tell you what to do. When we work with love in our hearts, we are better employees. Better employees get better financial rewards.
Are you tired all of the time? You may think you need to sleep later. If lack of rest is your thorn, get up earlier and spend time with God. Do what he says. It will get better.
The service started this morning with Edith Pouquette reading stories to children. They were based on Bible stories and she had written them herself. What a delight they were. I wish she would publish them.
Sue invited me to the covered dish luncheon after the service. Naturally, I accepted. I had such fun. I talked to so many wonderful people.
I didn't mention the music in the service. I enjoyed it. Lately, I have been attending contemporary services. As a musician, I have a policy of allowing myself to enjoy all types of music. I refuse to allow any type of prejudice to cause me not to enjoy music.
I love contemporary music. I also enjoy traditional music. It was a nice change of pace to sing some of the old familiar hymns today. We also sang praise choruses.
One hymn we sang was "They will know we are Christians by our love."
Does the world know you by your love?
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