DEMONSTRATING LOVE

1 Thessalonians 3: 8-13

First Sunday in Advent

December 3, 2006

Today, we begin the Advent season. Advent’s is a solemn or quiet joy—one of expectation or anticipation, much like, I suppose the quiet joy of expectant parents waiting for the birth of their child. Our joy is in Christ’s having come as the Babe in the manger, knowing Him through His cross while we expect His coming again upon the clouds as King of Kings. Ours is a quiet joy.

We begin the Advent season with the lighting of a candle on the Advent wreath. The tradition of the Advent wreath is a relatively recent one. So, depending on where you grew up—or who your pastor was—you will not all agree on how each candle is named or identified. Some may identify the candles according to characters in the Christmas story—the Prophet, the Baptist (as in John the Baptist), the Shepherds and the Family—while others may know each candle by a virtue or theme of Christmas—Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—the order not agreed upon. Today we light the candle we will call LOVE.

As that candle’s light flickers in our midst, we consider love. If we would go down to LODO and ask folks what “love” means, we would no doubt get as many definitions as people we would ask. Some would speak of romantic love, others of love in the context of relationships like family or friends and some would speak of love that gives—one or two might even speak of sacrificial love, love that gives itself without concern of reward. All of these are meanings of “love.”

Today, though, we will ask the Apostle Paul rather than folks in LODO. We have what he wrote to the Thessalonians about love in action—for Paul, love is never just a noun, it is a verb. As we consider Paul’s words, I would like to suggest the following acrostic: Live Outwardly the Victory Everyday/Eternally—the “e” can do double duty.

Live—or as the folks at Nike might say, “just do it.” It is easy for us to make concepts or abstracts out of things—like “faith” or “love.” Faith is not just KNOWLEDGE. It is something than knowing about God or knowing Biblical facts. It is more than just something in our heads. Faith is more than simply ASSENT and it is more than just TRUST—all of these together are faith, but together they are not just words—they are action. Faith expresses itself and when it does, we see it as love.

“Live” means to put LOVE into action. Love is a verb. How shall we put this love into action? Paul has some suggestions. He writes to the Thessalonians that something is lacking in their faith walks, something he will provide when he arrives—Paul will encourage them, connecting his heart with theirs. Love encourages.

It is easy to criticize. We are analytical folks and so breaking things down into smaller pieces is something we do. Unfortunately, rather than simply being constructive, our criticisms break the person down into smaller pieces along with their work or their words. Rather than such criticism or blaming, Paul suggests that love builds up—encourages the other. Love encourages.

Paul writes that he prays for the Thessalonians. He prays that they remain faithful. He prays for them before God. We pray—parents pray for their children, children for their parents and so forth. We pray each other through difficult times. Love prays.

I would suggest that love would take us beyond only praying for those we like. Think about those people who have hurt you or betrayed you or those whom you have decided to hate. What if you prayed for them? What if you prayed for them, putting them in God’s hands? Suddenly, they aren’t your enemies anymore; they’re people for whom you’re praying. Love prays.

Love does. Love is not just words about loving or about caring. Love is not propositional, it is operational. You and I demonstrate care for others. How? Maybe today you remembered someone who isn’t confident driving when it’s icy and called and offered to bring him or her to worship. Maybe you know someone who has a need that you can help meet. Love demonstrates itself, remembering that God demonstrates His love for you and me. Love does.

Outwardly. God’s love directs itself outward. What begins in God’s heart is directed outward to the world He so loves. Love isn’t turned in on itself in selfishness and greed. Love carries us outward from God’s heart. You may remember earlier when I suggested that the triangle could remind us of the directions which love can travel.

The top point of the triangle points up, directing our love in action to our God in praise and thanks for what He’s already done and continues to do for in Christ. The second point we’ll say points in, reminding us to demonstrate love to those “inside” the fellowship of Christians—those who are members of Mount Olive and other Christians—showing our love in acts of service. Our hands become Christ’s hands, reaching out to serve. Our feet become His feet, taking His love to places where hurting people live. Our lips become His lips, speaking that encouragement.

The final point of the triangle points out. God’s love takes our love out into the world that He so loved that He sent His Son to be Savior. We demonstrate love in actions in a world that doesn’t know—and sometimes, doesn’t care—that God so loves it to show that His love has made a difference in our lives. We show people that His love is real as they see our actions and that our love is real. Love reaches up to praise; in to serve; and out to show God’s love to be real.

The Victory is His victory. The victory that Christ won through His coming first as that Babe in the manger. Advent’s joy is found in celebrating who Jesus is—the Savior. Advent’s joy is found once again remembering how much God loves us and to what lengths—and depths—His love will go so that we will not be separated from Him, but be the objects of His love.

His victory is our salvation. Through the cross and open tomb, Jesus frees us from selfishness and greed—from fear that keeps us living in that selfishness and greed, defining love in our terms rather than His. He sets us free to love by His first Advent. As we await His coming again, we mark the days in anticipation—that quiet joy that seeks to live out the difference that He’s made in our lives. We seek to mark these days He’s redeemed living as His people, led to demonstrate love by His Spirit.

Everyday and eternally we love. You and I know what everyday love looks like. Men and women stand before God’s altar and makes promises to love and become husbands and wives. Those promises include love “in sickness and in health.” You and I have seen that promise kept as one demonstrates love everyday as a caregiver. Parents gather at the font and promise to show love for their children in the context of baptism. How many parents pray their children through those difficult years of searching, showing their love by always keeping the door open when those searchers reach the end of the road?

If such show love in those contexts, cannot Christians do the same? Think about those situations about which we’ve already spoken. Think about those folks in your friendship circles, your family, at your job or in your school who so desperately need to see love in action in their lives. People who wish to know that love is real and for them. You and I have the opportunity today. Each day, God provides opportunities to live the triangle—up to praise, in to serve and out to show love to the world He so loves. Live Outwardly the Victory Everyday.

Live love outwardly for eternity. Love has a goal. Our anticipation of Jesus’ return includes a hope of heaven. That hope of heaven is the goal of God’s love for us. It is the goal of our love that reaches out to demonstrate His love to those who do not know Him. Christ’s victory is real and the consequences of not being connected to His victory are fatal. We would love them into heaven, showing them His love in our actions so they can know His love and see it in action. Live Outwardly the Victory Eternally.

Today we light a candle on the Advent wreath against the darkness of winter. Living His love outwardly everyday, you and I are the candle. We shine His light into the darkness around us. Shine His love. Be the candle of love.