Love Them Anyway

274 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Ti 3:10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, (2 Tim 3:10) We've talked about Paul's doctrine, manner of life, purpose, and perseverance in presenting the gospel, today, let's talk about Paul's example of love and perseverance. Timothy had witnessed Paul's dedication to loving on people no matter what! The love spoken of here is agape love, which is defined as giving people what they need, not necessarily what they want. The people wanted a King to rule in a physical kingdom on earth to deliver the people from the yoke of oppressive governments, but God gave us a sacrificial Lamb to deliver us from our sin problem, which is our deepest need! It's funny, unless God opens our eyes, we are almost never happy with this kind of love! Give us what we want! Look how the people turned on Jesus when they realized He was not going to be the earthly Messiah they wanted. But God “agaped” them (and us) anyway! People were not happy with Paul's message of salvation by grace versus salvation by works, and look how he was treated, but he persevered in agapeing them anyway. A poem entitled “Anyway” found framed on the wall of Mother Theresa's children's home in Calcutta began with these words: People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered....love them anyway. This kind of love demonstrated by Paul was observed by Timothy and served as a model for him and it ought to be a model for us. A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine was having a difficult time at work. It the sort of thing that happens to all of us sooner or later. And whereas I am apt to go in with guns ablazing trying to fix the situation, my friend's plan was quote: “I'm just going to go in to work tomorrow and love on people.” What a great solution! Love on people and let God do the rest! It is as Jesus said in Lu 6:35 "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. This kind of love can only come from God! Ask Him for it! Use it! And patiently wait for His results.