Simple Rule #3

Monday, March 30, 2009

Rev. Mark preached last Sunday about John Wesley’s third simple rule, "Stay in Love with God." I pondered all week one of his statements. Referring to the little attention we give to expressing our love for God, Mark said we’ve become “accustomed to his grace.” All week I’ve sung in my mind a variation of a song lyric, “We’ve Grown Accustomed to His Grace.” It’s so true. We take God for granted when we do not actively show our love for him in our thoughts, words, and actions. Mark posed the question, “How would all of our other relationships work if we treated everyone the way we treat God?” Ouch! If we ignored our friends and loved ones, how long would they stay in our lives?

In his book, Three Simple Rules, Rueben Job enumerates the essential spiritual disciplines that Wesley believed we must practice in order to stay in love with God.

• A daily time of prayer
• Reflection upon and study of Scripture
• Regular participation in the life of a Christian community, including weekly worship and regular participation in the Lord’s Supper
• Doing some act of goodness or mercy
• Taking opportunities to share with and learn from others who also seek to follow the way of Jesus

This list, in essence, describes God’s “love language.” When we make these practices the habits of our lives, we show our love for God. We’re speaking his “love language” when we spend time with him, pay attention to him, express our devotion to him, and share his love with others. Aren’t these the behaviors we show to the people we love?

Singing is a way for me to express my love for God. Last week when I was in Italy with a group from my church, we took a gondola ride through the beautiful canals of Venice. The six ladies in our boat eagerly waited for the gondolier to serenade us with a melodic Italian love song. It didn’t happen. So, my friend Paulina and I belted out in English the Christian version of the Italian love song, “O Sole a Mio.” The words of the chorus to this song called “Down From His Glory” proclaim adoration for Christ.

Oh, how I love Him, how I adore Him,
My breath, my sunshine, my all in all
The Great Creator became my savior,
And all God's fullness dwelleth in Him .What fun we had singing the chorus over and over through the channels and under the bridges where Italians and tourists cheered us on with applause. Many couldn’t understand our language, but they recognized the joy in our expression. God certainly understood our “love language.” I don’t think we should go about our daily life constantly singing our love for Jesus at the top of our lungs (In fact, Paulina and I finally got quite over ourselves after 7 or 8 rounds of the chorus!). However, wouldn’t it be great to feel that sense of abandon and freedom more often when we express our love for God?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all you mind, and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30

Let’s discipline ourselves to stay in love with God by making a habit of spiritual practices. Let’s speak his “love language!”

Do Good

Monday, March 16, 2009

Reuben Job writes about three simple rules that have the power to change the world.
Do no harm
Do good
Stay in love with God
By following rule #1 we would avoid responding in a way that does not cause damage or destruction to humankind, God’s creation, and ourselves. Practicing this rule has proven to be enormously challenging as I’ve tried to carefully consider all of my thoughts, words, and actions.

Now I’m focusing on rule #2 and as Job says, “things begin to get even more complicated.” It sounds simple to do good, but how good do I need to be and how often do I need to do good? Like doing no harm, doing good is a proactive way of living. This rule requires us to seek good for everyone in our world and in God’s world. Every word and deed must come out of love and obedience to God.

Wesley taught that we must be Christian in word and deed and referred to these actions as “works of mercy.” He practiced what he preached by living modestly and giving all he could to the poor, visiting prisons, speaking out against slavery, and dispensing medicine from his chapels. http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/wesley/mission.stm

Doing good is often overwhelming when we observe all the needs of our families, co-workers, friends, congregations, neighborhoods, and communities. Add the needs around the world and it’s mind boggling. Where do we start?

Let’s start by following Jesus’ example.

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good. Acts 10:38

Jesus did good as he went about his daily life as he saw needs. He ministered in everyday life.

He ministered as he went on his way.
On his way to Jerusalem he stopped in Bethany to visit with Mary and Martha.
On his way to Capernaum he taught his disciples the importance of service.

He ministered as he went out of his way.
Hearing of his cousin’s John’s death, Jesus needed to be alone in his grief, but he heard the voices of needy people and went out of his way and “healed the sick” (Matthew 14:14).

He ministered in all kinds of ways.
He healed a blind man. He told stories to children. He ate with sinners. He attended a wedding feast. He fished with the disciples. He taught at the synagogue.

Jesus didn’t rent an auditorium or do a mass mailing to advertise his ministry or establish a foundation in order to do his good deeds.

He set out each day with eyes open and ears tuned in to the needs that arose around him throughout the course of the day.

We can do that too! We can be alert to the needs around us and then as we surrender to God’s leading, we can do good. Who needs a card of encouragement? Who needs a home-cooked meal? What charity needs a financial donation or an act of service? How can I extend hospitality and kindness to all I meet? How can I do good to those who disagree with me?
Do good…
on our way
out of our way
in all kinds of ways.

But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Luke 6:27-27