The Things We Do For Love

It was around 11:30 p.m. by the time we made it home from Turner's football game Friday night. We turned right around and hit the road at 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning to drive to Plainview for the oldest three son's football game for Wayland Baptist University. We got home around 9:00 p.m.  last night road weary. We cooked in the sun for that game on the metal bleachers like hotdogs on an outdoor grill. After the game we all ate together, including Taylor's girlfriend, who went with us.

It is the first time since July 4th that all the Edwards family sat around the same table for a meal. I cherish those times. They are fewer and further in between. We filled their vehicles with gas, brought some groceries and got a few snacks for them. The things we do for love.

Parents who love their children willingly sacrifice for them. They sacrifice time, money and readjust schedules to support their children. They do so because they love. Love makes someone willing to sacrifice sleep, money, and service without giving a second thought to it. You do because you love.

What about when it comes to our relationship with Jesus? Do we do because we love? Or do we do service for Him out of duty and obligation? Churches seem to struggle when it comes to getting people to volunteer to serve. Some of the few they do eventually get seem to do so reluctantly and begrudgingly.

Shouldn't the people of God want to serve Him joyfully? I think the root problem is a love problem. That is exactly what Jesus addressed when He was asked which was the greatest commandment. Read His response.

Matthew 22:36-40 (ESV)
36  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
37  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
38  This is the great and first commandment.
39  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
40  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

John 14:15 (NKJV)
15  "If you love Me, keep My commandments.

If we love Jesus we will not mind laboring for Him. If we love Jesus we will not mind obeying Him and His commands. We will not discard the effort to seek Him and get close to Him. We will not begrudge sacrificing money for His causes. We will eagerly discover our spiritual gifting and put it into service for Him. You do because you love.

 Because people loved Jesus they forsook sleep. They willingly lived in poverty to reach impoverished people. They left homes and families to follow Jesus to the far corners of the world. They surrendered vacations to go to camp as a sponsor or go on a short term mission trip. They studied each week to teach a class. They volunteered in the children's departments. They dug deep in their pockets to give to causes that expand the kingdom of God. They did all of that and more because they loved. It's just a few of the things we do for love. Jesus is worth all of it and more.