Message from Pastor Leo

December 15, 2008

As a young man, the Apostle John was known to be hot-headed.  In fact, he and his brother James were nicknamed the “sons of thunder”.  Well, history records that John outlived all the other apostles.  And over the many years, he aged like a fine cheese.  Despite a life of trouble and persecution, John became a very mellow and sweet-natured man.

As an old man, John was famous for always saying, “Little children, love one another.”  He didn’t say much, but when he did speak, he’d say, “Little children, love one another”.  What made John change?  He was a “Son of Thunder”.  He was a hothead.  How did he become so sweet and gentle?  John changed because he had a close, personal relationship with Jesus.

Do you remember the story of the Last Supper in the gospel of John?  As they were reclining around the table, John was the one who laid his head on the chest of Jesus.  What do you think he heard?  He may have heard a little “thump thump – thump thump”.  Jesus was a real human being.  And John was such a good friend of Jesus’ that he could be close enough to hear The Lord’s heart beat.  John spent so much time with Jesus, he was so close to Him, that Jesus “rubbed off” on him.  Of course, the other Apostles could have had that same relationship with Jesus, but they were too stand-offish and missed the intimacy.

You know, some of us are just as reserved and stand-offish.  We don’t have a close, personal relationship with Jesus because we’re too busy.  We’re too busy being busy, or being right, or being a theologian, or being noticed.

The only way we’re going to be like Jesus is to be intimate with Him.  And when we learn to love the way Jesus loves us, we learn to love sacrificially.  When we love the way Jesus loves, we learn to bite our tongue.  We don’t always have to be the one talking.  We don’t have to have the last word.  We don’t have to always be right.  We can be patient.  We’ll even “take the hit” sometimes, so someone else doesn’t have to suffer.

How about you?  Are you taking the time to be close enough and quiet enough to hear His heart?  Are you learning how to love the way He loves?

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:13-14

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8

And you know what?  Jesus did that for you.  He humbled himself and became obedient unto death - for you - because He loves you.

The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 1 Corinthians 11:23-24

One day, someone finally asked the old Apostle, “John, why do you always say, ‘Little children, love one another?’”  History tells us that John looked him in the eye and said, “When you love one another, enough is done.”

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Philippians 2:3-4

The only way you can love another so that “enough is done” is to snuggle up to the Savior.  Read your Bible.  Let His love permeate your soul and overflow to those around you.

Read your Bible.

May the Lord Jesus Christ Be Magnified!

Pastor Leo A. Giovinetti