Text Box: REAL LOVE Peter Denby, Jr. When we accept Jesus into our lives we accept the responsibility that goes with it. We not only are to follow Christ in all that we do but we are to show the love that Jesus (and God) has for us. Recently my wife found the book “She Said Yes” and bought it for me. I say this not because it would be super special, my wife does love me, but because she knew that the story was one that I continually speak of due to it touching me so deeply. I would recommend that everyone get the book. (“She Said Yes” by Misty Bernall; Plough Publishing House; ISBN 0874869870). I do not normally recommend products here but feel deeply about this one. “She Said Yes” is about Cassie Bernall and her life which ended in Littleton, Colorado. When I read this book it was amazing the insight I got into teens today and the importance of things that were right in front of me, but that remained invisible to me. It is easy to repeat scriptures and know what they say but do we put them deep in our heart. Verses like Matthew 6:33, John 14:15, and John 15:13 are well known to all but are they in our hearts? Lets look at some areas of true love. Matthew 6:33 says But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Seek the kingdom of God and His justice first, and then all the rest will be added to you. Unknown translation from “She Said Yes” ). We continually look at the message as how God will help us if we seek Him first. And yet it might be more important to look at the part about worry and focus it along with 2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. The message then becomes - you never know when you will die, so got out and teach everyone that you can. I remember a preacher in the Midwest, who after a severe life threatening trauma, talked with the paramedics as they worked to save his life. He continued his teaching up until the time they had to knock him out to take him to surgery. Should this not be how we respond? Cassie’s response is not unique. In Daniel 3:16-25 we see a similar situation. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. hen was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. We have a choice to as was done in Daniel 3 or we can follow the way of Peter in Matthew 26:34, 69-74 Jesus said unto him [Peter], Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. Shall we fight for God or deny Him? How far are you willing to go for God? John 15:13 says Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Then we should lay down our life for our greatest friend of all - Jesus! He did for us! Cassie and others not only laid down their life for Jesus, but I am sure that they have laid down their life for everyone. As we saw in 2 Peter 3:9 God is not willing that any should perish… So why should we? I am sure that Cassie and others would like people to see their love for a God that loves them as well as the fact that they know where they will be for eternity. We are commanded in John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. In Matthew 28:19-20 we are commanded to Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. In Matthew 22:36-40 we are taught Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Working from what we have just seen then we can see that we should have the love of evangelism - teaching others about Jesus and what He has done for us. We need to learn to not be selfish and not to worry about what we need or want but worry about what our Father in Heaven wants. The verses above make it very clear what God’s will is. Today too many of us equally have our heads buried in the sand. I know that I was amazed at how teenagers today are not just playing with Satan but are actively giving themselves over to him. So many teens today feel lost and we need to make sure that we find a way to reach them before the Satanists do! We should not be willing that any should fall into the hands of the devil (perish) but that all should come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. We need to try to remember the days (not just in September) when we were away from the peace that overcomes all things. We need to remember that we may be called to a situation where we will be required to answer “yes” or “no” to the question of belief before non believers that would kill us. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Revelation 2:10 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 DO NOT GIVE UP YOUR LOVE FOR GOD AND YOUR NEIGHBOR!