1 Peter 4:7-11, The Message – Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
Long before I became a pastor (so a really long time ago!), my Dad told me about his favorite pastor growing up. The pastor’s name was Rev. Brown. My Dad said that Rev. Brown had replaced a pastor who was known for his excellent sermons. Rev. Brown ran into trouble early on in his time at their church because his sermons were terribly boring. But very quickly, my Dad remembered, the complaints about the sermons began to subside. It wasn’t because the sermon quality improved for my Dad said they weren’t that good for the duration of Rev. Brown’s tenure. The complaints stopped because Rev. Brown’s strength was the way he loved on the people. He knew everyone and he made everyone feel like they were valued and loved. The love Rev. Brown had made up for the boring sermons.
Despite popular sentiment, the value of a church is not determined by the quality of the sermons, the music, or the programs. It is the quality of the love that the church has for each other and the people of the community. For the entirety of my ministry, I have watched people leave churches because of a sermon, the music, or the presence (or non-presence) of a particular kind of program (youth, children, SS Class, etc.). These are not church members. They are consumers of religious goods/services. They are willing to leave people they claim to love so that they can join people they don’t know but indulge their preference of sermons, music, or programs. They choose a church the same way they choose a hair salon or grocery store.
I have friends who have subjected me to music I don’t prefer to listen to. I have family members who are legendary for their long stories that only sometimes do I enjoy. I put up with the music I don’t like and the stories because what is important to me is the people. I continue to be engaged because of the love present. Most of the churches I have served over the last 30 years have not had a strong program for my children. However, all of those churches have loved my children. My children have a fan club with members in all of the communities where we have served. Peter reminds us above that love will make up for a multitude of other problems because love is why we all are here.
If you want the best music possible, look up a concert schedule and buy a ticket. The best preachers in the world are all on YouTube. I listen to one of them just about every day. But as far as your commitment to the church is concerned, it should be a commitment to loving God and people. Everything else is secondary.
Question: What do you put up with because your love for specific people?
Prayer: God, to the extent that we have fallen into being spiritual consumers, forgive us. Thank you for loving us in spite of our foolishness. Help us to do the same for each other. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Pray for the staff of your church
Song: The Judds – Love Can Build A Bridge
Weekday Word w/ Eric 
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