July 13 Monday Morning Love

Transcript

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Happy Monday morning. This is our care. Let's pray ministries. I hope you all woke up this morning with a smile on your face and joy within your heart. I don't know where you are this morning listening, but wherever you are, whether you're driving to work or packing lunches or folding laundry or just sitting on your porch with a cup of coffee, I pray that you feel God's love today. Amen. And our episode today is called What Love Looks Like on a Monday morning. Can I ask you all a question? Have you ever noticed how different Sunday and Monday can feel, right? Sunday has worship, Sunday has fellowship, Sunday reminds us of God's goodness. Then Monday morning shows up. The alarm clock goes off a little too early. The coffee doesn't seem strong enough. Traffic has a personality of its own. And some of us forget we Christians. Someone cuts you off before you even finish praying. Your inbox is overflowing. The kids can't find the shoes. The dog wants out to go to the bathroom before you go to work. The phone starts ringing. And Sonny, all that peace you felt yesterday is being tested before you even eat your breakfast. And I'm a living witness to that. And I'm a sad note before I go on. Because as soon as my team sees that I turn green in my teams, my phone goes off, my email goes off, and there's meetings on my calendar. And I'm like, oh my God, this is what Monday mornings feel like. And I want you to know, I've had those mornings because I just explained how my team does, and I love them to death. But today I want to talk about what love looks like, right? Because loving God isn't just something we do inside of walls of the church, it's something we live when nobody's applauding, right? I want to begin with God's word. Micah 6 and 8 state, he has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God? I love this word, this verse, and I've done used this verse a couple of times in our conversations, because God doesn't make it complicated. He's not asking us to impress him, he's not asking us to have a mansion and a bently, he's just inviting us into a way of living, to act justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly, right? That's what love looks like: to show people grace and to show people favor and to show people God's love, right? Because God loves us, and that same love that God pours into us, we should be pouring into someone else. I want you to know these scripture, St. John the 13th, chapter 34 and the 34th, 35th verse. Jesus gives us these words, and it says, A new command I give you, love one another as I have loved you. So you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. Amen. You catch that? Let me see if you catch it. Jesus didn't say people would recognize his followers because they always had the right answers. He said they would know us by our love. That's a challenge, right? Because it's one thing to love people who are kind, and it's another thing to love people who test your patience, they test your faith, and they test your Christianhood, right? Let me confess something real quick. Sometimes the greatest test of my faith isn't something big, it's the little things, right? It's when someone interrupts, um, and they got this big head that they know everything, and they just abruptly stop my conversation. Like, okay, well, you could have said, excuse me, right? But one of my biggest pet peeves is when running late and I'm waiting on somebody else. My blood pressure goes 200 over 200. I'm like, oh my God, what is going on? Why can't we leave? Why can't we leave? I'm not understanding, and that's what we need to look at. We have to calm our souls and calm our spirits, right? Monday has a way of exposing whether Sunday's message has taken root. And maybe you have moments like that too, where you're tired and people get on your nerves first thing Monday morning and you're running late, or people just doing crazy stuff, right? Foolery is what I call it. The crazy thing is we leave church encouraged, determined to be patient, and then Monday morning comes and someone says something 10 times crazy that rubbed us the wrong way. And in that very moment, love becomes a choice. It's not a feeling, it's a choice. Love chooses kindness when sarcasm will be easier. Love chooses forgiveness when resentment feels justified. Love chooses gentleness when anger is knocking at the door. Love chooses to listen instead of always needing to be right. I think one of the greatest ministries we have is found in ordinary places: the grocery store, the classroom, the office, the waiting room, the neighborhood, the gas station. Those are interruptions to ministry. Those places are ministry. You may never stand behind a pulpit, but you'll stand in line at a grocery store and answer an email. You'll talk to a neighbor, somebody in past and just walk into your car. Your interaction with people who may never open a Bible and they'll see Jesus all over you. Your patience will keep someone from giving up. Your encouraging words will amass someone that God hasn't forgotten them. Never underestimate what God can do through ordinary acts of love. Let me ask you a question. Who in your life that you want to show so much love to so they could turn their life around? Who would you love to for God to touch to rebuild their relationship? And it truly is a good relationship. You ain't got to see nobody's name out loud. Because they might be in the room with you. But seriously, it might be a coworker, a family member, someone you hurt, someone that might hurt you. Maybe it's even someone you've never met, but you struggle with because of something they said or did over the internet, over the phone, or whatever the case may be, right? We have to learn how to love them the way that Jesus loves us each and every day. Not because they've earned it, but because we're giving them mercy like God has given to us, right? That doesn't mean ignoring unhealthy behavior or pretending everything is okay. Healthy boundaries, we talked about that before, can be wise and necessary, but even with boundaries, we can ask God to shape our hearts so bitterness doesn't take root. So I wanted to challenge you on this Monday morning before we pray. Before your feet hit the floor all the way to start running, pray a simple prayer. Lord, help me love the people you place in front of me today. Lord, help me see them the way you see them. Lord, let my words bring life. Lord, let my attitude honor you. And let someone experience your love because they crossed my path today. That's it right there. That right there. We ain't gotta say nothing else. That is the biggest prayer I think we all can pray. Lord, let someone experience your love because they crossed my path today. God, I pray that right now myself. That kind of touched me. I truly want the Lord to let someone experience his love through us just by crossing our path. That is simple. Just a smile, a hand wave, a gesture, a prayer will let them know that God is still with them. And I challenge you to pray that over yourself. Amen. Let us go to the Lord in prayer. Honey Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank you for every person listening today. You know exactly where they are and what kind of money they are already starting off with. Some are excited about a new beginning, others are carrying burdens that feel almost too heavy to bear into this brand new week. Yet you are still present, you still omnipotent, you are still awesome, and you are still with each and every one of us, Holy Father. Honey Father, I pray that you shape each listener that they may reflect the love of Jesus Christ today. Honey Father, when they're impatient, remind them to slow down. When they're misunderstood, give them grace instead of bitterness, Henny Father. When they're tired, fill them up with your strength that comes from your Holy Spirit. Give them wisdom and compassion, Henny Father. For the health care workers, the first responders and the caregivers. Grant endurance and peace as they serve others, Henny Father. Honey Father, for the parents juggling work in the family, provide patience for the little moments and joy in the midst of busy schedules, oh God. For those walking into difficult workplaces, oh God, let them be light in the dark places, oh God. Give them courage to do what's right even when it's hard. Holy Father, for the listeners who feel unseen, remind them that you see every faithful act of kindness and every quiet prayer, every unseen sacrifice. Nothing done in love is wasted in your kingdom. Honey Father, I pray that you will guard their hearts, our hearts, my heart, from pride, resentment, and impatience, oh God. Fill us up instead with the fruit of your spirit. Fill us up instead with the fruit of your spirit, oh God. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Honey Father, I pray that our homes be places of peace, where grace is spoken freely, where our workplaces be brighter, because we walk through the door, Henry Father. Holy Father, may our conversations point people toward hope and toward you, O God. And may the love we receive from you overflow into every relationship and every person you have entrusted to us, O God. Holy Father, if anyone listening today has been hurt by others, begin your healing work in their hearts, their minds, their soul, and their spirit. Give them wisdom for hefty boundaries, courage to forgive where you lead them, and confidence that your justice is perfect, Heavenly Father. God, we thank you that you loved us first. We thank you, oh God, that you thought about us to send your only begotten Son. Heavenly Father, teach us the love because you have loved us well. We ask all this in the precious and mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. And as you go into this week, I want you to remember, you may never know how one smell, one kind word, one act of mercy, or one heartfelt prayer can change someone's life. So don't underestimate the ordinary. God often does his extraordinary work through ordinary people who simply choose to love. Thank you for spending part of your Monday with me. Until next time, I care. God cares. And whatever you're facing, let's pray.