“THE MORE I LOVE YOU,
THE LESS I AM LOVED!”
James E. Farley

There is a terrible misunderstanding among people today concerning love. Sadly, this is true even among those who name the name of Jesus. Even when one speaks the truth in love, as did the apostle Paul (Eph. 4:15), some become offended and will often judge the speaker (preacher) as unloving and unkind. It happened during the days of Christ, and it happened during the times of His inspired apostles (Matt. 15:7-13; Gal. 4:16).

Some see love as overlooking error for fear of hurting another's feelings. They will claim they are opposed to false teachings and false teachers, but when one of their friends or family members is associated with some false teaching or erroneous group, they vacillate, hesitate and waver. They love them you see, and they do not want to see them hurt. Never mind these false ones are leading countless others straight to hell fire because of their counterfeit ways. They don't really love all the others. In fact, they don't really love the one they claim to love; they only have fond feelings of friendship for them. What these have is not real love at all, but some sort of emotional and subjective sentiment. Real love always sounds out a warning of danger!
 
The Word of God says, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Real love is action. So, let us notice some actions of true loving ones.
Real love caused Jesus to say, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matt. 7:15).

Real love caused the Lord to answer the scribes and Pharisees with, “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mt 15:7-9). It is true that those who heard this were offended; however, true love motivated the Lord to say of them, “Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (Mt 15:12-13).

It was love indeed that caused the righteous Stephen to exclaim, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye” (Acts 7:51).

True love is why Paul wrote as he did in Romans 16:17-18, “Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

Love, real love, is what motivated Paul to rebuke and reprove the Galatians with, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth” (Gal. 3:1)? It is what caused him to call names so that others might be warned of false teachers (cf. 1 Tim. 1:19-20; 2 Tim. 2:16-18; 4:14).

Yes indeed, these were loving ones and their words and actions proved it! Still, some perceived them to be mean and even vicious with their words and actions. They could not help this, for no one can control the perceptions others may have of them. We must know our motivation, and we must speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). We must have love for God, for Jesus Christ, for the church of Christ, for the Bible, and love for the souls of men and women everywhere. We must also proclaim the Word of Truth with boldness (cf. Acts 19:8-10; Eph. 6:18-20). There is no contradiction in speaking the Truth in love and in a bold manner. But some will perceive you as unloving and as a trouble maker when you do. The real trouble-makers are those who pervert the Gospel of Christ and lead people away from the Truth of God (Gal. 1:6-10; 1 Kings 18:17-18).

It seems when we love people enough to strongly warn them of error, they love us less and less. Paul wrote, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (2 Cor. 12:15). It has always been so. It will always be so.

Family Bulletin Board

Remember in prayer and with cards, phone calls, or visits those who have chronic illnesses: Delsie Bishop,  Reva Brewer,  Ella Brumitt, Jamie Farmer,  Francis Ferren,  Elizabeth Fowler, Savannah Green, Lola Mae Hamlett,  and Louise Hunt.

POTLUCK TODAY- Please stay and eat with us.

2:00 AFTERNOON SERVICE TODAY- We will be preparing the mail-outs afterward.

DIRECTORY UPDATE - Lonzo & Laveal Reed’s address is: 1932 S. Valleyview Dr. PHONE:
St. Joseph, MI 49085 428-4903

BAPTIZED - OOPS! Last week’s bulletin failed to mention that Jacob Whitley was baptized on April 20th.
Sorry, Jacob, welcome to the family.