Affection
Expressing care and closeness through physical touch and through words such as “I love you” or “I care about you.” (Romans 16:16, John 13:1)
What is at stake for people in our community, who do not consider themselves followers of Christ, if we who are Christians don’t learn to show Jesus’ caring, truthful heart in the clarity He commanded?
Another way of asking that question is as follows: Does it make any difference at all for the lost and alone of this world, whether or not you and I love as Jesus empowered us to do?
Well, if it doesn’t or won’t make a difference, then why did Jesus bother to give the command and provide the Holy Spirit to carry it out during our time on earth?
Fellow follower of Christ, we must get this right. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not simply to be spoken. It is to be lived and illustrated in our experiences. Paul made it clear that “when he was with them (Thessalonians) he was pleased not just to give them the Gospel, but our (their) very lives as well.” I Thessalonians 2:8
You can read it for yourself, but Paul loved the people in Thessalonica – and the other places he traveled – so much that he sacrificed a brilliant career with the prestige that accompanied it. He gave that life up in order to take up a life that meant persecution and hunger and pain. The love that took Jesus to the cross and kept Him there to die is the same love that motivated Paul to give himself away so others would know this wonderful Savior Jesus Christ. Paul was interested not only in their eternal life but also their abundant life! Eternal life is to be experienced while here on earth in the form of an abundant life. Jesus made that clear that He had come to give abundant life. (John 10:10)
Something as simple as caring affectionately, genuinely for others may mean the difference between a person’s rejecting the Gospel or sticking around long enough to pay attention and perhaps heed that Good News personally.
How do you show the Gospel to those outside the faith?
a. As I come to experience God’s love for me personally, really deeply and give it away effectively, I am not only able to tell others about the Good News / Gospel of Jesus Christ, I am also a living example (not a perfect one) of how Jesus’ love changes a life from busy to abundant, from listless to purposeful, and from self-focused to others-centered.
b. Showing real affection and care to your spouse and children (if you have them) as well as to friends and family prepare you to show that same love to those inside the body of Christ and outside the body of Christ. We actually get to the place where it doesn’t matter if we know the position of a person relative to their walk with Christ. We simply love and care for them as a person Jesus loves, so we do too!
More is at stake than we may know…as usual!
I know I say this many times, but it is still true.
WALKING IN THE LIGHT IS THE KEY!
Lord Jesus made it clear: “…W alk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you.” (John 12:35)
John spoke, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” (I John 1:7)
THREE SOURCES OF LIGHT – Help Us Experience Affection for Outsiders
Light Source #1: Jesus in the Light of the World (John 8:32)
Walking in the Light: Experiencing God’s Love and Giving It Away (Affection)
Let’s Walk in the Light of Fresh Encounters with Jesus
Would you picture Jesus in the presence of a man with leprosy in Luke 5:12-14? Can you picture the looks on those bystanders watching this event unfold? What do you see as Jesus reaches out to touch the leper? What do you see as the expression on Jesus’ face? I am guessing there are some differences.
Now picture yourself as the leper covered in sores and equally as reprehensible because of the stain and curse of your own sin. How does Jesus view you? Does He recoil at the sight of your disease? Does He move to get away so your sores don’t infect Him? No, my friend, He touches you and me, affectionately embraces us – scabs, stench, and infection. Not only were we in a sin-stained condition, but also we were Jesus’ enemies. That is not my opinion. That is what we are called. But God, who is rich in mercy, offered the sacrifice of His only begotten son Jesus, to become sin for us. Jesus took my sin, our sin, and paid its awful price with His suffering and death, then powerfully, victoriously rose from the grave for you and for me. Hallelujah! What a Savior.
Jesus told us to love others…..even our enemies. Jesus did not wait for others to clean up their act or even their bodies before they were worthy of His love.
Now that you have been reminded of how great Jesus’ love is and how clearly He commanded that we love others “as He loved us”, how does that impact the way you are to approach those “outside the faith”? Obviously, we are to approach them the way He approached us….willing to get close to them, not recoiling from, but loving them. Do you see the reasoning behind our experiencing love from Jesus personally then learning to give that love away to our spouse, children, family, friends, and other believers? Each step is preparation for loving and caring for those even more different from us than the previous group or person.
Light Source #2: God’s Word is a “Lamp and Light” (Psalm 119:105)
Walking in the Light: Experiencing God’s Love and Giving It Away (Affection)
Let’s Do: Matthew 28:19-20 – The Great Commission
In order to “make disciples” who, in turn, make disciples, followers of Jesus must not only learn truths and memorize verses but also experience love and freely give it away. Becoming a devoted follower of Jesus is both rational and relational. This week’s focus on Affection helps equip us to show God’s love in tangible ways while sharing the truth of the Gospel.
I wonder how many of your acquaintances and friends have ever heard another human being tell them, “I love you” or “I care about you” or “I am glad to know you”. I wonder how many hunger for the sound of a kind word of compassion or the soft touch of human contact. I know, I know….we have to be careful what we say and to whom we say it. We must be wise and appropriate regarding whom we touch or how. Of course, our words and touch must be appropriate and wisely given, but people need to experience the affection of a caring friend.
Perhaps, there are those at work, in the neighborhood, or at school who are “prickly” and hard to love. We may judge them as “outside the faith” because of their actions. Whether they are “in” or “out”, let’s prayerfully approach them this week to simply be around them, to listen to their story, to ask a question and then be quiet, to ask God for ways to reach into their lives with care and affection. Your affection may be in the form of a gentle touch on the shoulder, a handshake, or a hug. You may have the opportunity to speak a kind word or tell him/her that you care or that you simply want to be a friend.
As you set out to accomplish the Great Commission, you may not be asked to travel outside your normal traffic patterns or your list of acquaintances. God may be calling you to love those already in your circle of influence by caring about a person or many people whom you already know. Let’s pray, keep our eyes and hearts open, and follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit as we “share the Gospel and our very lives as well”.
Light Source #3: Followers of Jesus are called the “Light of the World”
(Matt 5:14)
Walking in the Light: Experiencing God’s Love and Giving It Away (Affection)
Let’s Walk in the Light of Fellowship with Believers
When you get together with your spouse or friend this week, would you discuss these two questions?
1. What experiences or who led you to faith in Jesus Christ? Was the kindness and love of Christians part of your journey to faith? Please recount your story to your spouse, family, or friends.
2. For whom and in what ways can you demonstrate the love of Jesus to those God has placed on your heart ? Are there simple ways that you can begin to connect with them using kind words, appropriate touch points, and focused listening?
One caution: Be aware that some may take your caring approach as inappropriate or unwelcomed. After making sure your motives are pure and your care is God-directed, be respectful in your methods and proceed only if the person is open to your kindness.