Roses are red,
Pizza sauce is too.
I’ll order a large
And share it with you.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
My dog is my favourite,
But you’re OK, too.
Enough with the Valentine’s already! I don’t want to tell you how much time I spent looking those up—however, that is another form that love takes in the Bible…time.
In the creation story way back in Genesis 1 we have the God of the Universe forming all of creation. In fiat, by simply speaking, matter itself comes into existence. He makes the environments first; light and darkness; sky and sea; land and vegetation. And then He creates what dwells in each of those environments: stars, sun and moon; birds and fish; animals and people. When all that is over God rests (as an example to us; He did not need to rest) and then what does He do? He SPENDS TIME with His creation.
We are told in Genesis 3:8 “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day…”
When Jesus was on the earth He took time to visit with people. Here are just a few examples:
Matthew 5:1ff Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. (He begins to teach them).
Matthew 9:35ff Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 11:1ff After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the town of Galilee.
Matthew 13:1ff That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables…
Jesus whole life was time spent with people.
We see this also in the life of Peter. ACTS 9:36ff In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas) who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room…Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
We see this in the life of Barnabas. In this example, Barnabas spends time with Paul and helps him to be accepted by the other disciples (they were afraid of Paul because, before his conversion, Paul traveled to have Christians killed or imprisoned). He (Saul/Paul) tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. (Acts 9:26,27)
It’s not profound. It’s subtle and implied and yet it is too important to overlook. God spends time with those He loves. The disciples spent time with those they loved. In fact, most of the major and minor epistles are written to churches because they were planted by the disciples and out of love, they are re-directing the churches when they got it wrong. It took time.
Jesus spent time with people.
LOVE is an investment of time. On Valentine’s Day we carve out dinner or an evening with our ‘special love’ but in reality, every day God carves out time to meet with us because He loves us.
There is a great little devotional book called, My Heart Christ’s Home by Robert Munger, and in the chapter on the Living Room, it talks about daily devotionals and it says this:
I remember one morning rushing downstairs, eager to be on my way. I passed the living room and noticed that the door was opened. Looking in, I saw a fire in the fireplace and Jesus was sitting there. Suddenly in dismay I thought to myself, “He is my guest. I invited Him into my heart! He has come as my Saviour and Friend, and yet I am neglecting Him.” I stopped, turned and hesitantly went in. With downcast glance, I said, “Master, forgive me. Have You been here all these mornings?” “Yes,” He said. “I told you I would be here every morning to meet with you. Remember, I love you. I have redeemed you at great cost. I value your friendship. Even if you cannot keep the quite time for your own sake, do it for mine.”
The truth that Christ desires my companionship, that He wants me to be with Him and waits for me has done more to transform my quiet time with God than any other single fact. Don’t let Christ wait alone in the living room of your heart, but every day find time when, with your Bible and in prayer, you may be together with Him.
It was true in the garden and it is true today.
LOVE. Time. Making it, carving it out, recognizing that God not only prioritizes being with people, but He DESIRES to spend time with you.
Our song for today is Psalm 16 (Fullness of Joy) by Shane and Shane.