God the Father said to the Jewish people in Deuteronomy chapter 7, said the Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples. Let's understand that because God has given us love, we can now give it to others.
Welcome to Cross the Bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. As we look deep into the love that God has for us, it frees us up to love others rightly. Find out how to love others today as Pastor David continues in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. Before we join Pastor David, we want to let you know about an outreach opportunity that could bring hope to countless prisoners. This month, Cross the Bridge is teaming with men and women like yourself in order to provide Pastor David's devotional book, Cross the Bridge Every Day, to inmates. When you call today and help support the ministry with a gift of $25 or more, we'll send you a book and also provide one to a prisoner in need. To take part in this important outreach, call 877-458-5508. That's 877-458-5508.
Or go online to crossthebridge.com. Now here's David McGee with his teaching, I Want to Know What Love Is. We're going to 1 Corinthians 13. You know, everybody in the world, in one way or another, is looking for love. And we do some weird things when we're looking for love, don't we? We have, when we don't feel love, we have the tendency to lash out and push people away, which is the exact opposite of what we should be doing.
God understands and reaches out even through our cloudy days and our funkiness. 1 Corinthians 13 verse 4 tells us, it says, Love suffers long and is kind. Love does not envy. Ooh. Love does not parade itself.
It's not puffed up. This is a challenging chapter. I mean, this is one of those chapters where you just simply read it. And let me encourage you to continue, if you will, even to read it every day, the whole chapter. It's 13 verses.
While we're in this for several weeks studying it. Love suffers long. Love is kind. Love is nice, if you will. Now, isn't that weird? We, who have been recipients of God's love, we should be the nicest people in the world, shouldn't we?
Let me ask you a kind of convicting question. Is that what we're known for? Are Christians known for being nice?
No. I got a book that talks about, they did all these surveys of non-Christians about their perception of us. Boy, do they have it wrong. And it says, Love does not envy. Now, let's understand, when we're talking about this, we're not talking about love as an ooey, gooey, warm and chewy feeling. It's more of a, this is a supernatural power. In the natural, you're envious. That's your flesh. That part of you, when you hear somebody got a promotion and you're like, man, what about me?
You hear somebody got a raise or you hear somebody got a newer car than you or you heard somebody got a bigger house than you or you know, whatever. That envy wants to poke its little ugly head up. That's not God. That's not God's spirit. That is your flesh or your old nature. And so when you feel that, you got to put it down. Don't react to that. Don't speak out feeling that way because you'll say something you'll regret. Recognize, man, I'm feeling envious.
This isn't good. I should be happy that my sister is enjoying this or that or the other. Or my brother has been blessed in this way. Now let's remember too, when we're in 1 Corinthians 13, this chapter is in between 1 Corinthians 12 and 1 Corinthians 14. If you're taking notes, you may want to jot that down. What I mean by that is this. Paul in the whole book of Corinthians is telling us what? How to have church. And here in the midst of chapter 12 talking about the spiritual gifts and chapter 14 talking about how to use them is 1 Corinthians 13 talking about y'all need to love each other.
In the Bible, Jesus tells us that that's how people are supposed to even recognize us as Christians. By our love. Our love for each other.
Not rebuking each other, correcting each other, but loving each other. And the world is crying out. The title, I Want to Know What Love Is, probably about 20 years ago there was a song by Foreigner, Lou Gramm, the lead singer, crying out, I want to know what love is.
And culture and society has cried that out continuously. You go 40 years back, 20 years beyond that Foreigner song and you got Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane. Don't you want somebody to love? And I'm sure you got somebody, Lady Gaga or Christina Aguilera or somebody singing about love now, I'm sure. Where is it? How can I find it? The world seems to recognize that it doesn't have it. And they're looking for it. You know, they did an interview, a freelance reporter for the New York Times was interviewing Marilyn Monroe years ago. And here she is this symbol, if you will, of love or maybe more appropriately of sex, people having posters of her all over the place. But they asked her, they said, you know, I don't know if you know this, but she grew up in one foster home after another. And a reporter said, you know, after all these marriages and stuff, have you ever really felt loved? And she got teary eyed and she told the person the only time she felt loved was once when I was seven years old, the woman I was living with was putting on makeup and I was watching her.
She was in a happy mood and she reached over and patted my cheeks and for that brief moment I felt loved. That's sad. That's a picture of the world today, gang. Hungering, starving for love. And keep in mind when somebody doesn't feel love, when they don't know their love, they will do some things that are ugly, that are unkind.
This verse in the New Living translation says love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud. You know what's interesting is you can have everything this world has to offer. But if you don't have love, it's gonna be empty. I mean you can have whatever you think is important, success or money or fame or power or whatever. Without love, it's gonna be empty.
You see newspapers, television articles about people and we love to look at either rock stars or Hollywood actors and actresses. But as we watch, at some point the life kind of falls apart and they're left by themselves. It's kind of strange that we who have so much would be envious of those who are so hungry for what we already have. Now if you have love, here's what's interesting. You realize if you have love, if you've received it and you have it for others, that can drive you to do things that are good, drive you to be, if you will, successful.
Like the father who works extra hours to provide for his kids or provide for his spouse or the mother who does the same. Love will drive you to do some interesting things, won't it? It says love suffers long.
Let me put that in paraphrase. Love puts up with a lot. Love puts up with a lot. Each one of us in our relationship, it's only a matter of time till we recognize that we don't see everything exactly the same.
Maybe we like, I don't know, different styles of music, different foods, different volumes of music. Now if we're not walking in love, any one of those things can just totally freak us out. As a matter of fact, one of the ways you can recognize how strong your love is, is how immovable it is.
In other words, if it only takes a little thing to get you all freaked out, you're not really walking in love. And let me again say, we're not talking about the feeling, we're talking about the act of the will as supplied supernaturally by God. And this is so important for us to be talking about love too, because obviously I have a passion to communicate God's word. As we learn God's word, it's even more important for us to emphasize love. Here's why. Because if you've got God's word without love, you've got legalism. Where does that go? Pharisees.
And it's happened to better people than you and I. In the seven letters to seven churches in the book of Revelation, and do me a favor, whenever you refer to that book, it's singular. Revelation, it's not revelations, it's the revelation of Jesus Christ. When you say it plural, you're calling it wrong.
But anyway, personal pet peeve, sorry. In the book of Revelation in chapter two, verse two, there's a warning to one of the churches that says, I know all the things you do. I've seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You've examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not.
You've discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you.
You don't love me or each other as you did at first. See, this is a constant thing to be examining ourselves in. And I've seen people and I've seen groups get into this, let's figure out what's wrong with the other guy.
I've even took a couple steps down that road. But I'm not gonna be affiliated or associated with any group or any person that does that. Because it isolates and as Jesus says, it can lower our love for God and for each other. We should be discerning. We should be careful with theology, with doctrine. Please understand what I'm saying.
But be careful about slipping in and figuring out what's wrong with the other guy. What I've seen in ministries that that becomes the dominant force in their ministry, they come off very harsh and very unloving. I think that's a small part of every ministry, but it shouldn't be something we major on. Because Jesus talks about loving each other, Jesus talks about forgiving each other. As a matter of fact, in Judaism, at the time of Christ, what you had to do was forgive somebody three times. If they messed up, you kept the count. And you one, two, three. So this was kind of a precursor to the three strikes you're out long before baseball. So after the third time, you're like, hey, I hate it for you, third time, see ya.
And then you were okay isolating and cutting that person off. That's the context. And so Peter's really having, I don't know, one of those worship moments. Maybe the lights and the smoke and the fog were just really happening that morning and he's worshiping God. And instead of three, in Matthew chapter 18 verse 21, then Peter came to him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him up to seven times? That's a lot, it's four more than three according to my math. And Jesus said to him, I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to 70 times seven. Well, now there's a mind blower. It goes from three to Peter goes to seven to Jesus says, seven times 70 or 490. Boy, the paperwork on registering offenses just got longer, huh?
Praise God for computers, you can write it all down now. Jesus wasn't saying keep track and at 491, now you cut people off. No, seven, let's remember biblically is a number for infinity. What Jesus is saying is keep forgiving somebody. Now, that doesn't mean necessarily that you stay in a relationship with somebody that keeps doing the same thing over and over. The Bible speaks about that.
That relationship can go toxic and things can go wrong and you may forgive them from afar. That's a whole nother discussion. And I know if you're sitting in here today, well, pastor, you don't know what he did to me.
Pastor, you don't know what she did to me. Let's remember Jesus told a story about a man that was forgiven a tremendous amount. And he uses finances. And he says this king forgave this guy bucket loads of money, forgave the debt.
But then he heard that this same guy went out to somebody that owed him a lot less and had him thrown in prison. It's also in Matthew 18, same chapter that Peter just said how many times should we forgive him? Jesus tells this story in response. Chapter 18, Matthew, verse 32 says the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, You evil servant, I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me.
Shouldn't you have mercy on your fellow servant just as I had mercy on you? You're listening to Cross the Bridge with David McGee. We'll be back to the teaching in just a moment. This month, we're focusing on prison ministry and I have the chance to sit down with Pastor David. Pastor, what is Cross the Bridge prison ministry all about?
Cross the Bridge prison ministry is consistent with Cross the Bridge itself. We believe that we need to share an effective presentation of the gospel, to invite people to have a relationship with the Lord, and then for those who do have a relationship with the Lord, that we would teach them the Word of God to equip them to walk in that life, that abundant life that Jesus talks about. Pastor, how are lives being affected by Cross the Bridge? You know, I get letters every week from prisoners who've been saved, who've been touched, whose lives have been changed because we've partnered together to reach them. And we're seeing and hearing salvations every week. We're hearing about them making good decisions about becoming disciples of Jesus Christ. We're hearing of families being reunited and restored and healed.
Thank you for sharing, Pastor. If you're listening and agree with David about our need to help those in prison, we would love to hear from you. You can call 877-458-5508. That's 877-458-5508. And when you give $25 or more, we'll send you a copy of Cross the Bridge every day. Not only that, but we'll match your gift by sending another copy of David's devotional to an inmate in need. Also, your gift of $200 or more will provide a case of 10 books that will be used to help change lives for eternity. Again, that number is 877-458-5508.
Or go online to CrossTheBridge.com. Now let's return to Pastor David's teaching. Just remember, gang, that God has chosen you. God has chosen me. God has chosen us to reach the world with the gospel and to share the word of God. Now why did he choose us? Why did he choose me? Why did he choose you? You know what? I don't know. And may I never figure it out.
Because that mystery is part of the beauty. God the Father said to the Jewish people in Deuteronomy 7, said the Lord did not set his love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people. For you were the least of all peoples. Let's understand that because God has given us love, we can now give it to others.
This whole thing is based, predicated on that concept. The life lesson here is that God's love sets us free to love others. God's love sets us free to love others. Because he loved us, we can do this. Because he loved us, we can do that. Because he loves us, we can do this. We spoke in chapter 13 before we had a life lesson. Love is the perfection of human character.
Let that seep down into your heart. Because see, sometimes as Christians, as communities of faith, we think the perfection of human character is morality or religiousness. It's not. Or sanctification. It's not. Jesus is very plain about that.
Over and over. It's love. The goal is to love because if you love, you're gonna be set apart. If you love, you're gonna be spiritual in the truest sense of the word love. So the goal is not to be spiritual or moral. The goal is to be loving. Romans chapter 13, verse 8 says, Oh, no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
This is Paul writing to the church at Rome, echoing what Jesus had said. For the commandments, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not covet, and if there's any other commandment, all are summed up in the same, namely you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. That's interesting. We're gonna talk about the 10 commandments. You're like, well, those are my love.
Yeah, we are. Let me show you how you can reduce the whole of the 10 commandments. Jesus did it.
Some kind of, again, echo in what he did. But let's go through the 10 commandments. Number one, you must have no other gods but me.
What's that? Love God. You must not make yourself an idol of any kind. Love God. You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. Love God.
Remember to observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Love God. Now the rest of them are about loving people.
They're broken down into four and six. The fifth, honor your father and mother, then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God has given you. Love people. You must not murder. Love people. You must not commit adultery. Love people.
You must not steal. Love people. You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. Love people. You must not covet your neighbor's house.
You must not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor. Love people. So Jesus, and you know, when somebody's a really good teacher, they can take something that's really complex and break it down to something simple that's understandable. Jesus takes the 10 commandments. He says it's wrapped up in this. Love God.
Love people. Now of course we hear that and we go, now that's an oversimplification. No, it's not. It all breaks down to that. Even in the midst of the 10 commandments, which are listed in Exodus 20. Exodus 20, chapter 20 verse six says, but I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
It's right in the middle of the 10 commandments. Jesus, God says, I lavish my unfailing love on you. Verse five says, inferred love does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, and thinks no evil. Again, we're talking about supernatural love, God's love, the agape love. That's a Greek word meaning God's unconditional transforming love.
We talked about the Greek versions. His, this love is, it's well, it's one Psalm and the casting ground say, his love is extravagant. It's unconditional. It's transforming. It's transforming.
It's without limits. As a matter of fact, in the New Living Translation, these verses, love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, or boastful, or proud, or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no wrong, no record of being wronged. And part of thinks no evil is, if you will, it's not suspicious.
It's not trying to dig up dirt on somebody. You know, when somebody says, oh, I knew there was something wrong with that woman. That's not love. I knew, I knew that guy had issues.
That's not love. Now what's interesting is if I don't have a concept of God, I become suspicious of everybody. See, if I don't think God is in control, if I don't think Romans 8.28 is true that God is working somehow all things even the bad things, all things out to my good for his purposes, then I'm suspicious of everybody.
Why? Because I'm not trusting God. But if I trust God, guess what?
I trust you. And it's not Christ-like to try to dig up dirt on somebody. You realize after you know somebody for five minutes, you got something on them? That's not a gift, friend. I was talking to him, and I discerned that there's something wrong with him. I got discernment. It's a gift.
Oh, man, there's something wrong with all of us. See, the Bible talks about loving each other, not being so suspicious, and we should be believing the best of each other and not being envious, meaning that when something good happens to you, I should rejoice. When something good happens to me, you should rejoice. But love is being nice. Love is being kind. And as Christians, or little Christ is what that means, being Christ-like, we should be nice and kind. 1 John 4.11 says, Dear friend, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. God loves you more than you can ever love anybody else. In 1 John 4.20, even stronger words, says if someone says I love God but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar. For we don't love people we can see. How can we love God whom we cannot see?
And he has given us this command. Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters. See, you've got somebody who's always pointing out what's wrong with somebody else. The simple question is, hey man, are you loving that person right now? If you love somebody and they've done something wrong, go tell them. But love them. Friend, do you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven?
You can know right now. I want to lead you in a short, simple prayer, simply telling God you're sorry and asking Him to help you to live for Him. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven. And I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life. And I've done wrong things. I have sinned.
And I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you all of my days. In Jesus' name.
Amen. Friend, if you prayed that prayer, according to the Bible, you've been forgiven. You've been born again. So congratulations, friend.
You just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you. If you prayed that prayer with David for the first time, we would love to hear from you. You can call us toll free at 877-458-5508 to receive our First Steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. God is using Cross the Bridge to impact lives across our country.
Including the lives of those currently serving time in our nation's prisons. While materials provided by Muslim organizations continue to increase within our prisons, our distribution of Pastor David's book Cross the Bridge Every Day has been making a significant impact for Jesus with prisoners. And you can help continue that outreach by calling today. When you call today with a gift of $25 or more, we will send you David McGee's devotional book. And then match your gift by sending a copy to a prisoner in need. And if you're able to give a gift of $200 or more, we will send a case of 10 books to inmates who are without hope. Help us reach those in prison. Call today at 877-458-5508. That's 877-458-5508. Or go online to crossthebridge.com. Your gift is changing lives. Thanks again for listening. We hope you'll join us next time as we continue to cross the bridge.
