Love Like Jesus

This is the Truth Network. The heart of every man craves a great adventure, but life doesn't usually feel that way. Jesus speaks of narrow gates and wide roads, but the masculine journey is filled with many twists and turns.

So, how do we keep from losing heart while trying to find the good way when life feels more like a losing battle than something worth dying for? Grab your gear and come on a quest with your band of brothers who will serve as the guides in what we call the masculine journey. The masculine journey starts here now. Welcome to Masculine Journey. We are glad that you're with us today.

I thought we were going to have a relatively empty studio, you know, because Robby's out. Who else? Danny's on the phone with us, thankfully. Jim's out, Darren's out. I'm like, okay.

It's going to be Herald Art Grant. Me and Andy, but then we showed up and we have three other people in the studio, which is awesome. And part of it is because our favorite older person, Harold, it's his birthday today, and he's only 85. I know we always give him a hard time, like being much, much older, but he's a very, very young 85. And so, Harold, we're glad to have your son and your grandson with us today.

I'm sure it was a good surprise to you that they're with you as well. Happy birthday, Harold. Oh, yeah. They pulled a real good one on me. I had no idea that Caleb was in town even.

and we they were taking me to the movie And so Brad worked it out and he said, No, Dad, down here. You need to go first, but you're going to have to sit on the other side of that gentleman sitting there. And of course you know this theater's kinda dark. I'm s kinda stumbling down through there.

Well, that gentleman sitting there is my grandson, Caleb.

So they really foxed me on that one. Those boys are good at pulling surprises. Yeah, and then you can they came over to the show with you, which we're grateful for. Oh yeah, that's I've I've I've been really tickled at that. Caleb's been here before, but He was like 12, I think, when he was talking about the first time.

The other end of the age spectrum. Yeah, it's Brad's second time. Yeah.

So anyway, that that's a great birthday surprise. It is. It is. Well, happy birthday, Harold. We're very grateful to have you around and very grateful that you don't mind our sense of humor, so we do appreciate that.

Did you say he was born in the year 85? 18. Oh, 18. 85. Yeah, century.

How was the Ice Age, Harold? Really?

So cold. That's a good one.

Well, we are going to be talking about something we haven't really demonstrated right now. Though we're going to be talking about from John 13, 34 and 35, when Jesus is getting ready to head out, you know, he's going to go be at his father, and he says, a new commandment I give you, that you love one another. just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have a love for one another across the world. And so the question becomes, what does it mean?

to love someone Like Jesus loves you. Right? I mean that's a pretty tall order. you know, to try to do, right? And so we're going to talk a little bit about it and we're going to try to answer a couple questions along the way too.

We'll team up a little bit later. Of when we felt someone else love us like Jesus and when we felt us that we were called to love somebody. Like Jesus. Right. Direction around that.

It's just wherever God takes your heart. And so, Danny, you actually have the first clip. I didn't tell you before we went on the air, but welcome, Danny, and you have the first clip. Oh, wait, wait, wait. I'm not I'll tell you w why you were the inspiration for this, kinda, when we get to the bump.

Okay. Yeah.

So the anticipation carries on. I may never tell you, Danny. It's just really, we're unsure yet. There's lots of things that are unsure when it comes to me and you interacting, Sam. That's true.

Yeah, just like I told you, I'm going to have you respond to a talk and then forgot to call you up. Yeah.

Yeah, we'll call you up. Still waiting. You're still waiting. You're still waiting. Seven years later, you know what?

Yeah, exactly. Seven years later.

So, anyway, I figured this is a year of Jubilee, you know what I mean? Anyway, the uh My clip is from A River Runs Through It and it's toward the end of the movie and you know I think uh Rob is a Is the character name played by Brad Pitt? He has been killed, and so the other brother and the father. have a conversation about him. And the father's just trying to grasp hold of is is your memory of his son.

And so he'd ask the other brother you know what he knew about him and and they had this conversation. But then they play part of one of the father's last sermons before he dies. And he lays out th this this scenario of love, what we're talking about, loving like Jesus. And it's just a beautiful thing and and just to see a father's heart. toward his child.

From a human standpoint, trying to grasp it from a godly standpoint. And so you can play the clip. As time passed, my father struggled for more to hold on to. Asking me again and again, had I told him everything. And finally, I said to him, Maybe all I really know about Paul.

is that he was a fine fisherman. You know more than that, my father said. He was beautiful.

Okay. And that was the last time we ever spoke of my brother's death. Indirectly, though, Paul was always present in my father's thoughts. I remember the last sermon I heard him give, not long before his own death. To each one of us here today.

Will at one time in our lives look upon A loved one who was in need and asked the same question. We are willing to help, Lord, but what? if anything is needed.

Well it is true we can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don't know what part of ourselves to give, or more often than not, the part we have to give. Isn't that what? And so it is those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them.

We can love completely. without complete understanding. That's a great clip, Danny. Yeah, I came across it, and I was like, wow. You know, so and.

You could ask us some questions and I'm gonna answer one of 'em with with this clip, I think. uh who has got put in your life to love like Jesus. And it made me think of my good buddy Rick Barrow and Hoping one day Rick will come to a boot camp. And Rick is just a a great guy, but but our relationship started out we were running a ministry in Asheboro and uh, you know, these ladies of the church, he run into them and He was looking for our ministry called Ministeal and So they brought him over there and he says, I probably scared those old ladies And I found out who they were, I said, Man, you ain't scared him ladies, them ladies run demons off Yeah, they just, you know, and just good godly ladies and The rig was such a challenge in the beginning because he was you know, in the throes of alcoholism and and drug addiction and just all over the place. and just was about to and you know, we were We were new in ministry and trying to figure things out and You know, I come close to laying hands on him suddenly and abruptly a couple of times.

Just because he was just such a challenge. He's all over the place. And but there come a time and a place where Rick kinda hit a bottom and And And he was So we we Send him the treatment. but getting him in that process 'cause his whole life was turning upside down. for a good actually, it was turning right side up.

It was already upside down and And so Rick was just And he was scared, so he was beginning to act out. And I was getting so frustrated with him and and I won't ever forget When the treatment center called and said they had a bed for him, we had forty-eight hours to get him there. And my family was having a like a fall festival thing or whatever, and we had to go clean out his apartment. and that kind of thing. And I am so frustrated with him and that kind of thing.

And after we got done, cleaning his apartment and getting all of the stuff out and that kind of thing. I'm riding over to Jim Vidy's house and I won't ever forget it. I said, you know, I said, God, I've I've I've spent my whole evening away from my family. This guy's ungrateful and And that kind of thing, and you know, we've you know cleaned out and say, and I'm just frustrated, so I'm just complaining to God. And I will never forget what what God said to me that night.

He said, I cleaned up your mess and I didn't buy rubber gloves. Mm-hmm. And I won't ever forget that because I immediately by the time I got to gym videos, I was a crying mess. And I was just like, you know what? And from that moment on, you know, not perfectly, but It taught me a lot about seeing people through their miss.

that there's a story behind that. And God knows our whole story from beginning to end. And this But you if we get that that that Holy Spirit unction to look through Somebody's missed, and see that person that's struggling, that's caught. as you know, the heart is lost. That But That's what I think the agape love that we're talking about tonight is about.

is letting God show me. Hey. This guy's worth loving. Mm-hmm. Because you were worth loving.

And because I love you and there's nothing you can do about it. And and that's just kinda the whole idea behind that I think for me. Yeah.

Okay. Well, thank you, Danny. We appreciate that. I forgot to welcome Jamal to the show again. We haven't seen you in a while, Jamal.

So I was not ignoring you. I just was on track to talk about Harold. It's all right, Sam. I love you anyway.

Well, thank you. I appreciate that. You're showing me that love. Right, right. Go along with the theme of the show.

Nah, we kid. It just happened to line up that way. I was doing a show earlier. Uh, with Truth Talk, and uh, I was like, Well, it's a Tuesday, uh, it's five o'clock. Hey, I could probably hang out with the guy today.

So, God arranged it to where I can hang out with you all. It's been a while, as I've said before, I might not be here every Tuesday, but uh, God willing I'll be back at one point or another, so it's good to be back with you guys.

Well, thank you, we're glad to have you back. Caleb, welcome back. Like we're joking, but it has been a lot of years since you've been here. Man, it's been a minute. Yeah.

We're trying to count. Yeah.

Not 85 exactly. Yeah.

Well, it's a minute in his life. Yeah.

Yeah.

Home run. Comparatively. Anyway. And Brad, it's great to have you here. I know you don't really want to talk too much, but we're glad to have you here and supporting and loving on your dad in this way.

So we're grateful. Absolutely. It was one of those things that I thought about what would my dad enjoy for a birthday gift. And he's, you know, he's been blessed and has many physical things. But I thought time, you know, time with myself and his grandson that could be here.

He's got two that are out of state as well, which Caleb now is as well. But yeah, so we wanted to honor him that way. Caleb's at least within somewhat driving distance. The others would have to left a couple days ago, I think, to probably get here in time. But yeah, no, we're glad to have you.

And we're going to go to break here in a second, but I really want you to think about the topic and ask God along the way, maybe not right now, but if he calls on you right now to do it, God, who have you put in my life that has loved me like you? Where has somebody shown me that love? And then ask him as well, God. Who have I loved well? Because I felt your love through me, and who are you calling me to love now?

Right, and I like that clip that Danny had. Too many times we try to understand everything before we can get to that love. But if that's the case, no one would be married. Because you never understand your spouse, they never understand you, right? Eventually, you get there.

But we'll talk to you about after the break. Um What we have at our boot camp is something that makes you stronger and gives you the strength to go on your regular walk with God. It's something that will make you be bigger than you were when you got there. What brings you here this weekend?

So I met Robby and he invited me to come to the boot camp, and there were just so many doors that were closed before I was able to come here, but God allowed these things to happen. And I said, you know, God, I'm going to ultimately acknowledge what's going on for all these doors to be open for me to come to this camp. I just want to seek you.

So throughout that time, since I've been here, you know, just the illumination of God speaking to me through my heart and through my mind and through my soul is just, it's gone to a whole nother level since I've been here at the boot camp. The covenant of silence after the talks and being able to go out and just submit myself to being able to hear from God and what we've been working on and it's just been transparent in my life. The level of the sanctification process, the discipleship process, and coming here, I feel like this is exactly where I'm supposed to be. Register today at masculinejourney.org. That cross, arms open wide, forgive when it hurts and swallow my pride.

Hold the lost, even when they're gone too far. Bleed a little grace instead of scars. If I could give what I don't got, pour my heart out no matter the cost. Lord, I'd change this broken heart. If I could love like that.

Welcome back to Masculine Journey. I don't know if you remember this, Danny, but you had sent me this song in some type of clip. that you had on TikTok. And I heard that little part of it, and I said, I gotta get this song. And so I went and downloaded it.

It's from a group called Jesus Country.

So I don't really know who sings it. I mean, the group does, obviously, but I don't know what the individual that sings it. And none of their other songs that I've listened to has this guy's voice.

So I'm not really sure what it is, but this has been an instrumental song on this topic for me.

So much so that we're going to talk about it some tonight, but I put together. A longer clip, it's about two minutes. It's not the whole song, because obviously we don't want to do that. But I want you to just get the flavor of it. And I've taken the three verses.

And put them back to back to back. And I'm not an audio engineer, so you're gonna hear where it breaks, obviously. And then it'll play through the chorus. But I just want you to think about the words you're hearing and where God lays it on your heart. to do these in your life right now with somebody.

I've said graves with Caller's hand. After working through Right. But I still lose my temper When I'm cut a little deep by pain. I can quote a verse on Sunday. And drive by Monday night.

If loving like Jesus was a road, I'm still. Learning how to drive But I see that heal and mercy on The nails of blood, the rising sun. And I just pray I learn to be. As loving as he is for me Wow. There's folks I've turned my back on.

When I should've landed a hand And I built my share of fences. Where bridges you Most of the stain. But you hung there on On that tip. Between heaven and my Yeah. And every drop that hit that dirt said more.

Start over again.

So I'll try to walk that narrow way. Where grace and truth collide Not each day. Cause if he loves me even when Then I can love them just the same. It's in the way you stand. When you've been wrong, when the world throws stones and you drive too You have that truth that sets you free If I can love like that cross.

Arms open wide, forgive when it hurts and swallow my pride. Hold the lost even when they're gone too far. Bleed a little grace instead of scars. If I could give what I don't got, pour my heart out. No matter the cost, Lord, I change his broken heart.

And so that's a good snapshot of it. And I wanted to play the whole thing because when I first heard it, I absolutely loved it. It rocked my world and brought me to tears. Right. But what the enemy did after that is he took me to shame.

He reminded me of times that I did build those bridges. you know, I build those fences where bridges used to stand. I d I didn't help another when I should have. And and that that's good memories to have from the standpoint that you don't want to do 'em again. Right, but you can't let the enemy use that as shame.

And what I loved about what this gentleman sang in the group, Jesus Country, was he talks about each time's a new start. God looks at us and said, Today's a new start, right? You can go do it better today than you did yesterday. And you're not going to do it perfect. I'm still learning.

Right? But tomorrow is a new start and you can do it better than you did today. And just keeping that focus of how do I do it. Better each day is the most we can absolutely do, is just try to focus on loving others that way. Two.

One thing I heard uh on Truth Network a little while ago And I got a paraphrase, I'm not going to quote it correctly. You're saying that the enemy Either will Um either will take your take you out of the equation or he will take your power away from you. And one way that he can take your power away from you is thinking that what you do doesn't matter. He will um discourage you, so to speak. But um the enemy has no power then what we give him.

And I'm relating this to Romans 8:1, one of my favorite quotes. Is now there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

So we're going to fail. all the time, but we don't live in our condemnation. Because if we live in our condemnation and we stay in our home, we stay in our bed, we stay silent, we stay in solitude, then we're not contributing our time. as Brad said earlier, we're not contributing our talents We're not contributing. our treasures.

So if the enemy Can't kill you. Then another step is to discourage you and just take you out of the game.

So just to kind of wrap up. if that person is staying at home wrapped up in the bed, And they stay there for weeks Months. Years, a decade, think of all the interactions that person did not have, all the lifting up that person could have done, all the help they could have done.

So we have to we owe it to the next person. to do for that person. That's one thing that gets me out of bed. It's not for me, I want to do for that next person. I forgot what movie this was and I'll end it with this.

Uh some army moving. And the guys were, I guess, reloading after a mission. And um I think his name was Eric Benna. He was like, look. The guys back home won't know why us soldiers fight while we do what we do.

It's not really necessarily for the mission, it's the guy next to you.

So this I think uh runs exactly with the with the masculine journey. We do it for the next guy. Outside of us.

So, hey, don't let the enemy discourage you. We all need you out here.

So, do it for the next guy beside you. Absolutely. Thank you. I wanted to share a story of um The story that I have of being loved Like Jesus, it was actually my mom. Um My mom had six kids, four that she had naturally.

into that she got brought into the marriage, you know, when she married my dad. And she loved us all really well. But as I think back at the four that she had naturally. Um we could all make the case, and we all did at some point on why we're her favorite, right? I'm the youngest, so I'm her favorite.

Obviously, she finally got it right, so she quit. That was my story, right? Because I'm the youngest. You know, the oldest brother, well, she loves me because I'm the oldest, right? I led the way for you guys.

My brother in the middle, I don't know what he used to say, but he was always in trouble, so she had to love him well. And then my sister was her only daughter that she had. You know, and she'd always say, well, I'm mom's only girl that she had, right? But the thing was we joked about it. been none of us ever felt like we were loved any less than the other.

And she was always there for us, and she'd listen, and she was just, she showed Jesus's love before she was even a Christian. And then she showed it even more after the fact. And so I look back at that, it it changes how I do things. Right. One of the things that she used to tell me that I adopted She w every time I'd talked to her, if I talked to her one minute or ten minutes later, she'd always say, Well, honey, remember I love you.

And I'm like, Mom, why do you say that? I mean, we just talked. Like, thank you. Why do we just talk? She said, because I don't know when it's going to be the last time we talk, and I want that to be the last thing you hear.

And one day there was. It was the last thing I heard. Right, and so I've been doing that with my kids ever since, and it's it's just an amazing thing that. You know, her legacy lives on because she loved me so well. Mm.

That's good. Yeah, I'll echo that. Um I think our moms do. Not all of them, not all of them, but my mom in particular had more. Input into my spiritual life, and I truly did see Jesus in her life.

Um, whenever I got Had gone my own way. I mean, it was like a very good idea. I was the prodigal son only to a mother, you know, and came back and she provided a lot of direction and lo and it was Something that she had stood and prayed for. She actually. Had um She'd she'd smoked and she she had it felt like that was standing between me and getting right with God.

and she gave it up and there's some Pretty cool stuff in that, but whenever I did, she was there and she was. I mean, she just answered a bunch of questions and stuff. But, mom. She was one that listened really well. And I didn't I wa haven't always been a very good listener.

I have I've When somebody's saying something, I'm thinking of my response. I'm not listening to them. I'm preparing the next thought. But she was so good at that and and, you know, since she's passed I've begun to Feel like I've maybe through her inspiration or just kind of. Really is realizing how important it is to relationships.

But have focused on becoming a better listener. And you know, Jesus was a good listener. And um So anyway, I guess I've got more and I'll probably talk about more, but just coming off of what you were talking about, your mom, I mean, I wanted to share that as well. All right, so I'm going to switch over and go to the father's side and address the birthday boy in the room. When I think of Jesus' love, to me, it's sacrificial.

That's the first and foremost that comes to mind. And I could probably speak of a lot of different examples of how my dad sacrificed to bless me. But one that specifically comes to mind is about twenty 23 years ago, I decided to take on a building project at my house where I wanted to build a 26 by 30 garage with a bonus room above it, tying into the house with a half bath and a laundry room. And I was going to do this. On my own, I wasn't going to hire a general contractor, Sam.

And I had my dad as my helper throughout it all, and thinking of the sacrifice, what he had to give up to do that, we both had jobs that we were working at during the day, and then I. I was 34, but he was 62. And we would work all day at work, and then he would go home, grab a quick bite, and then he'd be over at my house by 6 o'clock. And we would work sometimes till 11, 12 o'clock at night, and then go back to work the next day, and then he's back there. This went on for about probably a year and a half to two years.

And when I think about the sacrifice of time, Energy? I mean, we had blood, sweat, and probably some tears because I actually shot him in the leg accidentally with one of the pneumatic nailers, so he was bleeding. But you know, when I think about with Jesus, we can't do it on our own. We can't do life without and have a good life without Jesus. And there's no way I could have done that project without that.

I couldn't have done it on my own.

So that was a great sacrifice. Thank you, Harold. That's amazing, Harold. It's great to hear that story. You know, and I'm sure there's many, many more.

Again, when I left before break, I wanted to say: Harold, go ahead, we got a few seconds. I'll be sure and wear my Tonto shirt in sometime soon for you guys to see. We began calling me his Tonto because I was. I was the second. I was the helper.

Love to see it. And he gave me that shirt as a memorial. I'll wear it in. That's awesome. We'd love to see it.

Ask God this week, God, who have you sent in my life to love me like you? And how can I learn from that? And who are you calling me to love? We'll talk with you next week.