love Archives - Faith Lutheran Church, Wesley Chapel

Kurt Steinbrueck June 5, 2021

Blog Caring for Others, compassion, love

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Loving Others In A Time Of Need

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:3-4

How do you respond to someone when they need something?

What if it inconveniences you?

I saw a video the other day on Facebook. A mother of a 4-month-old was taking a class at Baylor University. At the last minute, her babysitter canceled on her. In desperation, Katy Humphrey did the only thing she could think of…she took her baby, Millie, to class with her.

What would the professor do?

He had several options…

I’m sure children aren’t supposed to be brought to class, so he could have told her, “rules are rules,” and asked her to leave.
He could have even gotten upset with her and berated her for interrupting his class like that.
He also could have just ignored it and went on with his class hoping the baby wouldn’t be too disruptive.

He did none of those things.

Instead, when the baby started fussing (as babies do), he walked over and pick up Millie gently in his arms and soothed her, and then continued to hold Millie while going on with his lecture for the class. He did this for the rest of the class.

“I didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable about the whole situation.”

Dr. Darryn Willoughby said.

“Taking care of others in a time of need…even in not a time a need…just loving and caring about others, that’s God’s purpose.”

Dr. Darryn Willoughby showed Katy and Millie love.

He didn’t see himself as the most significant person in that classroom that day, but rather, in humility, he counted Katy and Millie as more significant and set aside his own interests for theirs.

Jesus did this for us.

He had every right to cast us out, to condemn us for our sins. Instead, He humbled Himself and gave Himself as a sacrifice for us. He loved us. No greater love has anyone shown than what Jesus showed us on the cross.

That’s how much Jesus loves you.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for not treating us as we deserve. Thank you for humbling Yourself and dying for us to save us. Help me humbly treat others as more significant and look out for their interests over my own.

Amen

PS – You can watch the video about Katy, Millie, and Dr. Willoughby here. (Man, that guys arms are huge! …almost as big as his heart.)

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck June 1, 2021

Blog evil, love, love others

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Hah! They Deserved That!

Hah! They Deserved that!

“it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” – 1 Corinthians 13:6-7

Have you ever experienced schadenfreude?

Webster defines schadenfreude as

“enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others.”

For example, somebody cuts you off in traffic and then speeds off. Then a half-mile down the road you see them pulled off the road with a flat tire. “Ha!” you say,

“They deserve it!”

Love doesn’t delight in evil.

Sure a flat tire isn’t what we would call evil, but what about our delighting in the other person’s harm?

How would love respond in that situation? Would it taunt them or pull over and help?

Sure, there’s more to delighting in evil than celebrating someone’s trouble. We can all name people who we would say delighted in evil, like Hitler, Stalin, or Jeffrey Dahmer. However, schadenfreude is a part of it and probably something we are more familiar with.

Where might you struggle with schadenfreude and how can you change that?

Dear Jesus,

I have sinned against You. I have hurt You and sought to rebel against You and Your commands. Yet, You did not delight in my destruction. You came and suffered and died for sin so that I could be forgiven and restored. Please forgive me and renew me. Then help me to see others as You see them, to love them even when they hurt me or I think they deserve harm. Help me to love.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck May 31, 2021

Blog love, Sacrifice

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Love Sacrifices

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13

What have you given up for someone you love?

We’ve been going through 1 Corinthians 13 for the past several days as we examine love. Today, I thought we’d momentarily shift to a passage in John.

Today is Memorial Day in the United States. This is a day we set aside to remember those who have given their lives for our protection and freedom. It is a solemn day. One where we are faced with the stark reality that…

Freedom isn’t free.

Thankfully, there are many who have stepped up to the call and were willing to show great love for us. As Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.“

Love sacrifices.

It looks to the needs of others and is willing to give up things that are precious to us for the sake of others. Sometimes these sacrifices may seem small…

giving a few minutes to listen to a friend
giving a few dollars to provide a meal
giving up the opportunity to do what we wanted to do to allow someone else to do what they want/need to do

Other times, the sacrifice may be great…

taking up a second or third job to ensure your child can get through college
changing your plans and your life to foster or adopt a child
giving a kidney
giving your life for someone else

The Ultimate Sacrifice
As we remember the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for us, we also remember the sacrifice Jesus made. He laid down His life for us that we might have freedom. Freedom from sin, death, and the devil.

So, let us honor those who have sacrificed their lives for us, thank those who risk their lives for us, and be willing, ourselves, to love others with the sacrificial love with which Christ has loved us.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for loving me a sacrificing for me. Thank You for all those who have sacrificed their lives for my protection and freedom. Comfort their families. Thank You for those who continue to risk their lives for me and my family. Help me to be willing to love others through sacrifice.

Amen.

Kurt Steinbrueck May 29, 2021

Blog love

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Love Is Not Irritable

“[Love] is not irritable or resentful.” – 1 Corinthians 13:5

Are you a morning person?

It’s no secret that I’m a night-owl. While others start to settle in for the night, I’m still going. In fact, even when I’m tired earlier in the day, I get a second wind around 9 or 10 o’clock at night. I’ve tried changing my body’s schedule before, but it just didn’t work. Going to bed earlier doesn’t result in more sleep, just more time laying in my bed.

The problem with being a night-owl is that most of the world starts doing things early in the morning. So, I’ve frequently been in situations where I had to get up at 6am or earlier to be somewhere. And, yes, I know some of you would consider 6am sleeping in…but you’re crazy. 😉

It can be easy to be in a foul mood when I have to get up early because it usually means I only got 4-5 hours of sleep, if that. However, over the years, I’ve learned that it’s a choice. Rather than being grumpy, I can be nice, even chipper sometimes. It took some effort at first, but now it’s become pretty natural.

The Perpetually Chipper Person
We all know someone who just always seems to be in a great mood and is happy to see us. This may come naturally for them, but whether it’s natural or it took work, they have learned what it means when the Bible says, “Love is not irritable.”

So, how can we avoid being irritable?

I think there are primarily two aspects to not being irritable and both have to do with considering others.

Don’t let your bad mood affect how you treat others. Yes, you may have had to get up early, or maybe you haven’t had coffee, yet. Maybe someone cut you off on the way to work or someone just said something nasty to you. You can still be nice to people. It’s not that you can’t have emotions. You can, but you don’t have to take that out on the next person you run into.
Get over yourself. Sometimes the idea of love not being irritable can be related back to the statement right before this, that love doesn’t insist on its own way. It’s common for people to get irritable because they aren’t getting their own way. When we are humble and seek the good of others (and aren’t in caffeine withdrawal), it’s a lot easier to stay cheerful and encouraging.

To put this in positive terms…Seek to love others.

When we remember what Jesus has done (and continues to do) for us, it starts to put things in perspective. Also, when we seek to love others, we must consider them and their needs. That takes our minds off of ourselves and how miserable we feel.

Earlier I said it’s OK to have emotions of frustration or anger due to situations we don’t like, but what I’ve found is that when I take my eyes off myself and put them on Jesus and try to love others with a smile and a greeting, etc. Those feelings of frustration and anger often diminish if not entirely vanish.

We all know someone who always seems happy to see us and greets us with a smile. Think about how that makes you feel. It’s nice. It cheers you up. It makes you feel loved and appreciated. Guess what? You can be that someone to someone else.

Heavenly Father,

Help me to always love others, even when I’m feeling grumpy because I know You always love me. Help me to remember that, even when I don’t feel my best, I may have an opportunity to be the light in someone else’s dark day, as I shine Your love into their lives.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck May 28, 2021

Blog love, Selfishness

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Love Doesn’t Insist On Its Own Way

Love Doesn't Insist On Its Own Way

“[Love] does not insist on its own way” – 1 Corinthians 13:5

My 4-year-old son, Eli, likes to have things his way. When he wants something, he goes and gets it. Sometimes, when someone tries to make him do something he doesn’t want to do, like go to bed, he throws a tantrum… I mean a full-on, scream-his-head-off, throw-himself-to-the-ground, tantrum.

It’s bad when 4-year-old acts like this, but it’s expected. When a 40-year-old does it…

You would think that by the time we become adults we would learn to act better, but I’ve seen some adults come pretty close to that description of my 4-year-old. Not only is this not good, but when we act like this, we usually look like fools.

The other day, when I was in Walmart with Eli waiting to check out, some guy a few registers over started yelling and screaming and using profanity every other word. Other employees quickly came over to help the poor clerk who was being berated. However, this went on for a good 5 minutes. I don’t know what the issue was, but I do know that this guy looked like a fool and jerk.

I also know this is not how love acts.

Love does not insist on its own way. Love is able to work with others and respect their opinions. Love does nothing in selfishness but puts the needs of others first. Paul talks about this 1 Corinthians chapters 9-11.

“Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 9:12

And a few verses later,

“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.” – 1 Corinthians 9:15

In addition, this is what Jesus did for us.

“And He was saying, ‘Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.’” – Mark 14:36

Despite the suffering He was about to endure, Jesus served us selflessly that we might be saved.

Dear Jesus,

Teach me to know when to insist on my rights and my way and when to be willing to set aside my rights and desires for the good of others. Give me a love for others to then act on that wisdom with selfless love.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck May 27, 2021

Blog humility, love, Pride

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Love Is Not Arrogant or Rude

Love Is Not Arrogant Or Rude

“Love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4b-5a

Do you have pride?

That’s a tricky question, isn’t it?

I remember having a discussion with someone about pride. They were wondering if being proud of their work was wrong.

Pride is a difficult concept today because it can have different meanings, some good and some bad.

You can be prideful (meaning arrogant)
You can be proud of the work you’ve done (satisfied and pleased).
You can be known as being a proud person (boastful)
You can be known as someone who takes pride in their work (making sure you do your best).

So, when we, in the church, talk about pride as a sin, what do we mean?

Let’s take a look at our verse from 1st Corinthians…

Love isn’t boastful. When you do well, you can be pleased with what you have accomplished, but love means you stay humble. You don’t flaunt it in other people’s faces and you remember to be thankful to God for how He has blessed you.

Love isn’t arrogant. Rather than thinking of yourself as better than everyone else, love means thinking of others as more significant than yourself.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3

You still do your best…

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” – Colossians 3:23-24

…but you let your work speak for itself and use that reputation of being a good, hard worker to glorify God, rather than yourself.

Love isn’t rude. When we start to think of ourselves as better than others, it affects how we act towards them. Rather than being encouraging, we tend to be rude as though these other people don’t deserve our time or to be in our presence. Love treats people with kindness, compassion, and humility.

Jesus illustrated this better than anyone.

He was powerful, perfect, and wise. He literally was/is better than us, but He came humbly and served and even died on a cross for us.

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45

So, stay humble and “whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

Dear Jesus,

You had every right to treat others as less than You, yet You came to serve and give Yourself for our salvation. Help me to treat others with the same humility and love while serving You and them to the best of my ability.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck May 26, 2021

Blog Envy, love

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Love Does Not Envy

“It (love) does not envy.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4

Are you satisfied with what you have?

Tom was excited. He had been saving up for over a year and was finally able to buy his own car. It was 15 years old and needed a good bit of work, but it was his. He looked at the car with pride…that is, until his buddy, Eric, drove up in a new Mustang. All of the sudden, his car was an embarrassment and he was irritated.

Envy is wanting what others have…or is it?

However, envy isn’t actually so much about what others have.

It’s really about not being content with what you have.

When Eric drove up in his new car, nothing had changed about Tom’s car except Tom’s perception of it. Instead of being proud of what he had worked so hard for, he was now embarrassed because it wasn’t a shiny new muscle car. He was no longer satisfied with what he had. He wanted something like what Eric had.

God blesses us with so much.

Sometimes He gives us a lot and sometimes little. The question isn’t how to get more. It’s how to be content with what you have. The apostle Paul put it this way:

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” – Philippians 4:12

Interestingly, this verse is followed by one of the most popular verses of the Bible which also happens to be one that is most misunderstood…

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13

I Can Be Satisfied
Paul is saying not that he can lift heavy objects, run a marathon, start a business, or any other way this verse has been used. He is saying he can be content in any circumstance, whether with plenty or in need by the power of God. Ironically, this verse is saying that you can be satisfied even if you can’t finish the marathon or your company fails because you know God will always give you what you need.

So, don’t worry about what your neighbor has. God is taking care of you in the way you need right now. Love does not envy. It is content with what it has because God gives us the strength to be content.

Heavenly Father,

You are good and You provide. I know that sometimes that means I won’t have what others have or even what I’d like, but I will have what I need. Help me to trust what You have provided truly is good and give me the strength to be satisfied with it.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck May 25, 2021

Blog kindness, love

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Love Is Kind

“Love is kind.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4

Do you ever think of God as kind?

It seems like kindness is often thought of as small things that we do for other people. This concept of kindness being “small” can lead us to not really think of God as kind. It’s not that we think God isn’t kind, but rather that kindness is too small for God.

Consider these Bible verses:

“[God the Father] raised us up with Him [Jesus] and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” – Ephesians 2:6-7

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,” – Titus 3:4-6

“They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness, and did not forsake them.” – Nehemiah 9:17

“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.” – Psalm 36:7

“Because your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise you.” – Psalm 63:3

God is kind in both big and small ways.

He showed kindness to us by protecting us and even by saving us. He raises us up so, out of kindness, He can continue to show us His immeasurable grace. He also provides food for dinner and rest for the weary.

I’ve seen images like the one here many times.

“Practice acts of random kindness.”

I love the sentiment because it gets to the core of the kind of love God shows us. Random acts of kindness tend to have these two characteristics:

They are not limited to just the people we know. Any person can receive them.
They are undeserved. You don’t wait for someone to do something for you first, that wouldn’t be random.

You simply show kindness to someone just because.

Of course, our “just because” is because God first loved us. He shows us kindness after kindness, not because we deserve it, but because He loves us. We then can show kindness to others as a way to show them not only our love for them and even God’s love for them.

Why not give it a try today?

Practice some random acts of kindness. If anyone asks why tell them it’s because God loves them.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the kindness You have shown me in both the big, unimaginable ways and the small, imperceivable ways. Because your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise you. May one of the ways I praise you, also, be to show kindness to others.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck May 24, 2021

Blog love, patience

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Love Is Patient

“Love is patient.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4

How patient are you?

Love can make us do things that we wouldn’t normally do. I’ve always found it interesting how things that irritate us when one person does them don’t bother us when someone else, whom we love, does them. Patience can definitely be one of those things we give some, but not others.

What are some things or people with whom you tend to struggle to have patience?

God does not command us to love some and not others. We are to love everyone and that means being patient…with everyone.

So that means…

Being patient with the customer rep on the phone
Being patient with the person driving 10 under the speed limit (I struggle with that one)
Being patient waiting for the end of the school year
Being patient with a rebellious child

That’s not to say we don’t address the issue, if appropriate, but we have patience while dealing with it.

God is Love…God is Patient.

As is so often the case, God demonstrates this aspect of love with us as well. He is patient with us. He is patient as we eek along in growing in our faith. He is patient as we struggle with sin. He doesn’t excuse the sin but continues to show us grace in forgiveness. And He is ultimately patient with the world. When looking towards Christ’s second coming, Peter wrote this,

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9

Heavenly Father,

Thank you, Lord, for showing us patience and for working for our salvation. Help me to be patient with others like You are patient with me.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Kurt Steinbrueck May 22, 2021

Blog love, love others

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Love Is a Verb

Love is a Verb

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

How would you describe love?

Have you ever considered our use of the word, “Love?” There are different kinds of love. When we say we love pizza we don’t mean the same thing as when we say we love our mom.

When God talks about love, what does He mean?

With all the different ways we use the word, you might think it’s a vague concept in the Bible, however, it’s not. Thankfully, God describes love in the Bible. Perhaps the most vivid description of love is in 1 Corinthians 13.

When I hear people talk about love, they often are describing an emotion. They’ll talk about the emotional attachment to their kids as love or their attraction to the person they are dating as love. I’ve always found it interesting that God doesn’t describe an emotion.

God describes love as a bunch of actions and characteristics, being humble, content, patient, kind, and forgiving. This makes His command to love our enemies make more sense. I may not like my enemy (the person who seeks to hurt me), but I can still do these actions God calls love.

I can be kind and patient even when I don’t feel the emotion we call love…even when I feel hurt or angry.

In fact, love can often mean pushing aside our emotions in order to do something good and right. You feel like punching someone on the nose, but instead, you help them. You feel like cursing someone, but instead, you bless them. Jesus talked about this.

“But I [Jesus] say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” – Luke 6:27-28

This weekend, how can you do more than say you love someone? How can you show them you love them, according to 1 Cor 13?

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for loving me. Thank You for being patient and kind with me. Thank You for not being irritable or resentful of me. Thank You for forgiving me and caring for me. Help me to do the same for others whether I feel like it or not.

Amen

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

love

Loving Others In A Time Of Need

Hah! They Deserved that!

Love Sacrifices

Love Is Not Irritable

Love Doesn't Insist On Its Own Way

Love Is Not Arrogant Or Rude

Love Does Not Envy

Love Is Kind

Love Is Patient

Love is a Verb

Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL serving Lutz, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, and New Tampa, FL