Have you ever had a good role model in your life? Someone that you knew everything about like their favorite food, the way they smelled, their favorite thing to do, their favorite place, etc. Can you put into words the impact they had on your life?
I believe there are three key ingredients to Steadfast Love.
Identity.
Steadiness.
Love.
Identity & Steadiness feed into Love.
Without identity we don't know who we are. Without steadiness we waffle back and forth. Without love, we become lost and hopeless.
IDENTITY - Everyone is looking for identity.
We search out who we are daily until we finally get satisfied with who we are! Let's look at how we get our identity.
Some men get their identity from their father.
- Smithson - probably was a stone smith down the line.
- Peterson - probably someone named Peter had a son.
- Richardson - You see where I'm going here?
- Nolan is a great plumber
- Ron is a great brick layer
- Jack is a great mechanic
Some men are known for their family.
- Aren't you a Cope?
- Aren't you a Wilcox?
- Aren't you a....?
Romans 8:14-17
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Women get identity from some of these things as well, but they also get their identity from their Husband and Children...
First of all, they take the last name (most times) of their husband. When Debbie and I got married, Debbie changed from Leinweber to Cope. I can't begin to tell you how many times she has been identified as Rich Cope's wife.
Many women get identity through their children.
- Are you Tiffany's mom?
- Oh you must be Jessica's mom!
- Leslie's mom said...
I've often seen a sequence in some (not all) girls as they age.
- Unsure of themselves - Pre-Boyfriend
- Finding their identity - Boyfriend
- Beginning to know themselves - Engaged
- Know themselves, but not entirely - Married
- Know themselves fully and are gaining confidence - Married with Kids
- Know themselves and are ALL THAT - Married with kids AND grand kids!
Children get their identity from their PARENTS. They get their traits and characteristics from both parents, among other things.
Many of the most confident and satisfied children in life are the ones who have understanding of their identity from both parents. When they have two great parental figures, most times they will grow up secure in who they are. Why? Because they aren't trying to overcompensate for what is missing.
We gain our identity through all of these things, but most of all we have an innate desire to find our Spiritual Identity.
We have a Father in Heaven. The Creator of Heaven and Earth. He has the biggest family there is. He's Abba Father.
In Christ we have a:
Savior
Brother
King of Kings
Lord of Lords
Counselor
And so much more.
Proverbs 18:24 Revelation 22:13
Security Or Steadiness - We All Want Steadiness
When we talk about Security or Steadiness we think of how safe we felt in our Father’s arms. How safe we felt when that Protector rose up! I’ve said this before but it bares repeating. Did you ever feel so secure in whoever your father role model was that you knew they could just whip anyone if they needed to? I knew that if I needed steadiness, stability or a secure feeling that I could just get close to my Dad. Even spiritually… He didn’t get too far out and yet he always wanted to allow God to move in power. Dad’s are supposed to be Stable and Secure! They aren’t supposed to be tossed to and fro! They need to be strong. The Word Talks of our Heavenly Father as a Strong Tower! A Refuge in a time of Trouble! Dad’s are supposed to be Steady. A cool hand when the chips are down, and a cool hand when things are really good. Always there! The reason we have so many orphans and people with Orphan Spirits is because Dads abandoned their kids.
You might be thinking, I was there in the house! But were you there when they needed you?
Mom’s have become the driving influence in too many ways because Dad’s left all of their Dad duties to Mom. Where have the Dad’s who are the Steady influence Gone? Where have the days gone when Kids would say, "I need to ask my Dad?" Wives look to the Husband for Stability! Wives look Strength and Steadiness! They weren’t wired to be the Rock of Gibraltar! MEN WERE.
Kids look for Security, stability and steadiness from Dad first and if he is absent they go to Mom. Too many Moms have had to be a dual role player! Kids need security, stability and steadiness. They need to feel Safe! They need to feel that life is stable. They need steadiness in life. Why? Because if they have that as a kid they will be that as an adult. Many times you become what was emulated in front of you as a kid! Not every time but most!
Fortunately we have a Heavenly Father that Never Changes ! He is more steady than the rock of Gibraltar and His Steadiness is second to none!
Malachi 3:6 NKJV
6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob."
Love - Love is what we Long For.
Love comes in many forms… There is Puppy Love! There is mushy Love! There is kid love! There is also romantic Love! There is friendship love! There is Brotherly Love! There is “Only a Mother Could” kind of Love! There is Daddy’s Love!
No matter who we are or how tough we are, or think we are, we are looking for Love! Someone to Love us! Someone to care about us! The old song “Looking for love in all the wrong places.” Everyone is looking for that feeling of Love! When God made the original family, he put love in the middle of the family. A Dad that was there, a Mom who was there, Siblings who were there! Was if perfect? No! Look at Cain and Able. There isn’t a family around that is perfect.
Dads are supposed to be there, bring stability, steadiness but most of all LOVE!
Moms pour out their love more openly than Dads do. Its the way they are wired. They are wired with a nurturing nature. A Mom will take on the biggest mountain because
they love their kids.
Here is the thing! Kids need both the Father’s Love and the Mother’s Love! It will make them into well rounded, loving, and caring adults for their kids! How many girls out of love of their Daddy, end up with a man like their Daddy?
In this world today there isn’t enough Godly Love from Dad and Mom spread around to their Children! Our Heavenly Father Loves us so much that:
- He is There when we need Him
- He is there when we feel like we don’t
- He is strength when we need Him
- He is the gentle guide when we need it
- He is our Refuge, Strong Tower and our ever present Help in time of need
- He is our Provider our Healer
- He is our Disciplinarian when we need it
- He is our encouragement
- He is our Rock
- He is Always Present, All Knowing and All Powerful.
- He is Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent
Most of all, He is a Steadfast Loving Father who loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die a cruel death so that we can have Eternal Life.
You see that Through Our Heavenly Father we have Identity in being a “Child of God,” Chosen before the Foundations of the World. We have Steadiness in knowing that He has prepare Eternal life for us if we will walk in relationship with Him. And Last of all His Love is out of this World! No love is greater than the Love the Father has for us.
Thanks for reading and be blessed!
-Pastor Rich
In this post, I will be talking about Brotherly Love !
Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.
When we act in a way that love shows, then everything will change. Our home life changes, our work life changes, our family life changes... Everything changes when we LOVE the way that the bibles tells us.
The definition of LOVE from Websters 1828 Dictionary:
In a general sense to be pleased with; to regard with affection, on account of some qualities which excite pleasing sensations or desire of gratification.
We love a friend, on account of some qualities which give us pleasure in his society.
We love a man who has done us a favor; in which case, gratitude enters into the composition of our affection.
We love our parents and our children, on account of their connection with us, and on account of many qualities which please us.
We love to retire to a cool shade in summer.
We love a warm room in winter.
We love to hear an eloquent advocate. The christian loves his Bible.
In short, we love
whatever gives us pleasure and delight, whether animal or intellectual; and if our hearts are right, we love
God above all things, as the sum of all excellence and all the attributes which can communicate happiness to intelligent beings. In other words, the christian loves God with the love
of complacency in his attributes, the love
of benevolence towards the interest of his kingdom, and the love
of gratitude for favors received.
John 15:13
"Greater love has no one than this, then to lay down one's life for his friends."
What does a brother do for those he loves?
If you have a BROTHER, then you will be able to answer this question.
Before I give my input on that, I will share some Biblical examples of what brothers should NOT do.
In Genesis 4 we see where Cain killed Abel. Not really a good start when it comes to siblings...
In Genesis 25 Jacob tricked Esau into selling his birthright.
In Genesis 37 Joseph was sold into slavery.
These brothers of Genesis don't really give us a good example of brotherly love.
THESE are the things that I think that a brother does:
Teach & Train.
Clear the way - Not block the way.
Speak the TRUTH... even when we don't want to hear it.
There when needed.
Committed to each other.
Take care of each other.
Love... unconditionally, unbiased, and regardless of the cost.
One of the best examples of true brotherly love that I have ever seen in action, was of my two grandsons Carson & Wyatt. At the time, they were maybe 3 and 5 years old. Wyatt is the younger. Carson was playing in the McDonald's playland and Wyatt wanted to play also. Wyatt would get so excited watching his older brother climb up the multi-level platforms to get to the slide and slide down, but he was sad because he couldn't get his little legs high enough to climb up on his own. So Carson, of his own volition, go on his hands and knees and allowed Wyatt to use him as a step stool so that he could climb to the top to go down the slide.
That is what our Big Brother Jesus does for us. He allows us to climb on his back all the way to Heaven. He laid down his life for us. He allowed a crown of thorns to be upon our backs, he allowed stripes to be put on his back and he gave up His Own Life so that we may obtain eternal life.
Let me show you something...
Romans 8:16-17
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
And what did our Big Brother do?
He showed us the way to eternal life.
Cleared the Way by coming and dying for our sins.
And He spoke truth even though we didn't want to hear it.
So, I challenge you readers.
Show Brotherly Love to those around you just as Christ has shown it to you.
Thanks for reading & be blessed!
- Pastor Rich
