The Importance of Showing Love to Others

And when you put love as a filter, you look for people good points. Not there. Bad points. So, your languages, never will. He's a good fella, but you can tell I really feel no love, looks for people and it hangs on people and firms. What would you say that you're a loving person, not just with your family, but with acquaintances and maybe even strangers here why that is so important today on Focus on the Family your hostess focus president Dr. Jim Daly I John four, John today's guest is Pastor Phil Waldron and he is going to inspire us to be more loving in our day-to-day interaction with others, and here's why that's only were ambassadors for Jesus Christ, to a hurting world. So how are you doing in that role is the price? Ask, are you representing Christ well at work, at home when you're running errands and I gotta confess I'm not always there about when someone cuts you off on the freeway plays well, that's my weak spot I've started driving. Sometimes I'm so I need to hear this message from Pastor Phil just like all of you and Phil Waldron is an author and evangelist and he really has a heart for senior adults.

As you'll hear in his first story in his delivery.

Reminds me of some of our classic guests here on Focus on the Family like Mike Adkins and so I do hope you're able to sit back and allow Pastor Phil to draw you in. I can guarantee you're never going to forget his final story, here's Phil Waldrep speaking at Rock Springs church in Milner Georgia on Focus on the Family.

My grandmother had a wonderful mime. One night she was one to bed and sometime during the night she slipped into the arms of Jesus. She lived alone she cared for herself. She taught Sunday school until she was 90 years of age, but my grandmother as she got older she developed this habit of saying things and you knew what she meant, but it was not what she said that he knows all people like that. I mean, they'll say something. You know what they meant, but it wasn't what they said, not literally have a whole file of these because I started cutting him down with my grandmother. But let me just give you a few so you get the spirit of my grandmother.

I remember her pastor the church you attend the little small church that she attended their pastor had gone through some sickness in the church was really struggling.

Why should such a godly man have to struggle as he struggling so her pastor called me and he said would you come to our church.

We want to take a Sunday night and I want you to speak to our people about suffering and how God uses suffering in your life and so I went to my grandmother's church and I spoke on suffering and how God uses suffering in our life. And I remember when we concluded the service. My 92, three-year-old grandmother. That time walked up to me took me by the hand and very sincerely said to me, son. I want you to know I did not know what suffering was until I heard you preach the night. I know what she meant, but it wasn't what she said I give you one more and please please understand the context in which I share this. I am in no way making light of something that's very serious and I even share it with the permission of the family. They encourage me to use it you catch the spirit of it. I think I know way making light of something that's very serious but my grandmother had a friend whose husband had developed some dementia even the onset of Alzheimer's. And that's a very, very serious disease and I'm not making light of that at all. But as he had meant and he pretty will reach the point where his memory was fading, but his wife discovered he had always loved to go to church and he loved so every day after he got up and he ate some breakfast. She would sitting in his recliner and he had a CD player and she literally would put preachers on and he would listen to preaching all day long and he loved it and my grandmother called me one day and she said all son Grace wanted me to tell you that you have become her husband's favorite preacher since he lost his mind. You get the spirit of my grandmother but my grandmother also developed another habit she developed a habit of saying things are commenting on things and you had no idea what she was talking about and I remember one day I was sitting in Atlanta airport, about to get on the plane, my phone rang and it was my grandmother and II. It was very unusual. Normally, I called her and so I answered the phone and I said hello big mother, that's what all the grandkids called. I said hello big mother and without any words of introduction without any words of of saying son, where are you how are you where you preaching without any words of introduction, my grandmother said to me she said Simon watched wrong with Obadiah and I immediately thought somebody in our family named Obadiah is sick in my grandmother's calling to see what's wrong with them so you know in that moment, I just ran through every body in our family trying to find somebody named Obadiah will be Obadiah and I couldn't think of anybody and I thought now I don't know all of the remedies and grandmothers will be embarrassed so I thought I would deflect her question by asking her question I say will big mother is he sick. She said no he's dead I say will that's probably what's wrong with you. She said son he's been dead for years as a big mother. We need to start this conversation over you called asked me what's wrong with Obadiah. Now you tell me he's been dead for years and it was then my grandmother explained her question. You see, my grandmother had a Bible that she got during World War II when Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president. I don't know what that had to do with it but if you ever called attention to revival my grandmother would say I got this during World War II, one Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president and my grandmother had developed a habit of whenever she heard somebody preach, she would write in the margin of her Bible their name and that day that they and she would draw the line over to the text that they use know that's what my grandmother had done well that morning. My grandmother had got up and ran her devotion and the suggestion Scripture was from the Old Testament book of Obadiah and when my grandmother finish reading it.

She looked down at her Bible that she'd had since World War II, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president and she realized there was no markings in the margin of her Bible and it occurred to her that since World War II, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president she had not heard one sermon from the book of Obadiah and she began to wonder why so she thought.

I'll call my preacher grandson and ask him son what's wrong with Obadiah so I later want to see my grandmother and I said may I borrow your Bible.

She said you will preacher don't have one.

I said no. I have one I just want to borrow your Bible and I looked in my grandmother's Bible and I found there were books of the Bible like Obadiah and Nate who were my grandmother had never heard one sermon and there were sections of books of the Bible like like books like Leviticus and Job were my grandmother had never heard a sermon and there were chapters of the Bible where my grandmother had never heard a sermon and I mark those in decided as a preacher I would revisit those chapters and verses in books to see if we as preachers have missed something. To my amazement, one of the places where my grandmother had never heard a sermon was Romans chapter 16 and so I went back and I read Romans 16 and I lies probably the reason is because in Romans 16 all Paul does is send greetings to friends. Say hello to this person.

Say Howdy to that person. That's all he does. But in the midst of all of those greetings, I discovered the principle that changes everything now for the basis of our sermon we will read all of Romans 16, but let me show you a few verses. Look at verse three Paul said greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus. Now notice verse six greet Mary, who was so much labor around saloon and for night Chris and Junot my kinsman and my fellow prisoners who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me greet amply as my beloved in the Lord. In verse 12 he said, salute, try Fina and trifles.

I just love those names probably twin sisters who labor in the Lord and then verse 13 he said salute roof was chosen in the Lord and his mother and mine, when asked a question you believe the early Christians love the apostle Paul sure you do, you can't read the New Testament without knowing how much they love the apostle Paul.

In fact, when you read in acts when Paul is making his final missionary journey and he goes to Ephesus, the Bible says that in Ephesus the elders went with him down to the river art as he was about to depart, and we was going to get onto the ship as he was about to the part they prayed together and Paul sold them they would never see his face again and they fell on his neck and wept.

Now you don't weep when somebody is leaving unless you love that person. There is no doubt about it, the early Christians love the apostle Paul, but do you know why I believe the early church. Love the apostle Paul.

Because Paul loved them. See here is a simple principle but it is a principle that changes everything. People love people that love people would you say that out loud with me. People love people that love people. Now that's a simple formula but yet it's true whether it's in business. Our church or in any other aspects of life. Now I ask you this morning. Do you love people. Everybody here would say yes. I mean we would all stand and say I love people I doubt if anybody would stand and say I like to testify. Everybody probably wouldn't do that.

You sitting in church you would say I love people. If I ask you, does your church love people you would say yes.

Our church loves people. So probably the issue is not, do we want to love people, or do we love people, but do we know how to make people feel loved. Paul had the ability to make people feel loved and in Romans 16 he demonstrates three simple things that you can do to make any person feel loved. Here's the first one.

Paul understood that love appreciates people in appreciates people for who they are, not for what they can do for you. You see, it's easy to love people who can do something for you and everybody knows that the real test is do you appreciate people who can do nothing for you. I have a friend who says quite often the greatness of a person is how they treat people who can do nothing for them or nothing to them.

And he's right. How you treat people who could do nothing for you are to you indicates whether you really love.

I have a dear friend whose name is Maureen Scobee and then they may not ring a bell with you, but let me tell you what Maureen Scobee spent his life doing. Maureen spent the majority of his life being an assistant and an aide to Dr. Billy Graham, the great preacher who died just sometime ago and he was the man who made sure when Billy Graham travel that is close were packed and he had the books he needed everything he needed.

Everywhere he traveled around the world. It was Maureen who made sure he had everything he needed and one day Maureen and I were eating lunch and I said Maureen you know Billy Graham as well as any person who ever lived, and I know you going to tell me he's a great man and a godly man but I said would you tell me this.

Is there anything about Billy Graham that just kinda steps out and that you know you know is such a unique characteristic and he said feeling that you what it is. The man appreciates everybody he said when we traveled. He said you couldn't get milligrams was seen on an airplane because he said nothing. The pilots and the flight attendants for flying when you got to the hotel, he had to think the front desk and he had think all the maids were cleaning the room.

He had to tell them all thank you. He said even if they did know he was that matter to him. He just wanted them to know he appreciated them and he think you think one of the reasons why Billy Graham and his ministry. If you're not familiar, you should look him up. Why he became such an advisor to presidents and world leaders often consulting with people who wouldn't even talk to another American invited to preach, even in communist countries was because they saw something in this man, they did not see in others they saw someone who truly love people for who they were, not for what they could do for him or what they could do to him. Let me take a secret. If you as a church will love people that nobody wants, God will give you the people everybody wants because even the rich and the poor want to be in a place where people love people for who they are. Love appreciates people only thing a second thing Paul said Paul also said that love always acknowledges people do you remember a few years ago when Walmart started. If you read Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart you will read that he discovered in the early days, he could not compete on price because the company the business wasn't that large, and he discovered that he could eat his competition if he would just put somebody at the front door to greet people and the Walmart greeter. According to Sam Walton was one of the reasons for the success of Walmart. Do you know in church life. When people come onto our campus they ought to be feeling so welcome because we knowledge their presence and hey by the way the Bible tells us the two ways we are to acknowledge people now Paul doesn't hear and infer John the very last verse were told to do it.

When John said greet the brethren by name were to call each other by name all of us would say today. Jesus is the sweetest name we know, but you know, the second sweetest name you know is your name and when someone calls your name it makes you feel that I've talked to many people who have run for political office, especially the federal level and if they go for training. You know, one of the things I train every politician to do.

They say every time you meet somebody called her name at least three times, all Cameron good to meet you. Good to see you, God bless you Good to be with you can call their name at least three times, and research shows the odds that they will support you in your campaign. One up exponentially. Why should it be when people come to church.

We ought to learn and call them by name, but when you see people you call them by their name. They feel value, no wait I said there's two ways would agree people. The other one is in verse 16 and Romans 16. You can read it for yourself.

This is greet each other with a holy kiss lies in the Bible. I can make that is right thing. Are you going to tell us feel when people come we ought to run up to someone that drive people away when that's the way the Romans greeted each other. Let me tell you, the American equivalent is shaking somebody's hand or hug and when you see somebody hey Joe see you and hug your neck how does that person feel they feel loved salon not only appreciates people and acknowledges people but love also affirms people did you see what Paul did call this didn't say greet Priscilla acrylic Gina and her like us and make a list know he took a moment to say say hello if you will to Juna and enter not just for me.

Say hello to them for me and you know they risk their life for me one time now and by the way, Priscilla and acquittal already knew that and say hello to Juna's and I deny because he said they were Christians before I was the disciple set around and talk about them using what Paul's doing Paul's bragging on me tell you something I'm thing about love. When you love somebody you brag on. I did discover that Debbie and I we have three grandchildren are two oldest two oldest girls there now 71 and she likes to do ballet and dancing in the other one likes to play soccer. You know what I discovered. I discovered that my grandchild was the best soccer player and the best ballet dancer and I would tell people here's what I'd say I was lying, but I said I say I'm not saying this is because it's my granddaughter she's the best one on the team know I would say that because she's my granddaughter you know why because love put a filter over my eyes that I could only see her victories and not her mistakes. I saw my granddaughter. I can only see how she performed perfectly, not when she fell down and when you put love as a filter, you look for people's good points. Not there. Bad points.

So, your languages, never will. He's a good fella, but you can tell how you really feel no love, looks for people and it drags on people and it affirms people.

If you really want make people feel love you brag on a windy night around and you say things in word gets back to them. Mark Twain said, and he was right. People can live on a good complement for six months and when you say things about people in your sincere new meaning they find that they feel so affirmative you know how they feel they feel loved. We give you story this morning. True story little boy who discovered this principle, a five-year-old who discovered this principle is that as a pastor and is a very dear friend. This pastor told me when his son was about four or five years of age. For reasons known only to God, he became fascinated with the garbage truck. He said, literally. He said every time the garbageman would come hear me on the front porch and he just wave adding somebody told him the garbageman was Mr. Biel and so he'd get up early and eat his cereal his stent on the porch and he just wave and say hey Mr. Bell and Mr. Bilson garbageman wave and go on his route. He said six days in a week couldn't get him up. But today the garbageman came, he was up early because he had to see the garbageman is a Christmas came that year and the family was Mica not a list of all the presents I need to divide the five euros that we need to get the garbageman appraiser. He said we need to get the garbageman a present son. We don't normally get the garbageman a present. He so I think we need see as a teachable moment. They slightly what Weiner Junior mom baked some cookies and will give them the Mr. Biel for him and his family for Christmas when I sounded like a great idea so that Tuesday night before the garbageman came on Wednesday morning.

They bake the cookies and Wednesday morning little boy was up early in his debts and don't don't go down there do you see if we seem coming. You tell me and I'll go with you in a few minutes he city, net economic and common get the cookies they got the cookies they walked down the garbageman got out of the truck and said is something wrong. He said oh no said you probably noticed my son. He's rather fascinated with when the garbage is all yeah he's always there waving at me. He said well our family wanted to get you and your family something for Christmas and wanted to give you these cookies little boy gave them to the garbage tennis and Merry Christmas Mr. Biel and then my pastor friends and I don't know where this come from. He said thank you for getting our garbage. It sure would stink around here if you didn't garbageman put them in the truck and when he turned around to tear his strength and honesty. He said you know I've been driving this old truck for long time and I don't think anybody's ever give me money because a prisoner or something because I'm a garbageman. Thank you but what you do sir what your line of work while I'm pastor of a church down the road said you and your family go to church. Well I'm sorry to say we don't go to church. He said, but women thinking about coming to church a little fibrosis. Hey, why don't you come, thy church sending my little preschool class going to sing before the service. You can listen the saying and I'll see you ninja he said we might my pastor friends that he looked up coming through the back door was that garbageman and his wife, and they were there that Sunday just as he promised little five euro said with and when church was over with my pastor friend said so you should've seen my son. He's carrying Mr. Biel around all over the church. He's telling people this is Mr. Biel best garbageman in town right at best garbageman never spills our garbage garbageman in town.

He said I had to tell you came back the next Sunday to church are the next Sunday of the it was in January when you call my pastor friend and said can you come to our house. My wife and I want to talk to you and they went to his house and they said, you know, we've never given our life to Christ and my pastor friend led the garbageman and his wife to faith in Christ.

You know the reason why the garbageman no one in the garbageman is wife is a five-year-old got it a five-year-old understood the principal. The changes everything. People love people that love people would you say that with me one more time people love people that love what a great illustration of the portents of sharing God's love with others around us from pastor Phil Waldrep on today's episode of Focus on the Family. This was so good and I just love the picture of that little boy in his fascination with Mr. Bill driving that garbage truck and from that child's pure motivation to show love by giving Mr. Bill a Christmas present a whole family came to know the Lord and I think that's wonderful.

It really really is and that is such a great example of the Christian walk in the New Testament, Jesus told us to be salt and light salt was an extremely precious commodity in the first century and it was used as a preservative for foods to stop decay and enhance the flavor so the role of the Christian that salt is to stop the influence of corrupting forces in our culture and to enhance the joys God has given us the light analogy is a bit more obvious in biblical times you had to light an oil lamp if you needed to see in the dark and you would put that lampwork could give off as much light as possible. So Jesus wants our faith to be something that can be seen and that draws others toward God, so that context.

In order for us to be salt and light in the world. We must interact with the world around us. Rather than hide from it in holy huddles we are to take the good news out into our communities. That's the mission given to us by the Lord and that's inevitably preclear throughout the whole New Testament. Here's a way to get started, I'd encourage you to get a CD of this message from pastor Phil and listen to it together as a family, then talk about who you could reach out to. Is it a lonely neighbor or a teacher or coach.

Who do you know who needs a relationship with Jesus Christ. Think of them as your families.

Mr. Bill and find ways to reach out to that person and love and then please get in touch with us. We'd love to hear how you use this message to spread the gospel. Share your story on her Facebook page or just give us a call and you know in the past year Focus on the Family has helped over 300,000 people dedicate or read dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ. Let us know if you need any additional resources for your new friend like our coming home booklet which explains how to become a Christian.

And if you can help us financially that would go a long way toward these efforts to reach the world with the message of the gospel and if you can make a donation of any amount will send you the CD of this message from pastor Phil Waldrep as our way of saying thank you and you can reach us when you call 800 the letter a in the word family 800-232-6459 or follow the link in the episode notes to donate to the work of Focus on the Family and request your CD when you're online. Look for details about our literate challenge which provides fun projects to help you and your family live out your faith in practical everyday ways. Have a great weekend and be sure to be back with us on Monday to learn about avoiding hot buttons in your marriage, along with some encouragement for your relationship are marriages in the church as a result of our knowledge and our relation with price should be materially better different than those that are not walking with Christ on behalf of Jim Daly in the entire team.

Thanks for joining us today for this Focus on the Family podcast. Please take a moment and liberating forests and tell a friend about this episode as well spread the word and assure the content of these podcasts will say thanks in advance. I'm John Fuller inviting you back. As we once more help you and your family thrive in Christ