Morning Message: April 17

It is God’s love for us that saves us.  In Jesus God revealed his great love for us.  We in turn, love God back by loving one another, and especially by caring for the poor and the oppressed.

A reading from the First Letter of John.

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  God’s love was revealed among us in this way:  God sent his only son into the world so that we might live through him.  Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.  And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.  God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

Boys and girls, How many of you like a windy day? The wind may spoil some activities, but one activity that you can enjoy when the wind is blowing is flying a kite. How many of you have flown a kite? It is great fun to watch them soaring high into the sky. What is it that keeps the kite up there? It is the wind, isn't it? How many of you have ever seen the wind? That was a trick question! No one has seen the wind. You can't see the wind because it is invisible. Well, if you can't see the wind, how do you know that it is there?

First, you can know that the wind is there because you can see it moving things. You can see it moving the leaves on the trees and blowing bits of paper around. You can't see the wind, but you know it is there because you can see what the wind is doing.

You can know that the wind is there because you can feel it. You can feel it blowing against your face and you can feel it blowing through your hair. You can't see the wind, but you know it is there because you can feel it.

Finally, you can know the wind is there because you can hear it. When I wake up in the morning, I like to know if the wind is blowing. Sometimes I turn on the Weather Channel and check to see if it is blowing. There are some mornings that I don't even have to look at the TV. I can hear the wind whistling through the trees, down the chimney, and around the windows and doors. I can't see the wind, but I know it is there because I can hear it.

How many of you have ever seen God? The Bible says that no one has seen God. Well if we haven't seen him, how do we know he is there? I think we can know that he is there the same way we know the wind is there.

First, we can see Him moving. The Bible says that the Spirit of God moves men to speak and to do things for him. (2 Peter 1:21) We can't see God, but we can see men doing things that God's Holy Spirit has moved them to do.

We can know that God is there because we can feel His presence. The Bible says, "I will fear no evil for Thou art with me." (Psalm 23:4) The Bible also says that "if we love one another, God lives in us." We can't see God, but we know he is there because we can feel his presence in our life.

Finally, we can know He is there because we can hear him. The Bible says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock, and if any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him." (Revelation 3:20) We can't see God, but we know he is there because he speaks to our hearts.

Lord, we can't see you, but we know you are there because we can see you moving, we can feel your presence, and we hear you speak to our hearts. Thank you for being there! We give you thanks for the gift of Jesus, our Savior.  Jesus showed us how to love you and to love one another.  May we follow him always.  We ask in the name of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I hope you have a wonderful rest of the day   and maybe you can get outside today or over the weekend to fly a kite.  And as you fly that kite, remember that God is always with you even though you can’t see Him, just like that wind that makes your kite soar high up into the sky.  God bless you!