The group, Mother, Father, Sister, Brother (MFSB) sang/played a great laidback saxophone-y piece back in 1973, Love Is the Message. It’s almost an all—instrumental piece. According to God’s message, love is something we should all want in our lives because we all need it.
Back around 1992, I had one of the best first grade classes ever! The group only had six girls and about 12 boys. Almost all of the students were small. At the time, all classes lined up in size-order. The girls’ line was led by S.S. and the boys’ line by K.M. One month, a class trip was coming up and they had to bring their permission slips signed by their parents. Every day I asked K.M. for his slip. Every day, his mom would forget. Finally, the day before the trip, I took drastic measures. Just before dismissal time, I took a Manilla envelope, and on the outside wrote in very large print: OPEN, READ, SIGN. Inside, I placed the slip. As K. held the envelope to his chest, I wound masking tape across the top and bottom of the envelope wrapping it around his chest, front to back. I told K. “When you get home, have your mom unzipper your coat, and then point to your chest.” She couldn’t miss it, or could she?
All the kids in the class wondered what would happen next day. When K. came in, everyone was nervous. When I called his name, he said, “Mr. Cruz, she signed it, she signed it!” We all were glad! The message had gotten through and K. was able to go on his trip and enjoy himself with his friends. Later on, when I saw his mom, she apologized for ignoring the slip and also laughed at my tactics. It got her attention!
You and I have a permission slip from God that He’s waiting for us to bring in. He left His Word for us to open and read. Before His crucifixion, Jesus’ enemies tore open His robe and tunic, and in a sense, saw the message on His chest reading: “OPEN, READ, SIGN.” But how? Scripture says that He went humbly like a lamb to the slaughter. He wasn’t cursing them. He wasn’t kicking and fighting. He made no threats to them like, “When I get out of here;” “Just wait till the third day, I’m gonna have your heads…” No, instead, without fighting back, He demonstrated a willingness to die for us. His sacrifice was an invite for them to open their hearts to the Savior of the world. He wanted them to “Read My Lips: I Love You.” His goal then, as now, was for them to render their lives to Him.
God poured out His heart and blood for us at the cross. He was hung high for all the world to see. Everyone saw His shame, His piercings, His tortured, bruised and battered body; punished beyond recognition, as a sacrifice for us. What the enemy hoped to use as humiliation, God exemplified as unselfish, unconditional, and sacrificial love to the world. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me” (John 12:32). As we know, every day on this earth could be our last.
Jesus’ crucifixion demonstrated to the world his selfless “Love is the Message to get us to OPEN His Word, READ it, acknowledge we’re in the wrong (we’re sinners), apologize to Him, and SIGN (receive Him into our hearts). God wants us to enjoy our time with Him, both here, and on our heavenly trip when called home.
Have you missed His message? Has His Love-message gotten through? Does He have your attention? Or, have you opened, read, and signed your life away to God? Are you waiting for something drastic or horrible to happen before saying “YES?” Sign up now and all your Christian friends and family members will rejoice over you! They’ll also be there in heaven for that great reunion! Can’t ever go wrong with God!
Departure Awaits!
Sam