Thursday Thoughts: October 30, 2025
By the Rev. Dr. Dennis E. Morey
Faith Presbyterian Church
“How did you do that?” It’s the question of everyone watching a magician. Of course, the person doing the magic tricks is never willing to share any knowledge for fear that if we know how it is done, we won’t be so amazed and impressed. It is such fun to watch, as the one who has a plan surprises us. How can a dove fly from that piece of cloth we saw a moment ago? How can tapping a glass turn the liquid inside from clear to green? Are there really magic words that can bring such powerful results?
The truth is, in all our relationships, there are three magic words that, when used together, bring a powerful result. We can’t say them effectively until we have first felt their effect. Saying them too often will diminish their power and saying them too seldom causes us to forget their power. Those words we learn to cherish as a child for the magic of their power and comfort are “I love you.”
Our parents, who first said them to us, understood that we were too young to respond properly. Until we grew up, were able to talk, and know some of what those words meant, our parents patiently waited. They knew the day would come.
As we mature and our knowledge of those words expanded, we learned that God loves us too. Not only has God made this beautiful world and given us people to love us, God’s love reached further into the life of each person, each of us. We learn this relationship which God desires so much can’t happen because of our sin. Again God’s love reached past that barrier when God sent Jesus to be the payment for our sin. When we trust in him, we are forgiven and we can enjoy that relationship with God our hearts have longed for but couldn’t find. I John 4:19: “We love because God first loved us.”
What a wonderful plan! God has waited patiently, cared for us, showed us how much we are loved and invites us to live each day as our expression of love. We express our love to God by the way we take care of what God has given us, both in terms of this world’s resources and relationships with other people. We can’t say “I love you” to God sincerely, unless we have loved those God has sent our way.
Is it possible to love someone looking past their behavior? Ask the parent of a teenager, or the forgotten grandparent sitting in the care center. Certainly God loves past our behavior. God’s love is not the result of how good we are but the result of who God is. Real love always has to do more with the person who shows it than with the one who receives it. Sometimes we think that our well-being has to do with how much we are loved. The truth is; our well-being has to do more with how much we are willing to love.
We need to love. Every person needs to say those words, “I love you.” There is someone in your life who needs to hear you say those words, but your need to say them is greater. Only when we love do we find that joy we all need for our well-being. Only those who know God’s plan to love and for that love to grow and spread into all the relationships we encounter know the real magic of those words.
God loves each of us. What do we do with that love? Do we share it? Do we say it? That’s God’s plan. Surely all those who love God have the best reason to assemble with other Christians on Sunday morning for worship. Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you. By this the whole world will know that you belong to me.” It is God’s plan to love us and, from the way we love, those around us know we are God’s children. Love someone enough to invite them to worship with you and experience an opportunity to see love in action this coming Sunday.
See you here next week for more on Thursday Thoughts.
