Love Means...

 

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

This letter is from John, the elder.  I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth—because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.  Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.  How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.  I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another.  This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning.  Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.  2 John 1-6

The much beloved apostle, John, writes to the chosen lady, a code word for the church he pastored while in Ephesus.  He tells the believers there to love one another. 

That one word, “love” could mean a lot of things.  In popular culture of the 21^st century the word evokes images of a far-different meaning than that to which John referred.  When writing these devotionals I hunt for an image to use as a title base, something which conveys some of the thought central to the Scripture.  For today I typed in the word “love” and, within 3/10^ths of a second I had 482 pages of images from which to choose.  Each page had around 100 images.  Do the math…if I looked at them all to make a selection it could have been a week from next Friday before I even wrote word #1 on the page.  Even more problematic is that most of the images would have been rated PG…at best!  (My choice of search filter for my computer won’t even show me the more lurid ones).

The point here is that our current popular culture’s idea of love centers around romanticism, a far cry from what John urged for his congregation.

But even when you make that distinction…not romantic love, but God’s love…there is a disconnect about what the apostle means (thus having 40,000 pictures from which to choose). 

So, let’s be clear; John doesn’t mean we should lust, like uncontrollable animals.  He is not referring to sappy flowers-and-balloons, tear-jerking feelings.  And he is certainly not into Hallmark-movie sighs of everything will be just fine and dandy.  John is full-on describing the way God dies for us…laying-down His life, spilling His blood, so that we can live forgiven and joyful.  When the apostle says we should love one another he’s pointing to the command to be obedient to God’s command to live in truth with each other, humbly accepting each other as part of the same family.  He’s calling us to a lifestyle of unconditionally doing what is best for each other, even if it hurts, is inconvenient, or costly.

Most of us respond…but who can live like that?  The short answer is:  Jesus!

When John says “love one another” he’s saying “be like the one you chose to follow”.

For You Today

It’s hardly ever easy, strapping on a towel and carrying a basin to wash another’s feet.  But, if you claim the name, it’s time to get in the game!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!  

[1] Title Image: Vanni, via Wikimedia Commons  Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

The Providence of God

 

Friday, August 21, 2020

I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods.  I bow before your holy Temple as I worship.  I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.  As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.  Psalm 138:1-3

The Psalmist lets us in on a little key ingredient to faith; you’ve got to keep going.  I’m not talking about really tough times when you don’t know whether or not you’ve got it in you to take one more step; in times like that He carries you.  Rather, it’s more the times when you just don’t feel like taking any steps that you’ve got to keep taking those steps.

·       Did you ever just not feel like saying that prayer?

·       Have you ever felt like it was a waste of time to go to another worship service?

·       Has there been a time when you felt too angry to pray?

·       Did you ever feel like it was useless to forgive that guy….again?

Hear the Psalmist again: 

As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.

Faith isn’t spooky, doesn’t require a medium or fortune teller, and it certainly isn’t hiding anywhere.  Faith is constantly available, and the problem isn’t that God has made it only for the superstars, like Moses, Peter, or Paul; the problem is, frankly, sometimes we just don’t feel like it.  And this is the point at which we find that faith. 

If you have developed a habit of praying, giving, worshipping, helping others, or any other spiritual discipline, there will be times when you don’t feel like it.  Those are the times to put aside feelings and remember it is a discipline, and the strength God gave you to form that discipline, will be the same strength that shows up in that discipline.  This is so, because of another little key the Psalmist let slip…it’s not about us, or our feelings; God’s providence, His care for us, is all resting on the honor of God’s holy name.

In a discussion with a dear friend we were talking about this same issue, and I had the thought that many times I don’t really want to get up as early as I do.  Sometimes, even when I manage to drag my aging carcass out of the bed, stumble to the desk with my first cup of coffee, and begin to read, I do not feel like writing another devotional (perhaps just like you sometimes don’t feel like reading another devotional).  But, when it has become a habit, you do it anyway. 

And one of two things happen:

1.     Somewhere in the process, like the Psalmist, you realize that entering that time of prayer, or service, or devotion, God has encouraged you, replenished your strength, or resolve, or grown your faith.   The technical term is providence – the Lord has provided. 

The other possibility is:

2.     You don’t feel anything but bored, or tired, or angry, or, well…fill in the blank.  And, in this case, it isn’t that God can’t provide what you need; you’ve bumped into the need for a vacation….or a nap…or a nap on vacation.  You get the idea.

Your tank of human strength has run low, and God wants to replenish all of you, not just your spiritual side, He wants your mind, emotions, physical being, and relationships to flourish.  And, you’re not your best self when those feelings begin to control every decision, action, or word that drops from your tired, bored, angry lips.

For You Today

There are times to take a break, step back, and regain strength, or perspective; it’s time to let God replenish whatever is running on empty. 

Don’t be afraid of that.  It’s providential…one of God’s promises!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road today.  Have a blessed day!

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Title image Pixabay.com ∞  Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©

For another post on activating your faith, see Faith Finding the Path to Do Right