Misconceptions

Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror,

but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. 

All that I know now is partial and incomplete, 

but then I will know everything completely,

just as God now knows me completely.

1 Cor 13:12 (NLT)

I've been thinking what a wonderful thing it must have been for the disciples and friends of Jesus to be in his actual physical presence, to see his expressions and to hear his voice and to walk with him.  Yet, even though they were in his presence, it didn’t guarantee knowledge.  In many ways they still did not understand him.  They still had their own areas of blindness and weakness just as we have, conditioned and determined by their personality, culture and upbringing. 

Jesus had to correct their misconceptions so many times.  Peter’s strong personality often expressed itself in prideful arrogance to the point that he actually corrected Jesus (Mt. 16:22,23) and declared himself strong enough to even die with Christ. (Mt. 26:35)  The truth was exposed (as it usually is) under pressure when he swore three times that he did not even know the man.  At that moment, Jesus looked at him and the truth of who Peter really was became evident.  (Luke 22:54-62)  Later, when Peter begins his ministry, God has to confront his cultural and religious prejudice.  (Acts 10 & 11)  

Under the influence of their ambitious mother, the disciples, James and John, came asking for the right to sit on thrones at the side of Jesus.  They foolishly said that they were able to pay the price of sorrow involved in such an honor.  Again, Jesus patiently confronts their misconceptions, stating that even he has no right to honor such a request.  (Mt. 20:20-28) 

Love cannot coexist with error.  Love has to see plainly and clearly what is really going on. Our ability to love can be seriously hindered by our personalities, our cultural assumptions or our family upbringing.  Jesus confronts each one of these areas as he lovingly and gently, with depth of understanding, works throughout our lives to dislodge falsehoods and to lead us into the truth that will set us free.

Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness,

but rejoices with the truth. 

1 Cor 13.6 NASB

Set Free

Love is not self-seeking,

1 Cor 13:5 (NIV)

God focus frees us from the tyranny of the self.  The self is bound, a slave. The self is defensive and stingy, thinking that to have, it must grab and hold onto what it wants.  Self focus leads to an impoverished life.  

In contrast, God's love is expansive, outward looking and abundant.  His love is inexhaustible.  The more we give away the more we get.  The life of love does not seek to hold on to its own, but by giving gains more.

Jesus came to set us free from the tyranny of self and self-focus.  It is a freedom that comes through death.  I consider that my old self died with Christ so it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me and that the Christ life within creates in me a new self free to love.  I am a new creation.  God lives in me therefore, love lives in me and I live in love.

Lord, thank you for setting us free from the slave master of self.  Help us to stay focused on you as we allow your liberating love to grow in us and to be expressed through us. 

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Cor 5:17 (NIV)

So you too consider yourselves dead to sin,

but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:11 (NET)

My old self has been crucified with Christ. 

It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

Gal 2:20 (NLT)

Loved into Loving

Royal, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a well loved dog.

We love because he first loved us.

1 John 4:19 (NIV) 

Love has amazing transforming power.  I like to hear redemption stories of abused animals rescued from neglect and transformed through patient attention and care from snarling beasts into docile lap dogs.

God's love is like that.  He rescues us.  He comes first towards us in our lost, frightened and withdrawn state and gently woos us to come out of hiding into his light.  Then he gently works with us until we are transformed by his patient love.

"Real love begins steadily to remake the loved one, to recreate the beloved into being more loveable - easier to love.  Re-creation and redemption go hand in hand here.  "We love God because he first loved us."   God had first to love us into being able to love him in return.  This is the continuing, redemptive principle underlying the authentic love of God."  Eugenia Price, Make Love Your Aim, pg.60.

The unconditional, unfailing love of God is always moving toward us to love us into loving.  As we realize more of this love and immerse ourselves in it, we become more able to love the unlovely and perhaps love them into loving.

Dear friends, since God so loved us,

we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:11 (NIV)

Leading with the Heart

When he saw the crowds,

he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, 

like sheep without a shepherd.

Matt 9:36 (NLT)

Sometimes the first reaction we have when someone is in trouble or suffering is, "They brought this on themselves by their own weakness and failure.  They are suffering because of their addiction or their poor choices.  Why can't they just get their life together?  If they were stronger they wouldn't be suffering now."  This is judgment.  This is our human way of thinking. 

Instead, Jesus looked and had compassion on those who were suffering.  He understands that our suffering is often caused by our own failures and weaknesses, but instead of judging and condemning, he comes alongside to help.  Love doesn't judge and condemn.  Instead, love extends a listening ear and a helping hand no matter the cause of the distress. 

Henri Nouwen, the Catholic priest who spent his later years helping disabled adults, teaches us that when we stop judging and evaluating others we become free to be compassionate. "Compassion can never coexist with judgment because judgment creates the distance, the distinction, which prevents us from really being with the other." (Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Way of the Heart, pg. 35)

And Paul Miller says,  "Judging is knee-jerk, quick, and bereft of thought, while compassion is slow and thought-filled.  Judging separates and, thus, destroys community; compassion unites and creates community." (Paul E. Miller, Love Walked Among Us, Learning to Love Like Jesus, pg. 47)

When our minds jump quickly to judgment, let us stop and think.  Let us think of Jesus who came alongside us.  Who put himself in our shoes and went so far as to lay down his life that he might lift us up out of the pain caused by our own failures. Let us lead with our heart and think, "How can I enter in to help this person in their time of need?"

The Power of Love

How incredible is this thing called love. 

It is the most powerful force in all the world.

  Nothing can defeat it. 

Love bears.  Love bears, always protecting.  Love is like a rising tide that covers all the debris on the beach.

Love believes.  Love always believes the best.  Love covers and in that covering believes for all good things. 

   

Love hopes.  Love holds out hope for the future against all odds.  It is not just wishful thinking, but a sure anchor in the promises of God.

 

Love endures.  Love overcomes every obstacle.  It endures anything and everything with patience and joy.  Love keeps on loving no matter what happens.

Love covers sin and in that covering believes for all good things and has hope for a good outcome as it endures with patience because it trusts in the great Lord over all things.

This love is so incredible that words fail.  It is far beyond our understanding yet we pray and yearn to know this love and to experience it.  It is a gift of His Spirit.  Let us come boldly and confidently into God's presence and ask for this love to be reproduced in us and let us declare:

I will bear up under all my circumstances.  I will believe all his promises.  I will hope for all good things.  I will endure through everything because I know love will win in the end.

Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should,

how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 

May you experience the love of Christ,

though it is too great to understand fully.

Then you will be made complete

with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Eph 3:17-19 (NLT)

 

Courtesy

Love each other with genuine affection, 

and take delight in honoring each other.

Romans 12:10 (NLT)

If you watch television at all you’ve probably seen a lot of rude and discourteous behavior.  It seems that in this day and age in our culture people are actually taught the art of an insult. In a different era, people were taught about gracious speech, about politeness and consideration for others.  Today, in Asian culture, courteous and respectful behavior is taught and expected. 

 

Our words have a lot of power to effect how another person feels.  For example, I have noticed in the realm of customer service, when someone acknowledges my concern and expresses empathy for my problem, I feel better.  Even though I know these people have been trained and are getting paid to speak to me that way, I am amazed that it still has the desired effect of making me feel cared for.

 

Love can be expressed simply in courteous and respectful words.  Courtesy is important because it expresses regard for the feelings of others.  Courtesy in our speech honors the other person and says that we regard them as valuable enough to be spoken to with respect and consideration.  Love is always concerned with the well being of the other.  Our words have the power to either harm or heal, to build up or to tear down.  If we love, we don't want to hurt someone’s feelings or cause them unnecessary pain or distress. 

 

In this world we experience many harsh and unpleasant things.  Lord, I thank you for the beauty of your world where there is no ugliness, no rudeness.  May our lives be a reflection of your world with our mouths full of loving, courteous words that honor and build up. 

 

Love is not....rude. 

1 Cor 13:5

Growth in Love

Love each other as I have loved you.

John 15:12 (NIV)

Let love be your highest goal!

1 Cor 14:1 (NLT)

As the holidays wind down and I return to my normal routine, I find a little time to contemplate the new year.  What direction am I heading?  What do I want to focus on this year?  I wonder, "What does Jesus have in mind?  What is his priority?"

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

Jesus' priority seems clear.  His main focus was and is love - that we might experience the love he had in his father and then spread that love around.  What could be a higher goal for the new year than growth in love?  But, how do we do that?  What does it look like?  It seems like such a big topic.  What could be more difficult than learning to love?  It's definitely more than a semester course or a year's focus.  It's a life time goal.

The good news is we have a great teacher.  Someone who is not just teaching the subject matter, but someone who has actually experienced it to the full.  And he is a special kind of teacher.  He never chides or harasses or criticizes when we stumble.  He is humble and gentle and, as we listen to him and rest and abide in his love, the learning becomes a natural part of our everyday lives. The learning process often involves difficult lessons, but our teacher's gentle support never changes.

Lord, give us hearts to hear as we think about how our lives can grow in love this year.  Stimulate us to growth by your gentle and humble spirit.

Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

Matt 11:29 (NIV)