Life Is Fragile, Fill It With Love

This morning as I was waking, I was thinking of a recent sorrowful passing and the phrase, “Life Is Fragile, Fill It With Love” ran through my mind.  My heart immediately agreed!  

This morning I am encouraged to think of God’s Love, and how our lives should reflect that love, to ourselves, and to each other.

The first verse that comes to mind is from 1 John 4:7-12:

7 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 

What a great set of verses to reflect on this morning.  God is the very definition of love!  The world tries to paint a picture of God as an angry, vengeful, punishing God, but Jesus, who came to reveal the Father shows us what God is truly like.  In John 14:9, Jesus told Philip, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”  If we look at Jesus’ life we see what a life of love should look like.  

The word love appears 348 times in the NASB translation, and reading those verses it is clear that it is a relational word.  Love must be expressed in a relationship, through action. 

So how do we fill our life with Love? 

First, we are invited to love ourselves!  God loves us!  He knows everything about us, and He loves us.  He has never, nor will He ever love us any less than He loves us right now!  He loves everything about us, and wants us to understand that love, and experience that Love.  The world tries hard to get us to compare ourselves to anything and everybody, in an effort to create demand for products and need, which encourages us to feel like we are lacking, less than, broken, and needing something.  God answers all of this with His love!  He loves us!  We are invited to keep saying that to ourselves until we believe it.  If God loves us, we are loveable and worthy of Love!

Secondly, we are invited to be expressions of God’s love to others!  All of us need to know that we are loved and loveable.  Our love for others should follow Jesus’ command, to love one another as (in the same way) He loves us (John 15:12).  Lord help us to see people as You see them, so we can love them as You love them!

Thirdly, we need to be in healthy loving relationships with others!  As John writes, “but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”  In our love for one another we experience God’s love.  1 Peter 4:8 says, “Above all, love each other deeply”.  Let us make sure that those we love, know of our love!  Let us love one another deeply, showing our love!  Let us love the way Jesus loves us!

Lastly, I am encouraged to do this today, for I know how fragile our lives are. I am not guaranteed another day, and I want my life to be a testament of Love.

This morning I am encouraged to love well, to love often, to make sure that I represent God’s love to everyone I meet. Lord, help me!  Help me to fill my life with Love!

Amen and Amen.

Comfort in All Our Troubles

Last night while I was flying home I was reading some of my year 5 collection (https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/780798) and another of my entries was really encouraging…. similar theme of dealing with suffering, trials, and such.  I must be needing some encouragement. :-)

Comfort and Suffering (July 19, 2015)

This morning I was reading through Paul's second letter to the Corinthians.  These verses are another set that rarely get preached in church, and should cause us to stop and evaluate our expectations about our lives as Christians.  Paul writes the following - 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NIV:

[3] "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. [5] For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. [6] If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. [7] And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."

The couple of things that are just uncomfortable to hear about are our sharing "abundantly in the sufferings of Christ" and sharing in their (Paul's) own sufferings.  I don't know about you, but I really prefer a life with little or no suffering, and sharing abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, doesn't sound like that.  My rationalization is that Paul was speaking primarily about him and his companions and that he couldn't be referring to all of us.  This certainly sounds good to me, but I think it is incorrect.

When you look back at the sufferings that Paul and his companions endured, the vast majority of them were directly related to persecutions they were experiencing because of their faith and following of Jesus. In fact, Jesus warned His disciples about this very thing (Luke 21:12-19).  There is no doubt that many of the sufferings of Paul were due to his willing obedience and ministry.  Paul was not afraid of persecution, standing for His faith, or explaining his faith to unbelieving and even at times hostile groups.  He recognized the reality of the times they lived in, and saw his endurance in the face of persecution, something that would help others going through the same.

In our present day culture, which is quickly departing from Christian values and morals, as Christians, we will once again be faced with similar persecutions. So let us set our hearts and encourage one another, recognizing that in these environments Christianity has flourished, and will continue to flourish.

Finally, as I was reflecting on these verses, I was seeing this from a different perspective.  When I suffer any sort of discomfort or trouble I tend to become very self-focused.  I guess it is a sort of coping mechanism, just focusing and bearing down and choosing to press through, but always with my eyes on myself.  I almost never see these struggles as things that can ultimately bring others comfort, nor see them from God’s perspective of forming me into the likeness of Jesus.  This really helped me take a look at my life and see how the Lord has comforted me.

If we are open to changing our perspective, we will learn the comfort of God in all our troubles.  His comfort, His favor, His blessings will continue to be poured forth upon us, and His kingdom will continue to increase.  So let us not be surprised or discouraged if we are being persecuted individually or as a group, for Jesus experienced all and still had joy set before Him.

Amen and Amen!

Timely Word and Encouragement

Yesterday I felt like I should read from James 1, and last night while I couldn’t sleep I opened up my Year 5 collection kindle version, and it opened to June 29, 2015. I would say that this is a timely word and encourageemtn for me, and hopefully for you as well.  Here is the entry - 

Embracing Trials

This morning I felt like reading from the letter of James.  I am always challenged when reading His letter because he is very practical and has a very specific perspective.  I am thinking about the following verses - James 1:2-8 NIV:

[2] "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. [4] Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. [6] But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. [7] That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. [8] Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."

First, his opening sentence is one that I just don't like to read.  I would like to be instantly mature and complete, and not go through any process of growing, for that is really what James is talking about.  The testing and perseverance produce maturity and completeness and that is what happens when we grow, in the natural.  The same process is used by the Lord to grow us spiritually, and while we generally think of trials as bad, I think we could easily replace trials with experiences and have exactly the same meaning.   We can be tested by good things as well as by bad, especially as it relates to our faith and relationship with the Lord.

There is plenty of teaching out there that associates good things with God's approval, and bad things with God's punishment, but here James takes a different approach.  He says we should embrace trials of many kinds because they bring about our maturation, which is good.   The point is that God uses many things to enable us to grow.  Ultimately what He wants is for us to gain His perspective, see our lives from His eyes.  That is the wisdom that James is speaking about, the understanding of God's thoughts.  He encourages us to ask, and says God will give wisdom to us generously.  When we face a trial, rather than asking "why me?" maybe we should be asking "what are You wanting me to grow in?"  It seems to me that this means trials are actually opportunities, which is a completely different mind-set than I usually have concerning trials.

Finally, the final three verses have to do with our belief in God.  He speaks of people being double-minded and unstable.  It seems to me the area of doubt and questioning is related to what we think God is like.  A. W. Tozer says that the most important thing is how we think about God.  Our image of Him and thoughts about God color our whole outlook and perspective.  If we think God is someone who punishes us for bad behaviour, then anything that we don't enjoy in our life causes us to think that God is not pleased with us.  However the author of the Letter to the Hebrews had a completely different take on difficulties.  Here are two verses taken from section on discipline - Hebrews 12:7-8 NIV:

[7] "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? [8] If you are not disciplined---and everyone undergoes discipline---then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all."

Here we see that difficulties and hardship might actually be because the Father considers us his true sons and daughters.  Rather than Him being angry, it's the exact opposite.  He sees us as His beloved children and is giving us opportunities to grow and mature.  He does this because He knows that we are capable of great things and wants us to have the character and strength of relationship to walk into great things and not lose our way.  In fact the author of Hebrews continues on with the following statement - "...God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness." (Heb12:10b)  He has great plans for us!

So, let us not doubt God's love.  Let us hold firmly to Him, trusting that all things are for our good and growth.  God is good always, and He has good plans for each of us.  He is not angry and does not punish us, for all punishment for our sin was already borne by Jesus.  God desires us to grow and mature, learning to think like Him.  He wants us to embrace life in all its fullness, recognizing that we are His beloved sons and daughters.  Let us not be tossed about by fears and doubts, but let us believe our Father loves us.

Amen!

Speaking the Truth

Yesterday while walking our pooch, I was thinking about life and some relational and  spiritual things, and had some important revelation, at least it was to me.

I found myself thinking about the Body of Christ, local congregations and such and how we struggle to really love one another, as Christ commanded (John 13;34).  It is sadly common to find factions, disagreements,  gossip and slander running through populations of the church, and this not what the Lord called us to demonstrate to the world, and one wonders why this is so?

Personally, I find that while I like most everyone, and outwardly I have a gracious personality, inwardly I am often battling a judgmental perspective. I find that I am quick to judge and categorize people without ever getting to know them. If I am honest with myself, I have all sorts of assumptions about all sorts of people.  

The way it works is simple, I might see someone do something that I wouldn’t do, and think to myself, they are wrong.  I might ascribe that wrongness to any number of things, wrong motives, selfish intent, lack of intelligence, etc. Whatever the case, what I haven’t done is give that person any opportunity to explain, or even converse, I have just sat back and made a judgment on almost no information.

Worse yet, I will sometimes find that my judgements are based on hearsay, on third party descriptions of something I haven't even witnessed. I hear something and think I know what that person’s motivation was and make a judgment.

Its ugly, I know. This is certainly not in-line with Jesus’ command.

I also should say I deal with the same thing internally, towards myself, at least one that is line with the revelation of Christ in scripture.  I find that I am very aware of my sinfulness, to the extent that I can forget the truth of who I am, and what the Lord says about me.  Without going into great detail and listing all the verses, suffice it to say that Christ chose me, forgave all my sins, made me a new creation, sees me as a co-heir with Him, and I am loved. He understands me, knows my every thought, and action and still loves me, has mercy and compassion on me, forgives me, and is for me!

The question I was thinking through was why is the above my experience? 

I can think of a few reasons:

• There is an enemy who is the father of all lies (John 8:44), and who is called the accuser of the brethren (Rev. 12;10).
• I listen to the voice in my head too much.
• I  don’t get to know people well enough to know their motivation, their lives, and their own stories.
• I lose my perspective of the truth too easily.

The next question is how do I move forward and learn to love like Jesus commanded me?

First, I must learn to speak the truth!  Mostly I need to speak the truth to myself, I must have a firm grasp of what the Lord says about me, and apply those same truths to all those I meet, especially my brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ.  The Lord has no favorites (Gal 2:6), but rather loves and blesses all of us with the same abundance!  If He loves me and has grand feelings towards me, He has those same feelings towards everyone else!  He loves us uniquely and with the same fervor!

Secondly, I need to recognize the source of the accusations upon which I issue my judgments. In fact I really just need to get off the judge’s seat.  Regardless though I need to speak the truth in my thoughts to myself, about others.  I need to shut down the voice of the accuser and speak the truth.  I need to learn to ask myself what would the Holy Spirit, our defender and advocate (John 14:26)  and Jesus our intercessor (Rom 8:34) say about this person or this situation?

Thirdly, I need to get to know my brothers and sisters!  I need to grow in intimacy with those around me, that I might understand their lives, and have the same mercy and compassion for them that Jesus does.

Fourthly, I need to practice Matt 18:15-17 more regularly, specifically verse 15.  While these verses have to do with someone who sins against you, they are really about restoring and maintaining relationship.  If I never allow a person to tell me why they did what they did, then I am only listening to the accuser. I have found that almost every time I think I know a person’s motivation, I am wrong.  In other words, all those judgments I make in my head are almost always wrong!  Ouch!

Fifth, I need to watch my words, both internal and externally, for we are called to only speak things that will build up and edify the Body (Eph 4:29).  This is true for what comes out of our mouth, but also for what we think internally. 

Lastly, and actually probably first, I need to walk in humility.  I need to stop exalting my opinion to a place of judgment!  I need to recognize that Jesus loves me, and that He loves each of my brothers and sisters every bit as much!  I need to treat others the way He treats me! I think that is actually the very command - John 13:34-35 NIV:

[34] “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [35] By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Let us choose to love one another, and ourselves as Jesus does!  Let us throw off the lies and judgments and instead listen to Him, our intercessor, advocate and Lord!  Let us choose to speak the truth to ourselves!  Let us refuse to speak ill of anyone, including ourselves!

Amen and Amen!