Dearest e-votees-
There is a test for our progress in growing into God's desire for us:
It isn't how many Bible verses we know (although growing in our familiarity with scripture isn't a bad thing). It isn't how often we go to church or how often we participate in Bible study (although such practices are good and salutary). It isn't how much money or talent or time we offer to God (at least not directly).
It is our love for God and love for neighbors. As we love, we abide in God. Easy to say but can be mighty hard to live out.
Peace,
Karl
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7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15 God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
1 John 4:7-21, NRSV
The call on us to love is a deep and hard call. The word that is used for love in the Greek is one that conveys a sacrificial love. It is a love that says more about the lover and not so much about the beloved. It is a love most clearly offered to us from God on the cross. It is a love that Jesus was talking about when he told his followers to take up their crosses. It is a love that Jesus was showing us when he washed the feet of all in the room including the betrayer and the denier. It is the love that can be hard to see looking at some modern day folks who claim to be serving God:
It doesn't look like Westboro Baptist Church toting "God hates fags!" signs at military funerals.
It doesn't look like people of faith amassing huge personal treasure troves and neglecting their hurting neighbors (remember the rich man and the beggar Lazarus?).
It doesn't look like people scrutinizing others under the lens of certain scriptures while excusing their own behaviors which violate others scriptures they are willing to ignore for their own benefit.
It doesn't look like people exploiting resources thoughtlessly for their own benefits while neglecting the needs and hopes and dreams of others also made in God's image.
It doesn't look like those who profess their undying love for God while stepping on or by their neighbors who lay dying on the road having been assaulted or neglected or shunned.
How God stirs us to love our brothers and sisters may look different from one of us to another but it is something God hopes and desires for all of us. And what God hopes and desires for us God can certainly help bring into being and sustain in us.
God, thank you for your love. Please help us grow in that love. Teach us to love neighbors, enemies and strangers. In doing that help us to learn to love you too. Amen.
There is a test for our progress in growing into God's desire for us:
It isn't how many Bible verses we know (although growing in our familiarity with scripture isn't a bad thing). It isn't how often we go to church or how often we participate in Bible study (although such practices are good and salutary). It isn't how much money or talent or time we offer to God (at least not directly).
It is our love for God and love for neighbors. As we love, we abide in God. Easy to say but can be mighty hard to live out.
Peace,
Karl
------------
7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15 God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
The call on us to love is a deep and hard call. The word that is used for love in the Greek is one that conveys a sacrificial love. It is a love that says more about the lover and not so much about the beloved. It is a love most clearly offered to us from God on the cross. It is a love that Jesus was talking about when he told his followers to take up their crosses. It is a love that Jesus was showing us when he washed the feet of all in the room including the betrayer and the denier. It is the love that can be hard to see looking at some modern day folks who claim to be serving God:
It doesn't look like Westboro Baptist Church toting "God hates fags!" signs at military funerals.
It doesn't look like people of faith amassing huge personal treasure troves and neglecting their hurting neighbors (remember the rich man and the beggar Lazarus?).
It doesn't look like people scrutinizing others under the lens of certain scriptures while excusing their own behaviors which violate others scriptures they are willing to ignore for their own benefit.
It doesn't look like people exploiting resources thoughtlessly for their own benefits while neglecting the needs and hopes and dreams of others also made in God's image.
It doesn't look like those who profess their undying love for God while stepping on or by their neighbors who lay dying on the road having been assaulted or neglected or shunned.
How God stirs us to love our brothers and sisters may look different from one of us to another but it is something God hopes and desires for all of us. And what God hopes and desires for us God can certainly help bring into being and sustain in us.
God, thank you for your love. Please help us grow in that love. Teach us to love neighbors, enemies and strangers. In doing that help us to learn to love you too. Amen.
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