Tag: love

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Love III

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails . . .   (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NASB)

First Corinthians 13 is known as “the Love Chapter.”  In Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, he details the attributes of perfect love.  Human beings are not capable of attaining these characteristics, but as followers of Jesus, we’re expected to try.  The only Ones capable of executing these tenets are are the Triune God.  As we humans go through life, we continue to get better, but we’ll not achieve perfection until God calls us home to be with Him.  The attributes of perfect love are consistent with the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). 

I heard someone say (at a Bible study or in a sermon) that we should replace the word “love” with our name to get a good read on where we stand with regard to love.  Mine would be “Wade is patient, Wade is kind,” etc.  If I’m honest with myself, and I’m not patient, for example, then with God’s help, Wade would have some work to do on his patience. 

Last year, an Air Force Academy classmate, Terry Williams, invited me to do an online men’s Bible study.  One of the lessons was on this passage from 1 Corinthians 13.  Referring to the phrase, “does not take into account a wrong suffered,” the author asked:  “Are you unoffendable?”  I had never heard that worded like that, but I knew what it meant, and I knew in an instant that I was guilty.  

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 - Bible Verse about Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 image.  Found at Bible Verse Images, https://www.bibleverseimages.com/love-bible-verse-14.htm

Let me first explain that ALS is a contact sport.  I’m constantly being rolled and lifted and placed in a shower chair, wheelchair, recliner, or back in bed.  In the process, it’s possible for many minor injuries to occur.  I’ve been pinched, slapped, had my fingers and toes jammed, had my head squeezed by the hydraulic lift.  I think the only thing that hasn’t happened is I haven’t been bitten.  But none of this is intentional, the caregivers do their best, it just happens.  Normally when it does, I blow it off, but in reflection, I found the only person I wasn’t quick to forgive was the one that I should. 

The person who I’ve borne grudges against?  The woman with whom God paired me; the woman who is supposed to be my best friend; and my partner in life, my wife Sue.  As I said, when I read that question, I was convicted about my conduct.  With God’s help, I resolved to do better.  God’s not done with me yet.  He’s still working on me until the day He decides to take me home.  As for me, I’m trying not to take things so seriously.  I try to smile at her more, and mouth the words “I love you!” more.  My facial muscles are such that I’m sure my smile isn’t what it used to be, and might be mistaken for something else. And I have to do the “I love you!” more than once before she gets it.  But as I said, I’m a work in progress. 

Paul gives us the attributes of perfect love.  Although it’s impossible for us to attain, it’s important that we try.  Someday those who love Jesus will display these exact tenets.  In heaven, the New Jerusalem, there will be no jealousy, and no envy.  There will only be love as you read above.  I can’t wait!  Are you going to heaven? 

Worship:  “Love,” by Kirk Franklin
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Love II

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God”  .  .  . Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’ . . . “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God . . . “  (John 3:3, 5-7, 16-18, NASB)

The Apostle John records the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, in which Jesus states what would become the most famous verse in the Christian Bible.  John tells us Nicodemus is a Pharisee, “a ruler of the Jews.”  (John 3:1)  Nothing more is mentioned of him until he assisted Joseph of Arimathea to lay Jesus in the tomb.  Nicodemus brought “a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight.”  (John 19:39)

John tells us that Nicodemus came to Jesus by stealth, “at night.”  He doesn’t want his colleagues to know.  Nicodemus acknowledges that Jesus is from God, that “no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”  (John 3:2)  Jesus answers him in the text above, that “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Nicodemus is naturally puzzled.  “How can a man be born when he is old?  He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”  (John 3:4)  Jesus replies (again in the text) that it’s not a fleshly birth He’s talking about, but a spiritual birth. 

After some back-and-forth conversation, Jesus tells Nicodemus how to achieve a spiritual birth in that famous verse:  “For God SO LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him SHALL NOT PERISH, but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16, emphasis mine)  God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us to take our place, and take the punishment we deserve for our sins.  How do we achieve that spiritual rebirth?  By believing in Jesus!  In so doing, we achieve everlasting life, and in Jesus’ words, we “shall not perish.”  At Christmas we celebrate the gift of Jesus Christ that God gave us because He loves us so much.  We just celebrated Resurrection Sunday, in which Jesus fulfilled the life everlasting (He was raised from the dead), which He told Nicodemus he would have if he were to be born again. 

“Christus und Nikodemus,” by Fritz von Uhde, 1908. Found at Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicodemus#/media/File:Fritz_von_Uhde_-_Christus_und_Nikodemus_(ca.1886).jpg

Jesus concludes His discussion with the Pharisee by telling him His mission on earth is not to judge, but to save the world; that if we believe in Jesus, we’ll not be judged.  His final warning to Nicodemus is that anyone who does not believe in Jesus has already been judged, “because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

We’re not told of Nicodemus’ reaction to his conversation with Jesus.  In “The Chosen,” Season 1, they do a splendid job of portraying the conflict that must have gone through his mind.  In the film, after their encounter, Jesus invites the Pharisee to go on a journey with Him and His disciples.  As they leave on their trip, Nicodemus is seen hiding behind a corner, sobbing.  The Pharisee had grown comfortable in his lifestyle.  He was conflicted about leaving all that behind to follow Jesus.  But he must have eventually made the choice to be born again–he helped Joseph to bury the body of the Son of God. 

Using Jesus’ own words, the choice is simple: Without Jesus:  Face God’s judgment and perish. With Jesus:  Be saved and have eternal life. 

Worship: “God So Loved,” by Jaci Velasquez
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Love

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (John 13:34-35, NASB)

This is another excerpt from the Apostle John’s report on the dissertations of Jesus Christ during the Passover Seder/Last Supper.  “The Apostle who Jesus loved” was an eye witness to the whole event, and was likely aided by the Holy Spirit (the Helper) at some later time in documenting this event and John’s entire Gospel. 

Earlier in Chapter 13, John tells the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.  It’s a lesson in humility and service to one another.  Imagine a god stooping down to wash his subjects’ feet.  But that’s exactly what happened:  God in the flesh, by Whom and for Whom the universe was created, was performing this act as an example to His disciples.  Jesus told them that in the future, they should wash each other’s feet as an act of service and humility.
Now in the text above, Jesus continues this theme by giving the disciples a new commandment, “that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”  Why?  Jesus says, “By this all men will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”   

new-commandJohn 13:34 image.  Found at https://sermonquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/new-command.png

Jesus is all about love.  He had previously told people that the Greatest Commandment is to love God with all one’s being; and second, to love one’s neighbor as himself/herself.  He wants His disciples (including us!) to reflect that love.  Jesus’ disciples were soon going to go out in the world to spread the Gospel.  It wouldn’t do to have them bickering and fighting.  Nobody is attracted to that.  It’s the same with our churches today.  People will leave the instant they see conflict. 

Jesus thought this theme so important, He repeated the message later that evening:  “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friend.”  And later, “This I command you, that you love one another.”  (John 15:12-13, 17)

Disciples of Jesus are commanded to love God and love other people.  Jesus especially commands His people to love each other.  “By this all men will know that you are My disciples.”  Even with ALS, I can still love God and love other people.  People come to me in my bedroom, and I go to doctor’s appointments.  I contact people via email or text messaging.  I still have the opportunity to spread the love and hope of Jesus Christ!

Worship:  “Love One Another,” by Newsboys 


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Fruit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.  (Galatians 5:22-26, NASB)

In his letter to the Galatian church, the Apostle Paul speaks of the “fruit of the Spirit.”  At a Bible study years ago, someone pointed out that it’s not the “fruits” of the Spirit, but rather the singular, “fruit” of the Spirit.  This means that the Jesus-follower is to display ALL the traits listed, not just some.  I can’t practice patience and kindness and yet hold back love and joy.  I have to practice the whole package. 

The text above is part of a discussion on walking “in the Spirit.”  I think to walk in the Spirit means that I not forget that I’m carrying the Holy Spirit with me everywhere I go.  My body is the Tabernacle of a member of the Holy Trinity, and I should act accordingly so as not to defile this Temple.  But Paul says if we walk in the Spirit, then we “will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”  He explains that the flesh is at war with the Spirit.  Paul lists the “deeds of the flesh”:  “immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these.”  He warns us that “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”


Join us for a 9 part series on the fruit of the Spirit at DoNotDepart.com“Fruit of the Spirit.”  Found at Do Not Depart, https://donotdepart.com/tag/fruit-of-the-spirit

On the other hand, Paul contrasts the deeds of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit:  “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and ] self-control.”  He further explains that people who’ve decided to follow Jesus have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  In other words, they have put all the deeds of the flesh in the past.  There is no turning back.  When we say we walk in the Spirit, we must walk the talk.  One final warning from Paul:  “Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”  More deeds of the flesh!

Walking in the Spirit, practicing and displaying the fruit of the Spirit, is one way people will know we have Jesus.  We have to put the deeds of the flesh in the past.  By these, followers of Jesus will demonstrate to Whom we belong (Remember:  It’s not who you are, but Whose you are!)! 

Worship: “Evidence” by Josh Baldwin
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V-Day

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.  So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.  For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.  (Ephesians 5:25-31, NASB)

Today is Valentines Day.  I’m told it’s all about love.  Paul has a lot to say about love in his letter to the church at Ephesus.  Specifically, he writes about how we should conduct ourselves in marriage. 

He tells us husbands that we should love our wives.  How much?  There are actually two comparisons to the answer:  First, we’re to love our wives “just as Christ also loved the church.”  And second, “as their own bodies.”

The first idea is that we should love our wives “just as Christ also loved the church.”  And how much does Christ love the church?  Paul answers that when he says that Christ “gave Himself up for her.”  Jesus submitted Himself to horrific torture and crucifixion for His church, and for you and me.  This is the kind of sacrifice we should be willing to make for our wives.  Further, Jesus sanctified the church, and cleansed her, so “that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”  As far as the parallel with marriage, I think this means we’re to treat our wives with the utmost love, and  that they’re the most important blessing in our earthly life. 

“So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies.”  Paul explains that the husband who loves his wife also loves himself; that no one ever hated his own body, but takes care of it; and that Christ also takes the same care of the church, because we’re all “members of His body.”  “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

Ephesians 5:25 image.  Found at Disciple CMC Blog, http://disciplecmcblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/husbands-love-your-wives.html

Fellow husbands, how do we apply all this?  Paul says we’re to do the impossible.  No mortal is capable of loving his wife “just as Christ also loved the church.”  His is a perfect love:  “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”  (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)  Although impossible to emulate, this is the ideal for which we’re to strive. 

My pastor, Grant Etheridge, and his wife Tammy, put on a marriage seminar a few years ago.  It was on Wednesday nights and lasted several weeks.  Liberty Baptist Church was filled to the rafters each night for the duration.  There are two takeaways I remember especially from Pastor Grant:  The first is that your spouse should be your best friend.  The second, marriage is not a competition–but we should try and serve the other as best we can. 

Best friend:  Of course, this makes perfect sense.  Why else would you marry the other person?  This reminds me of how I should treat my wife.  “Is this how I should treat my best friend?”  Or, “I can’t believe I just did that to my best friend (followed by an apology!)!”

Service:  I’ll just give an example:  Sue loves to wake up with a cup of coffee.  I love Sue.  Therefore, I used to make coffee and bring it to her (I don’t drink coffee) until I could no longer climb the stairs. 

So husbands are to love their wives.  The ideal is to copy the way Christ loves His church.  I think St. Valentines Day and wedding anniversaries are good times to reflect on that.  So Sue, Happy Valentines Day.  God willing, for next Valentines Day, I will be here. 

“I Will Be Here,” by Steven Curtis Chapman