As you may or may not know, I finish grad school in 6 days. Graduation is in 11 days. That’s just craziness. Anyway, one of the classes I’m taking now is called “Money and Capital Markets.” Yesterday was our last lecture and it was about ethics. I just love it when egomaniac professors talk about ethics. I love it so much that I could only take an hour of it and I left early. Sometimes educated people really bother me. They’re so “enlightened.”
So my prof got a big kick out of asking people how they defined “ethics.” We had everything from moral relativism to “people just are who they are and ethics is a made up concept.” It was all very intriguing.
(Incidentally, if you were interested, Oxford defines ethics as "the science of morals in human conduct." Did that clear things up for you? :) )
As I was sitting there, I realized that one of the reasons that people had such a hard time defining it was because they had no concept of absolute truth. Every definition they came up with could be dissected in such a way that we were left with something that couldn’t be explained. It all seemed to contain circular reasoning. Truth is relative. You can’t ever know anything. Then how do you know truth is relative? Ethics is based on fairness. Is it fair that some people are born healthy or into a family with money while others are not? No. So is it then unethical? Hmm. Ethics is about doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people. That hardly seems fair to the ones getting left out. Ethics is about generally acceptable good behavior. Sounds a lot like democracy. What if 99% of the population thinks that lynching people is acceptable? Does that make it ethical? How do we decide where the line is drawn? What is our standard? How do we instinctively know that some things are good and some things are bad? Why do we know that murder is wrong? Why do we know that stealing is wrong? Or lying? Most societies (if not all, I’m no anthropologist) seem to agree on these things. Why? Where does it come from?
Isn’t it funny that even those who deny God have His precepts written on their hearts? It shouldn’t surprise us. God tells us it is so. “Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.”
Even when they deny God, when the deny absolute truth, by their very statements they profess that there is real truth and therefore unwittingly profess that God’s law is the perfect standard for behavior.
The prof broke down every argument for every definition of ethics or fairness or justice into something that no one could explain. How do you know something is bad? Who gets to decide?
As Christians, we get a break. We have an answer. What is the answer? Because God says so. He is absolute truth. How do we know murder is wrong? God said so. Stealing? God said. Lying? God said. Committing adultery? God said.
But is there more to truth and God than just figuring all the “thou shalt nots”? The funny thing about absolute truth is that it sort of doesn’t matter if you believe it or not. That doesn’t make the truth any more or less true. Something either is, or it isn’t. It either happened, or it didn’t. What I love about Christianity is that any argument we have about truth can never be reduced to something that we can’t explain. It’s all reduced to what God has said. Some may think that’s a cop out, but it makes much more logical sense than anything else I heard in class last night. And not only is God truth, He is also faithful because I know that He is true and will always be true.
I don’t mind people asking questions about truth. Paul tells us we should question things to work out our salvation in our own minds. And I like the fact that it’s okay to question things about ‘religion.’ The Bible isn’t afraid of being questioned. What bothers me, though, is when people use their questions as an excuse not to believe. If you have questions, fine. Seek answers. God will reward your search.
Back to the Bible dictionary:
Because God’s word is truth, it is ultimately real and not ephemeral, as opposed to all else, and liberates men. Satan and men lie and enslave. Jesus is Savior because He is Truth incarnate. Now the Holy Spirit indwells believers, guiding them into all truth. Yet people resist the truth. The Bible teaches that believing truth is not a mechanical psychological function but is related to the human will. People choose the lie rather than God’s truth…Jesus is the true way leading to life, and men should not come to Him seeking truth but, because He is the end of the search, the revealed reality of God.
So have your doubts. Ask your questions. But don’t stop there. Look for truth. What you will find, in the end, is Christ.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Directionally challenged
Okay, so I have a problem with directions. I don’t mean directions as in instructions; I mean directions as in which way to go. You see, I have a very minor case of dyslexia. It has never really been a problem for me. In fact, I used to think I was normal, but then I realized that most people know their “left” from their “right.” And I struggle.
But like I said, it’s never been a problem. More of an annoyance than a problem. But also a subject of entertainment (frustration?) for those who know me.
I’m not stupid. I act like it sometimes, but that’s because it’s fun. It’s fun to say outlandish things and see people’s reactions. Well, usually.
Anyway, some people in my life have gotten irritated by my apparent lack of directional abilities. I dated a guy once who would get frustrated with me when I tried to give him directions. He would say, “Jan, practice!” Yeah, that didn’t help. I mean, did he really think it would? I was in my twenties for crying out loud. If I hadn’t learned it yet, him telling me to practice wouldn’t exactly do the trick.
People try to be helpful. They say things like, “Well, which hand do you write with?” You’d think that would work for me, but it really doesn’t. I still have to think about it. I mean, I don’t have to think about which hand I write with, but that doesn’t help me when I’m in the moment, trying to decide which way to go. I still have to think, “Okay, so I’m right-handed…and I write with this hand…so this way is right.”
Other people say things like, “Your left hand is the one that makes the L.” Hello, people! I’m dyslexic! When you’re dyslexic, they both look like Ls!
Luckily I have found people that are accepting of my apparent handicap. So now whenever I’m driving and someone else is giving me directions, we have code words for “left” and “right.”
We tried a few methods before we found one that worked. One friend suggested we use “passenger” for “right” and “driver” for “left.” I sort of thought that would work. Then we tried it. Yeah, it didn’t work for me. It was just putting different labels on the same thing. Left and right. Passenger and driver. Apples and oranges. It’s all the same. I still have to think about it to figure it out.
So we finally settled on “towards you” and “towards me.” This works pretty well. I know where I am. I know where the person sitting next to me is. I don’t have to think about what “towards you” means. But this method isn’t without its drawbacks. For instance, one friend got really used to the fact that when she said, “Turn towards me,” that meant turn right. So one day I was talking to her on the phone and she was giving me directions to her new apartment. She said, “After you enter the complex, turn towards me.” I was like “Hello! I don’t know where you are! I’m trying to find you!”
(I think she might be getting tired of me but she’s afraid to tell me because I might write something bad about her in my blog. It’s amazing the control you have over people when you have dirt on them. :) )
Okay, so what’s the point in this? The point is that in life, we often don’t know which way to go. Should I go to this school or that school? Or no school? Should I take this job or that job? (Or no job?) Should I go to this church or that church? Should I date this guy or that guy? (Which one is asking? Oh, neither is asking? Then neither. Find a real man who will actually ask…) Should I say something or should I keep my mouth shut? Should I watch Fear Factor on TV or should I do homework? Should I buy that cute skirt I saw at Casual Corner Outlet or should I save my money? (sigh) Decisions, decisions.
It usually isn’t too difficult to find someone willing to let you know what they think you should do. And sometimes you don’t even have to ask. They just tell you. It’s important to have people in life from whom you can seek wise counsel. Just remember that no one’s opinion is as authoritative as God’s word. No one’s advice is more sound. No one’s intentions are more sincere. No one’s motives are less selfish.
God really does have your best interests at heart. That’s pretty encouraging. I mean, think about it. He knows everything. He can do anything. And He loves me. And I mean “love” the verb, not just “love” the feeling. He actively loves me. And He wants to tell me which way is best. Sometimes He just wants me to ask. He wants this for two reasons: 1) He wants me to admit that I need help, and 2) He wants me to acknowledge that I can get no better help than from Him.
So I hope to always make God the navigator of my life. When I don’t know which way to go, I want to remember that I can, and should, ask Him. Even when I think I know, I should probably still ask because I’m wrong a lot.
But here’s the thing. God doesn’t always speak audibly, where I can hear Him. I’ve talked to people that said they actually heard a voice that they believe was God. I have no doubt that God can speak that way, and I assume He does sometimes, but I don’t think He’s ever done that with me.
So I have to be really in touch with the Spirit of God when I want to hear from Him. I assume that the connection from me to God is always pretty clear, but the connection from God to me is sometimes a little fuzzy. It’s not His fault. I’m the one that lets all the “noise” distract me. And sometimes I think I want God to just send me an e-mail with what I should do. That way, I can read it at my own convenience and I don’t actually have to spend a lot of time just TALKING to Him.
When I spend time reading things He has written to me, opening my heart to the truth the Holy Spirit reveals to me about what I read, talking to Him, etc, it really clears up the connection that gets so muddied up with the things of this world. So it’s not enough just to ask, I also have to position myself so that I can hear His answer.
When I have major decisions to make in my life, rather than relying on my own abilities to discern the best course of action, I need to remember to ask the perfect navigator which direction is best. And the funny thing is, no matter which way He tells me to go, I have a feeling His answer will always be the same: “Turn towards Me.”
But like I said, it’s never been a problem. More of an annoyance than a problem. But also a subject of entertainment (frustration?) for those who know me.
I’m not stupid. I act like it sometimes, but that’s because it’s fun. It’s fun to say outlandish things and see people’s reactions. Well, usually.
Anyway, some people in my life have gotten irritated by my apparent lack of directional abilities. I dated a guy once who would get frustrated with me when I tried to give him directions. He would say, “Jan, practice!” Yeah, that didn’t help. I mean, did he really think it would? I was in my twenties for crying out loud. If I hadn’t learned it yet, him telling me to practice wouldn’t exactly do the trick.
People try to be helpful. They say things like, “Well, which hand do you write with?” You’d think that would work for me, but it really doesn’t. I still have to think about it. I mean, I don’t have to think about which hand I write with, but that doesn’t help me when I’m in the moment, trying to decide which way to go. I still have to think, “Okay, so I’m right-handed…and I write with this hand…so this way is right.”
Other people say things like, “Your left hand is the one that makes the L.” Hello, people! I’m dyslexic! When you’re dyslexic, they both look like Ls!
Luckily I have found people that are accepting of my apparent handicap. So now whenever I’m driving and someone else is giving me directions, we have code words for “left” and “right.”
We tried a few methods before we found one that worked. One friend suggested we use “passenger” for “right” and “driver” for “left.” I sort of thought that would work. Then we tried it. Yeah, it didn’t work for me. It was just putting different labels on the same thing. Left and right. Passenger and driver. Apples and oranges. It’s all the same. I still have to think about it to figure it out.
So we finally settled on “towards you” and “towards me.” This works pretty well. I know where I am. I know where the person sitting next to me is. I don’t have to think about what “towards you” means. But this method isn’t without its drawbacks. For instance, one friend got really used to the fact that when she said, “Turn towards me,” that meant turn right. So one day I was talking to her on the phone and she was giving me directions to her new apartment. She said, “After you enter the complex, turn towards me.” I was like “Hello! I don’t know where you are! I’m trying to find you!”
(I think she might be getting tired of me but she’s afraid to tell me because I might write something bad about her in my blog. It’s amazing the control you have over people when you have dirt on them. :) )
Okay, so what’s the point in this? The point is that in life, we often don’t know which way to go. Should I go to this school or that school? Or no school? Should I take this job or that job? (Or no job?) Should I go to this church or that church? Should I date this guy or that guy? (Which one is asking? Oh, neither is asking? Then neither. Find a real man who will actually ask…) Should I say something or should I keep my mouth shut? Should I watch Fear Factor on TV or should I do homework? Should I buy that cute skirt I saw at Casual Corner Outlet or should I save my money? (sigh) Decisions, decisions.
It usually isn’t too difficult to find someone willing to let you know what they think you should do. And sometimes you don’t even have to ask. They just tell you. It’s important to have people in life from whom you can seek wise counsel. Just remember that no one’s opinion is as authoritative as God’s word. No one’s advice is more sound. No one’s intentions are more sincere. No one’s motives are less selfish.
God really does have your best interests at heart. That’s pretty encouraging. I mean, think about it. He knows everything. He can do anything. And He loves me. And I mean “love” the verb, not just “love” the feeling. He actively loves me. And He wants to tell me which way is best. Sometimes He just wants me to ask. He wants this for two reasons: 1) He wants me to admit that I need help, and 2) He wants me to acknowledge that I can get no better help than from Him.
So I hope to always make God the navigator of my life. When I don’t know which way to go, I want to remember that I can, and should, ask Him. Even when I think I know, I should probably still ask because I’m wrong a lot.
But here’s the thing. God doesn’t always speak audibly, where I can hear Him. I’ve talked to people that said they actually heard a voice that they believe was God. I have no doubt that God can speak that way, and I assume He does sometimes, but I don’t think He’s ever done that with me.
So I have to be really in touch with the Spirit of God when I want to hear from Him. I assume that the connection from me to God is always pretty clear, but the connection from God to me is sometimes a little fuzzy. It’s not His fault. I’m the one that lets all the “noise” distract me. And sometimes I think I want God to just send me an e-mail with what I should do. That way, I can read it at my own convenience and I don’t actually have to spend a lot of time just TALKING to Him.
When I spend time reading things He has written to me, opening my heart to the truth the Holy Spirit reveals to me about what I read, talking to Him, etc, it really clears up the connection that gets so muddied up with the things of this world. So it’s not enough just to ask, I also have to position myself so that I can hear His answer.
When I have major decisions to make in my life, rather than relying on my own abilities to discern the best course of action, I need to remember to ask the perfect navigator which direction is best. And the funny thing is, no matter which way He tells me to go, I have a feeling His answer will always be the same: “Turn towards Me.”
Monday, July 18, 2005
Word Study - Part II
We continue our word study today with another concept that we all think we understand, but we really don’t. That’s sort of vague, I know, and I’m no proponent of “vagueness” so let’s cut to the chase. What word am I talking about? What word would follow so easily in the footsteps of love? Hope.
What does hope mean to you? For a long time, to me hope meant having the feeling that someday I would get what I wanted. If I was just patient enough, if I was just a martyr long enough, eventually God would reward me. And then I got disillusioned. I still had the same concept of hope, I just felt like hope didn’t materialize into the desired whatever often enough to warrant being a valid or worthwhile feeling. To me, hope kept you from moving on with your life. It kept you from getting over it. Hope was like this mire of quicksand and I was helplessly stuck in the middle. Can’t go forward. No way to go back. What to do, what to do? (Other than wallow is self-pity, of course.)
The answer surprised me. I wasn’t supposed to exert my control over people, things and situations. I wasn’t supposed to give God an ultimatum. (I think God laughs at people that give Him ultimatums and I don’t like getting laughed at.) I didn’t need to remind God of what a great person I am, just in case it slipped His mind.
I needed to redefine hope.
Actually, redefine isn’t the right word. Rediscover. Yeah, that’s better. I needed to rediscover hope.
So what is hope? Lucky for you, I have my handy dandy Bible dictionary sitting next to me right now. (Yes, a Bible dictionary. I need a biblical definition of hope, so bear with me.)
Hope is defined as trustful expectation, particularly with reference to the fulfillment of God’s promises. Biblical hope is the anticipation of a favorable outcome under God’s guidance. More specifically, hope is the confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future. This contrasts to the world’s definition of hope as “a feeling that what is wanted will happen.” (Does that sound familiar? Hmmmm.)
Given the assurance of hope, Christians live in the present with confidence and face the future with courage.
Romans 5:3-5
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Dude! Do those words give you hope? They do me. For real.
And then you take that and combine it with other Christian principles, like faith and patience.
James 1:2-4
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
And since I think you can never use the word “tribulation” too many times in one day, let’s head back over to Romans for a bit.
Romans 12:10-12
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer.
So does that mean we are called to rejoice FOR tribulation? No, we are called to rejoice IN tribulation. Why? Because when tribulation runs its course (assuming we continue to live under God’s guidance) we are left with hope. What sort of hope? The world’s hope? No. With the hope that does not disappoint. Get it? God’s hope does not disappoint.
We poison our own hearts when we put qualifications on what we want God to do for us. We have to remember what God has promised us in this life and what He hasn’t. Did He promise you that you would find someone to spend your life with? That you would be successful in your career? That you would live happy and healthy? If you said “yes,” you might want to have a little visit with a thing called reality.
Does that mean He won’t give us those things and we should, therefore, go out and find them on our own? No. (I like asking questions that are answered “No.” It’s fun.) God loves us. And we learned last time that love is very rarely about how you feel. It’s about how you make your loved one feel. How do I know God loves me? He shows me. He works things out in my behalf. He blesses me in incredible ways, most of which I’m not grateful enough for or a good steward of. And sometimes He loves me by not giving me what I want. To be mean? Because He gets a kick out of my misery? No and no. Because He wants better for me.
But I digress.
So what’s the point in all this, anyway? When I go through things in life that I think suck, I have to keep this in mind: that through this insignificant crisis in my life, God is making me perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
I will continue to have hope. Not so much in this world, which is destined to disappoint, but in the next. Here’s another word for you: heaven. “The word ‘heaven’ occurs more frequently in Revelation that in any other New Testament book. The Revelation addresses heaven from the standpoints of struggle between good and evil and God’s rule from heaven. The most popular passage dealing with heaven is Rev. 21:1-22:5. In this passage, heaven is portrayed in three different images: the tabernacle, the city, and the garden. The image of the tabernacle portrays heavenly life as perfect fellowship with God. The symbolism of the city portrays heavenly life as perfect protection. The image of the garden shows heavenly life as perfect provision.”
What better place to put your hope?
What does hope mean to you? For a long time, to me hope meant having the feeling that someday I would get what I wanted. If I was just patient enough, if I was just a martyr long enough, eventually God would reward me. And then I got disillusioned. I still had the same concept of hope, I just felt like hope didn’t materialize into the desired whatever often enough to warrant being a valid or worthwhile feeling. To me, hope kept you from moving on with your life. It kept you from getting over it. Hope was like this mire of quicksand and I was helplessly stuck in the middle. Can’t go forward. No way to go back. What to do, what to do? (Other than wallow is self-pity, of course.)
The answer surprised me. I wasn’t supposed to exert my control over people, things and situations. I wasn’t supposed to give God an ultimatum. (I think God laughs at people that give Him ultimatums and I don’t like getting laughed at.) I didn’t need to remind God of what a great person I am, just in case it slipped His mind.
I needed to redefine hope.
Actually, redefine isn’t the right word. Rediscover. Yeah, that’s better. I needed to rediscover hope.
So what is hope? Lucky for you, I have my handy dandy Bible dictionary sitting next to me right now. (Yes, a Bible dictionary. I need a biblical definition of hope, so bear with me.)
Hope is defined as trustful expectation, particularly with reference to the fulfillment of God’s promises. Biblical hope is the anticipation of a favorable outcome under God’s guidance. More specifically, hope is the confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future. This contrasts to the world’s definition of hope as “a feeling that what is wanted will happen.” (Does that sound familiar? Hmmmm.)
Given the assurance of hope, Christians live in the present with confidence and face the future with courage.
Romans 5:3-5
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Dude! Do those words give you hope? They do me. For real.
And then you take that and combine it with other Christian principles, like faith and patience.
James 1:2-4
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
And since I think you can never use the word “tribulation” too many times in one day, let’s head back over to Romans for a bit.
Romans 12:10-12
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer.
So does that mean we are called to rejoice FOR tribulation? No, we are called to rejoice IN tribulation. Why? Because when tribulation runs its course (assuming we continue to live under God’s guidance) we are left with hope. What sort of hope? The world’s hope? No. With the hope that does not disappoint. Get it? God’s hope does not disappoint.
We poison our own hearts when we put qualifications on what we want God to do for us. We have to remember what God has promised us in this life and what He hasn’t. Did He promise you that you would find someone to spend your life with? That you would be successful in your career? That you would live happy and healthy? If you said “yes,” you might want to have a little visit with a thing called reality.
Does that mean He won’t give us those things and we should, therefore, go out and find them on our own? No. (I like asking questions that are answered “No.” It’s fun.) God loves us. And we learned last time that love is very rarely about how you feel. It’s about how you make your loved one feel. How do I know God loves me? He shows me. He works things out in my behalf. He blesses me in incredible ways, most of which I’m not grateful enough for or a good steward of. And sometimes He loves me by not giving me what I want. To be mean? Because He gets a kick out of my misery? No and no. Because He wants better for me.
But I digress.
So what’s the point in all this, anyway? When I go through things in life that I think suck, I have to keep this in mind: that through this insignificant crisis in my life, God is making me perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
I will continue to have hope. Not so much in this world, which is destined to disappoint, but in the next. Here’s another word for you: heaven. “The word ‘heaven’ occurs more frequently in Revelation that in any other New Testament book. The Revelation addresses heaven from the standpoints of struggle between good and evil and God’s rule from heaven. The most popular passage dealing with heaven is Rev. 21:1-22:5. In this passage, heaven is portrayed in three different images: the tabernacle, the city, and the garden. The image of the tabernacle portrays heavenly life as perfect fellowship with God. The symbolism of the city portrays heavenly life as perfect protection. The image of the garden shows heavenly life as perfect provision.”
What better place to put your hope?
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Funny website
Okay, so I found this website and I just have to share. Check out the links for older drawings at the bottom. Too funny!
http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/index.php
http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/index.php
Word Study - Part I
So what will be the topic of today’s blog? I thought about it for a while. Should I keep talking about Ghana? Should I talk about myself? (That could take days…) Should I talk about some of the things that God is teaching me? Where to begin on that? So then I started thinking, “What do people want to hear about?”
And what did I settle on? Love.
Ah, yes. The subject that is near and dear to every single’s heart.
Love’s a funny thing. We spend so much time thinking about it and wanting it and sometimes even pursuing it and yet it’s so elusive. And when the opportunity to love presents itself, so often we can’t love right, so it ends up being SO not what we expected.
So does that mean we should just give up? Because, for real, something’s got to change. But what?
I’ll tell you exactly what: you. Or, if you’d like, me. How ‘bout both? Yeah, that works for me. Both. Us. All of us. At least most of us.
Love shouldn’t be complicated. It shouldn’t be hard. It shouldn’t be awkward. Should it be work? Sure, sometimes. But easy work. Fun work. “Worth it” work. It should be honest. And bold. And scary.
Wait a minute. You think I’m talking about romantic love, don’t you? HA! Tricked you!
Yes, as singles, we like talking about romantic love. But hear this: if you can’t “brotherly love” correctly, there’s no way you’ll ever succeed at “romantic love.”
So, what is love? Try this on for size: unselfish, loyal, and benevolent intention and commitment toward another. Did I get your attention? I already told you it was supposed to be work. Just remember that it’s “worth it” work.
You’ve heard of “agape” love, right? Agape was a word used by believers in the New Testament to denote the special unconditional love of God and is used interchangeably with “phileo” to designate God the Father’s love for Jesus, God the Father’s love for an individual believer and Christ’s love for a disciple. Biblical love has God as its object, true motivator, and source.
You sure you want love? Sounds great to be loved, but to love others? Like that? Hmmm.
What else does the Bible say about love? Paul says that rhetorical ability, preaching, knowledge, mountain-moving faith, charity towards the poor, and even martyrdom are nothing without agape. Nothing. Nada.
He continues: love is patient, kind, not jealous, not arrogant, not easily provoked, etc, etc. Are you up for that? Because I’m not sure if I am. I don’t even know what that looks like. I don’t know if I can do it. Me, be patient? And not arrogant?
Okay, I take it back. Love is hard. Real hard. And I’m a quitter. Is this worth it? Do I have to?
Love is called the bond of maturity. Great. So if I don’t love, I’m not mature? Love is also the test of true discipleship. Oh, so now I’m not a true disciple. Insulting me isn’t going to convince me.
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
Okay, so from anyone else, this would sound like a guilt trip. And guilt trips don’t normally work on me. But this? I can’t argue with truth.
Did you read my blog about mercy?
James 2:13
For judgment will be merciless to the one who has shown no mercy.
The same goes with love.
1 John 3:14-18
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
So is love a feeling? Or an action? Yes. It’s both. But without the action, the feeling is nothing. Is it enough for a person to know they are loved? Should they ever want to feel loved? People today think that love is about how they feel. But it’s more about how they make other people feel. And that takes action.
So do I have what it takes? No. No way. Not even close. But I have the love of God in me. He is the object, true motivator and source of my love.
So I have been commanded, motivated, and enabled. It all comes from God. Just like my love.
And what did I settle on? Love.
Ah, yes. The subject that is near and dear to every single’s heart.
Love’s a funny thing. We spend so much time thinking about it and wanting it and sometimes even pursuing it and yet it’s so elusive. And when the opportunity to love presents itself, so often we can’t love right, so it ends up being SO not what we expected.
So does that mean we should just give up? Because, for real, something’s got to change. But what?
I’ll tell you exactly what: you. Or, if you’d like, me. How ‘bout both? Yeah, that works for me. Both. Us. All of us. At least most of us.
Love shouldn’t be complicated. It shouldn’t be hard. It shouldn’t be awkward. Should it be work? Sure, sometimes. But easy work. Fun work. “Worth it” work. It should be honest. And bold. And scary.
Wait a minute. You think I’m talking about romantic love, don’t you? HA! Tricked you!
Yes, as singles, we like talking about romantic love. But hear this: if you can’t “brotherly love” correctly, there’s no way you’ll ever succeed at “romantic love.”
So, what is love? Try this on for size: unselfish, loyal, and benevolent intention and commitment toward another. Did I get your attention? I already told you it was supposed to be work. Just remember that it’s “worth it” work.
You’ve heard of “agape” love, right? Agape was a word used by believers in the New Testament to denote the special unconditional love of God and is used interchangeably with “phileo” to designate God the Father’s love for Jesus, God the Father’s love for an individual believer and Christ’s love for a disciple. Biblical love has God as its object, true motivator, and source.
You sure you want love? Sounds great to be loved, but to love others? Like that? Hmmm.
What else does the Bible say about love? Paul says that rhetorical ability, preaching, knowledge, mountain-moving faith, charity towards the poor, and even martyrdom are nothing without agape. Nothing. Nada.
He continues: love is patient, kind, not jealous, not arrogant, not easily provoked, etc, etc. Are you up for that? Because I’m not sure if I am. I don’t even know what that looks like. I don’t know if I can do it. Me, be patient? And not arrogant?
Okay, I take it back. Love is hard. Real hard. And I’m a quitter. Is this worth it? Do I have to?
Love is called the bond of maturity. Great. So if I don’t love, I’m not mature? Love is also the test of true discipleship. Oh, so now I’m not a true disciple. Insulting me isn’t going to convince me.
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
Okay, so from anyone else, this would sound like a guilt trip. And guilt trips don’t normally work on me. But this? I can’t argue with truth.
Did you read my blog about mercy?
James 2:13
For judgment will be merciless to the one who has shown no mercy.
The same goes with love.
1 John 3:14-18
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
So is love a feeling? Or an action? Yes. It’s both. But without the action, the feeling is nothing. Is it enough for a person to know they are loved? Should they ever want to feel loved? People today think that love is about how they feel. But it’s more about how they make other people feel. And that takes action.
So do I have what it takes? No. No way. Not even close. But I have the love of God in me. He is the object, true motivator and source of my love.
So I have been commanded, motivated, and enabled. It all comes from God. Just like my love.
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