I’m not sure why this piece is difficult for me to write. The commandment of love, the commandment to love, the contrast of loving and hating for a believer: all these seem somewhat out of reach now. Maybe as I write God’s heart will become clearer to me.
The command to love is ancient. Deuteronomy 6:4,5 states: “Listen, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord alone! You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul mind and strength.” Leviticus 19:18 states: “…love your neighbor as yourself.” These are the commandments of old of which John speaks. All the children of Israel knew them. John, in 1 John, now encourages the believers, Jew and Gentile alike, to consider the new commandment: “Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."
Mark 12: 29-31
Jesus cited the exact same commandments that came from the Old Testament to those inquiring of Him in Mark’s gospel. John, in verses 7-8 of chapter 2, talks about a NEW commandment. They are the same commandments! John’s point is that now believers know how to walk in this commandment because Jesus lived it out, right in front of their eyes. He loved the unlovely, difficult sinners, right where they were. He sacrificed His heavenly reign to come and love in a tangible way, in the bodily form, so we would have an example, a perfect example. It was total sacrifice: “God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Today, all can read the gospels and see how Jesus loved the world in which He lived, step by step, in a variety of settings, with His Hands on and in the teachings that came from His mouth. All can know it is possible.
Ah, yes, but the flesh is that with which believers must contend. It is what throws us into the darkness that John speaks of in verses 9-11. John speaks of it, not to discourage his readers, but to give them a guideline for themselves, to examine their own hearts and recognize inconsistency. He already, in 1 John 1:9, gave tremendous hope for us. “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
When God lays a burden of love of the unlovely on our hearts, we need not run and hide. We need not say aghast, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord!” Jesus demonstrated some outrageous love for us to consider. The woman with the issue of blood comes to mind. The ten lepers are another example. (Can you tell that smelly, dirty stuff is an issue for me?!) Others might cite the tax collectors, (no one liked these guys) or the Pharisees (the arrogant upper crust religious leaders). All may be considered unlovely and unlovable for different reasons. But, Jesus loved them. He healed them, forgave them, confronted them, spoke to their inconsistencies…but oh, He loved them.
Are there some in our lives we need to love like Jesus loved? Is there an irritating soul, an irregular person with whom we have to deal? If God brings that to light, be brave, and do it! What marvels shall we see when we step out in faith believing that Jesus did the same so we could know how to do it and be able to do it?
Every time I write like this, it undoes my comfort zone, because I am talking about stuff that is on my heart, yet unexplored at times in the physical realm. I do know that when I do step out in faith, and do what God desires of me, peace indescribable is mine.
God is for us. He wants us to be his Hands and Feet and show His love in tangible ways. He gives us one another so we can hook arms and walk together encouraging one another to take the risk and love the unlovely. Let’s do! Come on, you guys, let’s do it for the glory it will bring the Lord, our Maker, Master, Redeemer, Friend.
No comments:
Post a Comment