Winter garden at my previous McMansion
There is much current ado about how love trumps hate and so forth, but what some people really mean is that if you disagree on their definition of how love is defined (one of the key tenants being that mothers ought to have the “right” to kill their own children), then you are deemed a “hater”. This term actually sounds like a playground taunt that third graders would use, and I hesitate to disparage even third graders in this way. Love, properly defined (there’s the rub…), really has nothing to do with you or your “rights” at all. Love is built on humility and sacrifice, making way for others, and exposing and covering their sins in gentleness and in Truth. After all, faithful are the wounds of a friend (how the salt stings!), but the kisses of an enemy (how “loving” those kisses are!) are deceitful (Pro 27:6).
A favorite of weddings, the text of 1 Corinthians 13 teaches that charity (defined as Godly love) suffers long, has infinite patience. It is kind, humble, and does not behave unseemingly. A loving person is not easily provoked, seeks the good of others above him or herself, and rejoices in the Truth, baring, hoping, and enduring all things. Truly, none of us is so loving…and yet we pine for, expect, and demand the love of others towards us in these ways. When it doesn’t come forth in the manner we require, it breeds resentment and, ironically, a hateful spirit.
So, what is Love, if not the fluttery and emotional acknowledgment of our own specialness? As we will see, it is not really about us at all.
Who is love? Who is our example? GOD is love (1 John 4:8) That standard alone ought to cause us pause, to see that we truly aren’t loving people (adjective noun) or loving people (verb noun). Instead, we proudly lift up ourselves despite the contradictions of our thoughts and actions. Looking around at crowds of people, even across all of time and history, all craning their spirits for the numero uno position, sort of makes the idea of how deserving of love we are, tragically laughable.
So here are some of my notes on the topic of love; ponder as you wish.
Of the Father to the Son….
This is my beloved Son (at baptism and ascention)
–revelation of who Jesus is
–and how the Father loves Jesus
Luke 9:35, 2 Peter 1:17, Matt 3:17, 17:5, Mark 1:11, 9:7, Luke 3:22
He sends Jesus to reveal how much He cares for us (Luke 20: 13, John 17:23)
–and to receive what is rightfully His (Mark 12:6)
Jesus is eternally loved (John 17:24)
God gave Jesus honor and glory (2 Peter 1:17)
Jesus has the very spirit of God (Matt 12:18, John 17:23)
God has given ALL things to Jesus (John 3:35)
God shows Jesus everything He does (John 5:20)
because Jesus laid down his life (John 10:17)
Who the Father Loves (I’m still looking for the “good person” here…)
Solomon (2 Sam 12:24)
Jacob (Rom 9:13, Mal 1:2, Ps 47:4, 78:68)
–but loves the gates of Zion more (Ps 87:2)
Daniel (Dan 9:23, 10:11)
the other disciple, John (John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 21:20)
the chosen to salvation through sancification of the Spirit
–and belief of the truth (2 Thes 2:13)
–called to be saints (Rom 1:7)
–us (1 John 4:19)
Israel (2 Chron 2:11, 9:8, 1 Kings 10:9)
–not because they were faithful (Hos 3:1)
–not because they were many (Deut 7:7, 10:15)
–it was His delight to love them (Deut 10:15)
–He taught them, gave His words (Deut 33:3)
early seekers (Pro 8:17)
Martha, Mary, Lazarus (John 11:5)
those who follow after righteousness (Pro 15:9, Ps 146:8)
How the Father Shows His Love Now (I’m also still looking for the health, wealth, and good times promises….)
through my adoption (John 16:27, 1 John 3:1)
through my chastening (Pro 3:12, Heb 12:6, Rev 3:19)
deals with my enemies (Isa 43:4, 48:14, Hos 11:1, Deut 7:8, 23:5, 33:12, Ps 60:5, 91:14, 108:6, Rom 8:35, 8:37, Rev 3:9)
defends the fatherless and widow (Deut 10:18)
The love of God brings me (do I experience any of these?):
hope (Rom 5:6, 2 Thes 2:16)
His joy (Zeph 3:17)
feasting (Songs 2:4, Hos 11:4, Deut 10:18)
to Himself (Jer 31:3)
peace (Dan 10:19)
strength (Dan 10:19)
freedom (Hos 11:4)
His love (Hos 14:4)
mercy (Hos 14:4, Eph 2:4, Jude 1:21)
His witness through me (John 11:36)
everlasting consolation (2 Thes 2:16)
blessings (Deut 7:13)
multiplication (Deut 7:13)
clothing (Deut 10:18)
the earth’s goodness (Ps 33:5)
sleep (Ps 127:2)
a lifted chin (Ps 146:8)
His kindness (Titus 3:4)
What the Father loves (do *I* love these things? or do I shy from them?):
judgement (Ps 37:28, Isa 61:8, Ps 33:5)
truth (2 Thes 2:10)
righteousness (Ps 11:7, Ps 33:5)
the upright (Ps 11:7)
How the Father showed His love (does this differ from what I call “love”?):
redeemed, bore and carried Israel (Isa 63:9)
sent His own begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him (1 John 4:9)
gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)
sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10)
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners (Rom 5:8)
gave Himself for me (Gal 2:20)
He laid down His life for us (1 John 3:16)
Christ gave Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice (Eph 5:2)
washed us from our sins in His own blood (Rev 1:5)
loved His own unto the end (John 13:1)
Christ = love manifested (and in me by the Holy Spirit):
Christ in us (John 17:26, 1 John 4:12)
the Father’s love in us (John 17:26)
eternal communion (Rom 8:39)
filled with all the fulness of God (Eph 3:19)
exceeding abundant grace (1 Tim 1:14, 2 John 1:3)
in faith, too (2 Tim 1:13)
grace, peace, mercy, truth (2 John 1:3)
the patient waiting for Christ (2 Thes 3:5)
Christ manifested to us (John 14:21)
Therefore (ok, so how do I show–and do I show–this kind of love?):
keep Jesus’s commandments (John 14:21, 15:10)
love one another (1 John 4:7-8, 4:11-12, John 15:12)
continue in Christ’s love (John 15:9)
be: perfect, of good comfort, of one mind (2 Cor 13:11)
live in peace (2 Cor 13:11)
husbands, love your wives (Eph 5:25)
take up the cross and follow Jesus (Mark 10:21)
be willing to lay down your life for your friends (John 15:13)
dwell in love (1 John 4:16)
fear the Lord, walk in all His ways, love Him, serve God with all thy heart and soul (Deut 10:12)
give cheerfully (2 Cor 9:7)
keep God’s word (1 John 2:5)
May you blessed today as you consider Who love really is and what love really does. May your life shine with His love and in Truth!
Blessings,
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