God's Love is Always

I was struck last night with the greatness of God's love.  No matter how "loving" we imagine ourselves to be, our love is nothing compared to God's infinite love.  Love is the greatest fruit of the Spirit.  Unless the Holy Spirit lives within and empowers us to love, loving and forgiving others is impossible.  It is good for us to recognise our lack and ability to love so we might earnestly walk in the love of God, not just the best efforts of our flesh.

Jesus said to His disciples in John 15:12-13, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."  Laying down your life for your friends is the greatest demonstration humanly possible, and Jesus did this and more too.  He laid down His life on Calvary for friends, enemies, sinners.  What I find phenomenal about Jesus is He loved people He knew hated Him and would continue to do so - despite His love.  He was utterly relentless to love.

When we are hurt by others at some point we ask ourselves, "Why do I keep putting myself out there only to be hurt again and again?  What is the point of loving people who could turn against me?"  Last night, perhaps for the first time, it occurred to me these are questions Jesus never asked Himself.  How do I know?  Because these questions indicate a lack of love and trust in God and Jesus maintained infinite measures of both.  We ask ourselves if it is wise to keep loving someone after we have been hurt; Jesus loved people knowing well they would reject and hurt Him on purpose.  He loved completely before and after, as if nothing had happened.  There was no intermission of His love regardless of His pain.  The love manifested in Christ a love beyond any love of mine.

Consider the NIV rendering of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 which describes God's love:  "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."  God's love is complete and constant, not dependant on our emotional state or the good performance of others.  It is founded upon the righteous, glorious power of God who does not change.  God's love is always:  always protecting, trusting, hoping, and persevering.  Grief cannot twist it, betrayal cannot dampen it, and death cannot kill it.  God's love is, even as He is.

Our feelings of love must not be confused with God's love.  Human emotions can be very strong, but faith in God allows us to love even as the Holy Spirit empowers people to prophesy, speak in tongues, or interpret.  Jesus commands us to love and enables us to do so when we decide in that moment to trust and obey Him.  It will not be easy for us, and this walk of faith never is.  We may contrive a million reasons why loving someone is a bad idea, but this is sure evidence we have reached the end of our love and are toying with the sin of not abiding in God's love.  We had only been loving others on a superficial plane - the equivalent of splashing around in puddles by the beach - and God would have us launch out in faith into His ocean of love.  It will feel like jumping out of a plane without a parachute at times, but we can know God's loving, everlasting arms will uphold us.  As we have freely received God's love may we freely give always.

Doing Good

"The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all-- ³⁷ that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."

Acts 10:36-38

One marker of Christ's life was He "went about doing good."  Doing good is much more profitable than avoiding evil because it is an intentional act.  Of course forsaking sin is a good thing, but the Christian walk is far more than sin-avoidance but faith displayed by obedience to God.  More than a list of Laws to obey, following Jesus is a grateful response to the love extended to us through Jesus.

Today as I taught through Nehemiah 5, it struck me there is a definite and important difference between saying, "You're wrong!" and "What you are doing is not good." (Nehemiah 5:9)  The contrast may seem subtle, but the implications of the mind-set is profound.  When Nehemiah rebuked the leaders in Israel for oppressing the poor by charging them interest on loans, he told them what they were doing was not good.  He could have simply told them they were "wrong," but the implication of his words was that their aim ought to have been to do good - not just cease evil.  When we realise what we are doing is not good, this leads to positive change.

In 2 Kings 7 a story is related of four desperate lepers who decided they would rather risk begging for their lives at the hand of the besieging Syrians than die of starvation in the city.  After mustering the courage to approach the camp, they were shocked to find it deserted.  They went from tent to tent and ate like kings, plundered valuables, and hid them out of sight.  2 Kings 7:9 describes when they finally came to their senses:  "Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king's household."  The lepers acted selfishly by filling their stomachs and plundering tents while people in Samaria were dying, and after realising they were not doing right they confessed their error, repented, and did what was right (though their motive in doing so was hardly pure).

In our flesh even after coming to Christ no good thing dwells (Romans 7:18), but we can do good through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.  Better than avoiding the appearance of evil is to intentionally do good because we fear God, responding with gratefulness for the love God has shown us.

Comfort for Souls

I have had the privilege of witnessing the last days of many loved ones depart this world.  From those experiences memories are tucked away, carefully chronicled without effort.  It is strange the things I remember vividly, the small details which likely go unnoticed.  I remember how my granddad looked as he lay in his bed in a coma.  I remember an uncle in his living room in hospital bed, being given a sip of beer.  I can still see the tears in the eyes of my grandma when my dad and I visited her and I told her I loved and appreciated her.  People approach the end of their lives differently.  I have realised everyone must face death all by themselves, even when surrounded by those who love them.

In times of grief and sadness, superficial things fade away.  In an instant we are given clarity about what really matters.  I remember going into my aunt's home to visit her before she passed.  Her health had been poor for some time and it was a treasure to spend some quiet moments with her.  As she began to drift out of consciousness, her favourite show was switched on.  She paid it no mind.  A priest came to give her holy communion, yet she was already at rest.  As her life ebbed away our family sang songs and rejoiced in her Saviour, Jesus Christ.  It was a bittersweet moment to see our loved one finally head home to the One who loved her first and always and would never leave or forsake her.

When I reflect on that day it is a strange verse which comes to mind.  I can only think of 1 Kings 19:11-12 when Elijah met with the LORD:  "Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; ¹²  and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."  Because God is mighty and powerful one might expect Him tear rocks with wind or shake the earth with an earthquake, but He was not found in either.  Perhaps He would reveal Himself as He did on Sinai, with fire.  No, God was not in the fire.  Elijah recognised God by "a still, small voice."

Only God brings the comfort people long for.  They may seek it in painkillers or beer, in entertainment or religious rites.  We may desire to spend our final moments in a familiar place among people we love.  But comfort for the soul is not found in any of these things.  Nothing in this world can provide forgiveness for our sin or wash away our guilt.  It is only through faith in Christ we find rest for our souls.  God continues to speak in a still, small voice which comforts our hearts whether our lives are towards the beginning or at the very end.  I am grateful to know and trust the God who brings comfort in the midst of fiery trials, earthquakes, terminal illness, and even death.  Even when we feel all alone we who trust Christ are not alone, for the LORD speaks to us.  We never need face death by ourselves, for Christ has already faced it and overcome.

Context, Context, Context!

Whether a person is buying or renting a house, the old adage rings true:  "Location, location, location!"  In Sydney the closer a house is to the city the more valuable it is.  Small studios command millions of dollars because of their proximity to the Sydney CBD (Central Business District).  The location dictates the value of a property more than the quality of construction, the square footage, or how new the development is.  Location is the primary commodity.  A postage-stamp lot in the city translates to more dollars than acres in the bush.

There is a similar principle concerning "location" in the Bible.  People quote scripture to verify their claims, but the immediate context will show how valuable and trustworthy an interpretation is.  Respecting the context of a passage helps us to know more than what was said but to whom and why it was said.  This has enormous implications in understanding and applying the text to our lives personally.  When Paul exhorted Timothy as a student of scripture to "rightly" divide the Word of truth he implied it can be handled wrongly by ignorance or even deceit.  Even as safeguards are taken when handling necessary and useful but potentially hazardous substances, Christians must be cautious to ensure we consider the context of a Bible passage before we utilise it to validate claims.

I recently saw a presentation which emphasised the importance of understanding the true facts of history some allegedly have tried to cover up.  The narrator quoted from Orwell's 1984:  "Those who control the past control the future."  It was then followed up with a snippet of scripture where God said through the prophet Hosea, "My people perish for a lack of knowledge."  All this was to conclude the value and necessity of all the evidence which had been presented and how important this revelation was for people to know.  Now I have heard this passage quoted many times for various reasons.  The burning question is, what knowledge were the people lacking when the prophet spoke these words?  Was it historical or secret information?  It is the immediate context in scripture which will prove to the discerning mind if it was quoted appropriately in the presentation.  To answer this question, I opened my Bible.  If someone quotes from the Bible to make a point, we ought to see what the context is to verify it.

Let us read Hosea 4:1-6 (bold emphasis mine):  "Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel, for the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. ² By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed. ³ Therefore the land will mourn; and everyone who dwells there will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea will be taken away. ⁴ "Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; for your people are like those who contend with the priest. ⁵ Therefore you shall stumble in the day; the prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother. ⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."

From the text there are two specific references to the lack of knowledge which lead to the destruction of God's people:  a lack of the knowledge of God (verse 1) and the rejection/forgetfulness of the knowledge of God's law (verse 6).  It is true God's people perished for a lack of knowledge, but it was not just any kind of knowledge.  God revealed Himself to His people and gave them His laws so they could live.  Because the people did not know God or walk in His ways they were perishing.  The passage does tell us the knowledge the people lacked and therefore reveals the Hosea quote in the presentation was used out of context.  For a Christian who searches the scriptures the partially quoted verse weakens the argument instead of strengthening it.  Looking at the verse in context shows the Orwell quote was much more suitable than the biblical reference.

When it comes to reading and quoting scripture, "Context, context, context!"  Reading passages in context helps us understand what God has said, what He means, and how to apply it personally in my life.  Knowledge of history is one thing, but knowing God is indispensable for life.  Blessed is the man who knows God and His law, the one who walks in His truth, mercy, and wisdom.  Jeremiah 9:23-24 supplies a relevant conclusion:  "Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; ²⁴ but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD."