Love is of God

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

John 13:34

Jesus commanded His disciples they love one another as He had loved them.  His faithfulness to love was seen daily and culminated with Jesus demonstrating His love for all people by dying on the cross for sinners.  The greatest loves we experience in this world are mere hints and shadows of God's love.  Because love is of God it is impossible those who do not know God could express or experience such love apart from Him.  It is more than feelings, affection, desire and acceptance because only in God is love fully manifested as 1 John 4:7-8 says:  "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

The worldly concept of what love is as an ideal falls woefully short of the reality.  Dr. Gary Chapman wrote an insightful book that espouses five different "love languages," ways he claims people often give and receive love:  words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch.  While it is true love can be shown by considering the feelings of others, by what we say, do or choose not to do, God's love transcends humanity.  Love is more than giving gifts, writing poems and even selfless sacrifice.  God's love is so great, like the living God Himself it cannot be defined but only described in part.  And the way God's love is described immediately shatters all our assumptions we know what love is.

I never would have guessed the first words Paul used to describe the love of God in 1 Corinthians 13:4:  "Love suffers long" or "Love is patient" (depending on your Bible translation).  Is that how you would describe love?  From a worldly perspective love isn't attractive or desirable at all but more like a heavy burden to allow someone else to carry.  The One who delights to carry this burden is God because God is love.  Everything He does is patient, kind, without envy, boasting or pride.  Connecting patience with others as a primary way of demonstrating love to them helps me see if I love others or not.  As children of God, patience is to mark our lives as is exhorted in 1 Thessalonians 5:14:  "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all."  We are called to love the unruly, fainthearted and weak by patience at all times.

Consider the exhortation given to naturally impatient people in James 5:7-11:  "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. ⁸ You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. ⁹ Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! ¹⁰ My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. ¹¹ Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful."  If we grumble against one another or have unsettled hearts filled with worry, we are not being loving and patient as we ought.  Job is an example of a man who loved God and his patience whilst suffering revealed this truth.  Though it did not feel like it because of the fiery trial God allowed, Job's perseverance in patience caused him to receive the blessing of God's compassion and mercy.

Love suffers long and is patient.  How this fleshes out in one regard what Jesus commanded His disciples to do when He said, "Love one another."  Since love is of God as those born again and beloved by Him we are empowered to suffer long and continue in kindness and compassion towards all.

Jesus and His Reward

"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work."

Revelation 22:12

Woolworths has a program called "Everyday Rewards" which allows shoppers to scan a card to "earn" rewards.  For me, scanning my card for purchases saves a small amount of petrol and provides a $10 credit I can use to buy groceries.  It is relatively painless trade-off which provides benefits which are better than nothing. :)

Jesus told His followers He is coming quickly and His reward is with Him.  Upon Jesus' return to earth He will establish His kingdom, will judge His enemies and reward His servants.  The words of Christ give me cause to pause and wonder:  do I value Jesus and the rewards He offers by His grace as much as He loves me?  When I was young in the faith, the idea of reaping eternal, heavenly rewards drove me to service and self-denial, but at the core of this was selfishness.  I wanted to be a standout; I wanted accolades and riches for myself.  At some point I realised this was wrong and the pendulum swings toward the opposite extreme.  I was quite content with Jesus and the everlasting life He promised and was pleased to be accepted by Him--reward or not.

This view masked a false humility, a hidden arrogance seen in the servant who hid his master's mina in a handkerchief.  If we are called to desire the best spiritual gifts Jesus offers now according to His will (which will pass away), should I curtly dismiss the rewards Jesus has promised to give us for eternity?  While it is true we should value the Giver over the gift, let us not count His gifts as nothing.  In offering a gift God is glorified, and when we humbly receive a gift it is also for His glory for we ourselves are not our own.  Rewards received from God cannot be earned:  these are gifts according to the goodness of our God He delights to offer and we are privileged to use for His benefit.

Jesus did not hide the fact our service unto the LORD now will result in heavenly rewards and benefits.  We know it is wise to plan ahead for our future on earth, and it is even more sensible to lay up treasures in heaven because our affections rest on God who dwells there. Those who walk by faith and not by sight will be rewarded in this life and eternal life to come as it is written in Hebrews 11:5-6, "By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. ⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."  Faith exercised in obedience to God pleases Him and such He will reward with abundant life now and forever.  With our eyes fixed on the LORD Jesus, let us acknowledge His faithfulness to graciously reward those who diligently seek Him.

God Is For Us

It is interesting what motivates people.  Many sports teams employ "bulletin board material" of negative comments from an opposing team they will soon face to motivate athletes to make their opponents eat their words.  Knowing the odds are stacked against a team or player goads them on to try even harder.  The underdog doesn't always win the game, but when they do you can be sure they will mention it.  During interviews we have heard things like, "No one gave us a chance to win today..." or "We proved all the haters wrong."  After the Houston Astros eliminated the Minnesota Twins from the MLB playoffs, shortstop Carlos Corea said, "I know a lot of people don’t want to see us here. But what are they going to say now?"  Believing it is you against the world can motivate people to try that much harder to prove others wrong.

I have observed a similar sentiment among Christians as well.  Some identify with the biblical imagery of being a soldier (when we in Christ are also compared to children, bondservants, ambassadors, sheep of His pasture, the church as the Bride of Christ, etc.) so exclusively nearly everything seems an attack to overcome.  They feed off negative comments to prompt them to be even more bold in their witness as they follow Jesus.  They see opposition, persecution and trials as proof they are "doing something right" for the LORD.  It is like they are motivated to do their best to stir up others however they can to affirm their labour for the LORD is legitimate, opposed by Satan and thus approved by God.  It seems like without negative affirmation this battle-hardened warrior wonders where they fit in or what purpose they serve.  They feel more useful "in the trenches" employed in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy who seeks to slay them rather than training recruits in a secure base away from fighting in survival skills or to how to work together as a team.

While it is true in this world we will face tribulation and persecution for our faith, I'm not convinced the opposition we face is the best motivator for us to walk in love towards God and others.  Instead of being encouraged by resistance or how other people or circumstances seem against us, how about rejoicing that God is for us?  Paul declared in Romans 8:31-37 as one called, justified and was expectant to be glorified by God, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." ³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

Paul faced many trials and suffered much for the cause of Christ, and the knowledge of God who was for Him made as nothing all that could be against him.  Paul was confident in God's grace, justification, Christ's resurrection and intercession.  It was the love of God for him that compelled Paul to press on in sanctification amidst countless tribulations because he was more than a conqueror through Jesus who loves us.  We can choose to feed on negative press to motivate us to godliness, yet how much better is it for us to focus on our glorious Saviour who loves us and gave His life for us.  Instead of glorying in the opposition or in ourselves to rise up against it, how good it is Jesus is risen for our sakes and intercedes on our behalf, that we can find mercy and grace to help in time in need.

Following Jesus Together

Ten years have passed since the beginning of my adventure in Australia.  It seems like a lifetime ago in 2002 I was living in southern California and working in a trade when God suddenly revealed to me while doing yardwork the plans He had for me:  "You will preach, and you will be sent."  I could accept this easily enough because nothing is impossible with God, but I had many questions which in due time God answered.  It became evident Australia was the place God planned to send me long before I knew how He would do it or when.  Along the way God has provided encouragement when needed and from unlikely sources.

When I was in the preparatory stages of answering the call to minister in Australia, I was introduced to lives of two missionary women who deeply impacted me and still do this day:  Gladys Aylward of England and Isobel Kuhn of Canada.  As I read their stories it reinforced the God who called them to China was the God who called me to Australia.  The struggles and difficulties I have faced pale in comparison to the situations God empowered these ladies to endure and overcome.  I read a biography of Gladys recently I could hardly put down.  I sat beside her on lonely train rides in a foreign land where no one spoke English, freezing with cold in the midst of a war, when her expectations of ministry were shattered, when she was made to care for stubborn mules, inspect feet and when she took in orphaned children.  It is easy to idolise the vessel God employs to do His work, but all glory and honour to God for doing His miraculous works through His people.

These missionaries and sisters in Christ will always have a special place in my heart because of my connection with them as fellow servants of the living God.  They had no idea the way God would use them in the foreign mission field and how they have ministered personally to me these many decades later.  Their faith and reliance upon God who guided and provided for them is inspirational, their insights encouraging and obedience always a timely exhortation.  Reminiscing of all God has done in my life has a place for the purpose of acknowledging His goodness, yet this is not the season to remove my hand from the plow and look back:  I must look to the LORD who has much more He intends to accomplish in these days by His grace.  Complacency and self-sufficiency go hand in hand and always lead to sloth and negligence.  God has good purposes and plans for all of us to do His work, not just with the apostles in the New Testament or missionaries to China:  God calls you and me to follow Him faithfully with great joy wherever He has us as He leads the way.

May our lives provide testimonies which extol and honour our glorious LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ, and may the influence of our words and deeds prompt those in ages to come to follow and trust Him too.  Isn't it wonderful when we follow Jesus it inspires other Christians to follow Him more closely?